THE BROTHERS OF ST JOHN: Recent Episodes
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The Institute of St John presents “Providence, Predestination and Prudence” with Br Justin Lee, csj, on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd April at the Carmelite Church (41 Kensington Church St, London W8 4BB), from 7 – 9pm (talks from 7:30pm).
Does belief in God’s Providence dispense me from making wise decisions?
What does it mean to make space for God’s Providence in my life? Does God need me to make space for his action in my life?!
In what ways are misfortunes and accidents guided by God’s Providence? Are they immediately “meaningful”?
Br Justin will work through these and other thorny questions concerning the interactions between our practical intelligence on the one hand and God’s providential care over the world and our lives on the other. He will lean notably on St Thomas Aquinas to present a contemplative understanding of the ways in which God leads us and governs our world.
The talks will end with the specifically Christian vision of providence: God’s predestination over his children in Christ, leading them together into the Kingdom of his Beloved Son.
Br Justin Lee is provincial of the vice-province of Asia-Pacific for the Brothers of St John. Originally from Hong Kong, he earned his Master’s in philosophy at San Carlos University in Cebu, Philippines.
Suggested donation: £10 (£5 unwaged). Light refreshments will be provided.
The Institute of St John presents “The Millennium in the Book of Revelation” with Br Alain-Marie de Lassus, csj, on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th April at the Carmelite Church (41 Kensington Church St, London W8 4BB), from 7 – 9pm (talks from 7:30pm).
The first six verses of Chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation (aka the Apocalypse) speak of a mysterious reign of 1000 years. There has been a lot of speculation about it and there is no general agreement among biblical scholars about its interpretation. Is it a real reign or a purely symbolic one? Should we really expect the saints to reign on earth for 1000 years of peace during which the devil shall be kept into prison and hence incapable of causing havoc in the world? Will this reign happen before the coming of Christ, or after it? Or is it rather coextensive to the history of the Church?
Br Alain-Marie de Lassus, professor of biblical studies at the house of theological studies of the Brothers of St. John in Rimont (France), will guide us through the many intricacies of this enigmatic passage which has fascinated generations of Christians.
Monday’s talk will be dedicated first to the literal interpretation of Revelation 20 in its various forms, second to the interpretation of St. Augustine which has been very influential in the Catholic Church. Tuesday’s talk will try to present a consistent interpretation of Revelation 20 and explain the meaning of this mysterious text in the framework Apocalypse as a whole.
Suggested donation: £10 (£5 unwaged). Light refreshments will be provided.
The Institute of St John presents The Importance of Subjectivity in the Philosophy of the Person
Br Thomas Dunton CSJ will give this lecture on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th February at the Carmelite Church (41 Kensington Church St, London W8 4BB), from 7 – 9pm (talks from 7:30pm).
What is the place of subjectivity in the human person – my emotions and subjective perspective? Compared with an older focus on the objective nature of human beings, the “turn to the subject” characterised the movement of modern thought; but many modern thinkers seem to have slipped into excessive subjectivism and lost the place of objectivity. Karol Wojtyla – the future pope John-Paul II – was an exception. Whilst integrating the modern approach to the human person through subjectivity, Wojtyla did not relinquish the rich value of objectivity found in classical thought.
Wojtyla grasped that the modern perspective was a needed complement to a traditional Catholic understanding of the human person. In a seminal paper of 1975, he argues for the philosophical importance of exploring subjectivity, thus contributing decisively to the personalist vision of what it means to be human, thereby laying the groundwork for his key later teaching, the “theology of the body.”
We will explore the personalist vision of man, comparing it with the traditional vision, and we will follow Wojtyla’s argumentation for the distinct importance to be given to subjectivity in the philosophy of the person.
Br Thomas Dunton recently completed his Master’s in personalist philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio.
Suggested donation: £10 (£5 unwaged). Light refreshments will be provided.
A Catholic walking retreat in the Sahara – 9 full days in the desert
Aim : To recharge mentally, spiritually and physically, thanks to the experience of the Desert.
To strengthen our relationship with Jesus and to be renewed in Him.
The retreat will be led by fr Arnaud -Charbel and deacon Vladimir from the Brothers of Saint John.
When: 26 February – 11th March 2024
Where: Sahara, Morocco
Requirements: Participants should be able to hike 4 – 6 hours a day for 9 full days in the desert.
Price : £952
Video of a previous retreat : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w33ztyyd7hI
Info and registration : https://desert-retreat.com
In October 2019, the General Chapter of the Brothers of Saint John asked the Prior General to set up an interdisciplinary commission with the mission to establish what links exist between the high number of instances of sexual abuse committed by the members of the Family of Saint John and the personal and family history of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe OP (1912-2006), their founder. Today, after more than three years of work, the Commission submitted its report. Entitled “To Understand and to Heal – Origins and Analyses of the Abuse within the Family of Saint John”, the report totals 800 pages. The Brothers of Saint John are making it public, conscious of the gravity of the deeds it details and their dramatic consequences.
