Creative Retrieval

Having finished the Brothers Karamazov, we begin to discuss some of the best works of the great Cappadocian father, St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-395).  We begin with his short (but profound) work, "On the Christian Mode of Life."  We discuss this work in two parts.

This work can be found in the following collection: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Gregory-Ascetical-Fathers-Church/dp/0813209692

For next time, finish reading "On the Christian Mode of Life."

This is our last conversation about the book.  Lots of people hate how the book ends - but I (Jaeger) think it is one of the most Beautiful (in the transcendental way) endings imaginable to one of the best novels ever written.  You can only understanding the ending if you go back to the beginning, the "From the Author" note.

We talk with Br. Maximilian again, as well as Christian Duran about the first few chapters of Book 12.

We talk with Br. Maximilian - outside St. Benedict's Abbey - about the last three chapters of the "Ivan" Book.  Our discussion centers around "The Devil. Ivan's Nightmare."  If the sound is a bit soft, we apologize as we were outside.

This was a great conversation about Ivan and what he thinks about himself, Dimitri and what he thinks about God and suffering, and what Alyosha  thinks about his brothers.

We talk about "The Boys" and how it is a recapitulation of the Dostoyevskian thesis, stated by Dmitri as well as Fr. Zossima that 'all are responsible for all." 

We talk about book IX, and especially the turn Mitya makes from darkness to the light, and how Karamazovian sensualism can be redeemed.

We talk about book 8, Dimitri, who is a sensualist who slowly finds himself caught up in the paschal mystery.

We discuss the chapter "Cana of Galilee" - the cosmic wedding feast of heaven and earth.

We discuss the first three chapters of Book VII "Alyosha."  Central to this discussion is Alyosha's 'rebellion.'