(6th-7th century) At 15 years old, John became a monk on Mount Sinai, where Moses and Elijah encountered God. After five years at the monastery, he lived as a hermit for 40 years, then returned to the monastery to serve as abbot. He is famous for his spiritual masterpiece, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, also known as The Climax, from which he gets his name. This work was written for monks to help them draw nearer to God through ascetic practices. It is one of the most widely read books of Byzantine spirituality by Orthodox Christians, especially during the season of Great Lent.
One of the practices recommended by Saint John in the The Ladder of Divine Ascent is to carry a small notebook to record one’s thoughts during meditation. Putting pen to paper is common advice in recovery fellowships, whether one is struggling, discerning, or simply growing in self-knowledge. Have you experienced the benefit of writing out your thoughts in a recovery setting?
“Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons” (Saint John Climacus).
Reflection by Brad Farmer