27/6/2023 Press Release (.pdf, English)
Press contact:
Brother Jean-Yves
contact.presse@stjean.com
Frères de Saint-Jean
Notre Dame de Rimont, 3 rue de l’ancien séminaire, 71390 Fley, FRANCE
+33 3 85 98 18 98
On Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd May the Institute of St John presents Tragedy, Purification and Wonder: The Art of Seeking the Divine, in Aristotle’s Poetics with Br John-Mary-Jesus Ashfield CSJ
We will meet at the Carmelite Church, Kensington Church Street at 7pm for 7:30pm
Suggested donation £10 (£5 unwaged)
Light supper and drinks provided
PLEASE RSVP Claire Bruce on claire.bruce@gmail.com if you are coming
When we read a great novel, or watch a powerful film, what is going on in our soul? Is it just entertainment, or does the experience of beauty have a deeper spiritual significance? Aristotle reflected on Greek tragedy in his Poetics and came to the conclusion that watching a drama like that purifies the emotions. What did he mean? What practical implications does that have for the way I enjoy art, and how it can be an important part of my search for meaning and transcendence?
The Riddle of the Book of Job
Br Philip-Thomas Edwards
Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th April at the Carmelite Church (41 Kensington Church St, London W8 4BB)
From 7 – 9pm (talks from 7:30pm)
The Book of Job is strange. Its basic message is to teach that human suffering cannot be simplistically interpreted as a punishment for sin. Job is an upright man who is sorely tested – and yet remains patient. But on closer inspection, the Book turns out to be highly puzzling. Its different parts seem to pull in different directions – the pious Job of the prologue seems very different to the rebellious Job who argues at great length with his friends in the main body of the Book. God’s final answer to Job seems furious with him – but then straight after it God endorses Job’s words. And what’s with God’s answer to Job? He spends four chapters pointing to the natural world – snow and hail, ostriches and mountain goats, and then the mythical beasts Behemoth and Leviathan – to answer Job’s questioning of his providence. How is this an answer?
Br Philip-Thomas will guide us through the complexities of this fascinating text and suggest an answer to the riddle of the Book of Job.
Monday’s talk will be dedicated to presenting the Book of Job and the contradictions it presents, and then looking at some possible interpretations. Tuesday’s talk will point out some less-remarked features of the Book of Job and suggest that they converge on a coherent answer that makes profound theological sense of the puzzles of the Book.
Suggested donation: £10 (£5 unwaged). Light refreshments will be provided.
We hope you can join us!
A new term at the Institute of St John is beginning soon. If you are new to the ISJ and would like to learn more about us we are holding a lunch to explain what we do at the home of Claire Bruce, 13 Upper Phillimore Gardens, London, W8 7HF on 21st September. Please email…
With the new academic year we are looking forward to getting back to meeting in person for the ISJ. We will however continue to make the classes available over the internet (although via YouTube streaming rather than zoom) so as to provide a “hybrid” format, on the St Antony’s parish YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/stantonysfguk . Those following online will be able to…
Autumn term 1: September 15, 22, 29 – Introduction to Immanuel Kant (fr. Rajiv)October 6 – Who was Paul of Tarsus? (fr. John Jesus)October 13,20 – session TBA (fr. Benedict) Autumn term 2: November 3 – Epistle to Diognetus : the Church in a hostile environment (fr Marie Bruno)November 10 – The Conversation of Saint Paul (fr. John Jesus) November 17, 24 – Session TBA (fr. Justin)December 1 – St…
Final Questions Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
Further on the Concupiscible and Irascible Passions Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
The Distinction between the Concupiscible and the Irascible Passions. A look at the contributions of Rene Descartes and Conrad Baars Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
Further Questions Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
A deeper look at a contemplative and theoretical philosophy in relation to the passions Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
The question of virtue in relation to the passions. The responsibility of ordering passion within friendships. Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
What light can science shed on the reality of man moved by his passions? Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
Fr Thomas answers questions from his class. Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
The distinction between emotions/feelings and passions. Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
The characteristic of a living being is that it moves itself. What is the link between a living being’s (sensitive) affectivity and its movement? Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page by clicking the arrow below
The passions play an important part in the search for truth about man as a living being. We all have experience of ‘being moved’ – that is, being passionate – but what actually are these movements called ‘passions’? Click on the image to the right to go to our podcast or listen from this page…
We can confirm that the Sapiens Program will run at St Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street, London, EC2M 7LS on Thursday evenings at 7pm from 17th January to 14th February 2019. All are welcome. For further details please see the relevant page on this website.
