Day: May 29, 2008

Christian Witness,

Pope Shenouda III’s New Book

From Christian NewsWire: Pope Shenouda III’s New Book, Have You Seen the One I Love, Portrays the Soul’s Quest for Jesus Christ

On May 20, 2008, Have You Seen the One I Love, an exegetical book on the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, will be released for sale to the general public. Pope Shenouda draws upon his many years of contemplation as a monk in the ancient desert of Scetis, Egypt to develop his commentary on the human soul as found in the Song of Songs. The book is a translation and transcription of a lecture series given by Pope Shenouda in the 1970s. In contrast to many modern authors who seek to paint the Song of Songs as a book of sensuality and physical intimacy, Pope Shenouda captures the true spiritual essence of the Song of Songs, drawing upon the wisdom and writings of the early Church fathers. Pope Shenouda explains that the Song of Songs is a meditation of the human soul while she searches for her Beloved, mirroring the spiritual love of Jesus Christ for His Church. It is only with an understanding of our spirituality that we may embark on our voyage leading to our Lord.

Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria is the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

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Fathers, PNCC

May 29 – St. Ignatius from the Epistle to the Magnesians

Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time, and in the end was revealed. Do all then, imitating the same divine conduct, pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh, but continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of your immortality.

As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do anything without the bishop and presbyters. Neither endeavour that anything appear reasonable and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Therefore run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to one. — Chapter Six and Seven.