Spiritual exercises
Spiritual exercises of the seven levels
The spiritual exercises of the seven levels are a Christian meditation and initiation path. Along the seven steps of the early church consecration, they concretize the path of Christian spirituality and following Christ. Each stage includes readings, meditations and initiation ceremonies. In addition to the ordination levels, these also include Celtic spirituality and the wisdom of the desert fathers.
The spiritual exercises are to be understood as an inner calling; the candidates are encouraged to seek an external appointment. The training is supported and recognized by the Ancient Celtic Church.
As we turn to this path of practice, we must become aware that as baptized Christians we already dispose of the common priesthood and that this path is to be understood as concretization and awareness. In truth there is no spiritual path because it would cut us off from the past and the present and separate us from the future. We are already what we want to become through the path of practice. We find the sacred in the here and now.
0. Introduction
Here we get an overview of the entire path and walk through the outer and inner sanctuaries.
1. Ostiary (door guard)
The gate to the sanctuary also symbolizes the sensory gates or the seven senses, in which the understanding is differentiated on a physical and a spiritual level. In this stage we deal with the Christian basics as well as mindfulness meditation.
2. Lecturer (reader)
Here we learn that the role of the reader is not only that of reading, but above all that of listening. One of the things we will do is meditate on the scriptures, where the seven keys can help us discover the hidden contents. In the tradition of the old church, the editor is responsible for reading the Old Testament.
3. Exorcist (conjurer, pastoral companion)
This level deals with the possibilities of pastoral conversation, dealing with passions and spiritual accompaniment. We consider the also biblical archetypes of the healer, the exorcist and the warrior (Miles Christi).
4. Acolyte (light bearer)
After dealing with our dark side, we now focus on our light sides. The seven cardinal virtues are considered here as the opposite of the cardinal sins. The light bearer is still in the nave of the church on the border with the choir and is the last step before entering the clergy.
5. Sub-deacon (helper, sub-servant)
The subdeacon is the first level of the clergy and, depending on tradition, still belongs to the lower or already to the higher ordinations. The sub-deacon reads the epistle to the congregation and assists the deacon in serving at the altar. It is the final stage of one's own examination prior to the deacon stage. The archangel Gabriel stands diagonally across from the subdeacon and the lector as patron in the heavenly choir.
The deacon is the first stage of higher ordinations. He or she baptizes and serves at the altar table. The deacon is already part of the priestly ministry, reading and teaching the gospel to parishioners. Diagonally across from the deacon and guardian stands their patron Archangel Michael in the heavenly choir.
7th priest (elder)
The priest represents the acting Christ in the mass. Here we are concerned with how we can allow Christ to be resurrected in us and develop our full potential. Meditations and the Jesus prayer help us here. The priest stands at the altar as the threshold from the earthly to the heavenly choir. Opposite the priest and the bearer of light is their patron Archangel Raphael in the apse of the choir.
Procedure
We offer this course in distance learning and also deal with the topics in the mystical hour on the YouTube channel of the Ancient Celtic Church. There may be costs for literature, CDs and, depending on the circumstances, for travel, room costs and your own liturgical clothing.