We have just published the subjects for our classes for 2018-2019 as follows. Classes take place on TUESDAYS: TERM 1: 6 November to 11 December 2018 10am – 12 noon: Spirit of the Carmel: prayer life in the Carmelite spirituality 12.45 – 2.45pm: Anglo Saxon Christian Art: exhibition at the British Library (Introduction-Nov 20, Exhibition visit-Nov…
Some brothers of the Community of St John will be leading a retreat in the Sahara Desert in February next year, in south Morocco. For more information please Click here To register or if you have questions please email Lynne on elizabethhunterjohnston@gmail.com
Please note that this course will be delayed until January 2019. We apologise for any inconvenience. More information will be posted on this website as soon as we have it. Any queries should be addressed to Br Michael Paul on brmichaelpaul@gmail.com
We can now publish our term dates for the 2018-19 academic year. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 10am – 12 noon, and from 12.45pm to 2.45pm. The subjects of the classes will follow shortly. Term 1: Nov 6, 13, 20, 27, Dec 4, 11 Term 2: Jan 8, 15, 22, 29, Feb 5,…
Why is my life stuck? What’s missing? How can I grow as a person and flourish? PHILOSOPHY CAN HELP! Answering practical, down to earth questions with insight from the greatest thinkers of the Western Tradition, the Sapiens Program is an initiative of the Brothers of St John to help all search for wisdom and live more fully…
We are pleased to announce that the first edition of the Sapiens Program will take place in St Mary Moorfields Parish in Central London on Thursday evenings in November/December 2018. The dates: November 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and December 6th. The first session will be a taster, after which all those who wish to…
Theological Perspective 3 The Christian is called to adore God in an enlightened way. Jesus said “God is spirit and those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The use of the imperative ‘must’ indicates our obligation to discover more about what Adoration is and how best to fulfil…
Theological Perspective 2 “I was standing on the seashore, then I saw a beast emerge from the sea….. I saw one of its heads appeared to have a fatal wound but it had healed and after that the whole world had marvelled and followed the beast… then I saw a second beast emerging from the…
Theological Perspective 1 “Then in my vision I saw a door open in heaven…..and I saw a throne standing in heaven and the One who was sitting on the throne…. Round the throne were 24 elders sitting … and in the centre… were four animals with many eyes…. And day and night they never stopped…
Biblical Perspective 7 Continuing on from the previous talk, Fr Thomas gives four possible interpretations of what it means to worship ‘in spirit and in truth’. Click on the arrow below to listen on your computer or go to the image to subscribe to the podcast
Biblical Perspective 6 “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when true worshippers will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know, we worship what we do know; …. But the hour will come … when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in…
Biblical Perspective 5 “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law but to complete it.” Matthew 5: 17-18. What does Jesus mean by this? Fr Thomas looks closely at the vocabulary used for Adoration in the Gospels and the number of times the words denoting it occur and in which passages. The…
Biblical Perspective 4 “Thus says Israel’s king and his redeemer, the Lord Sabaoth: I am the First and I am the Last: there is no other God besides me.” Isaiah 44: 6 In the book of Wisdom the idolatry of the pagans is described as foolishness: “Yes, naturally stupid are those who are unaware of…
Biblical Perspective 3 “Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostasised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made for themselves a calf of molten gold and have worshipped it….” Exodus 32: 7-8. In many ways the history of Israel and…
Biblical Perspective 2 “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall have no other Gods except me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not…
Biblical Perspective 1 Adoration in the Old Testament is very concrete and is signified by a gesture, that of prostration or ‘bowing low’. This can be an act of honour to another person or as an act of adoration of God himself. Progressively it is revealed that Adoration is to be reserved to God alone…
Philosophical Perspective 3 The existence of God is not evident in natural philosophy even if religious practice is evident in all times and all cultures. What is called ‘natural theology’ is the search for God or gods outside the light of revelation. Natural Adoration is the natural love of a creature for its Creator, analogous…
Philosophical Perspective 2. The existence of God is not evident in natural philosophy even if religious practice is evident in all times and all cultures. What is called ‘natural theology’ is the search for God or gods outside the light of revelation. Natural Adoration is the natural love of a creature for its Creator, analogous…
Philosophical Perspective 1 Does philosophy have anything to say about Adoration? What is my human experience of Adoration? Searching the truth with regard to the existence of God is of fundamental importance to us as human beings but we have to admit that the human experience of God is very limited, it is not at…
Dates and subjects for our Tuesday morning classes in the Spring Term of 2018 have been decided and we can give you details below. Newcomers are welcome. If you are interested in registering please email: brphilipthomas@stjean.com 9 January 2018 – 20 March 2018 Tuesdays 10am-12pm (Alternating weeks): St Thomas Aquinas on God (De Deo Uno, questions 21 to…
The body is first in the order of conditioning – our work, personality, nature, community, moral life, imagination are all aspects of our body’s conditioning. In addition, we are the products of atavism, the inherited characteristics from our parents. However, the body is completely relative to the spiritual soul which finalises us and brings true…
The Sapiens Program is a new formation opportunity offered by the Brothers of Saint John that aims to lead people into a personal search for wisdom. A major element at the heart of our charism as a Community is the conversion of the intellligence: the discovery of oneself, others, and the world through realist philosophy…
Pere Marie-Dominique Philippe described the body as ‘The substantial conditioning of the human person’. We have no experience outside of our bodies, so in one sense we only exist – we are only able to say ‘I am’ – in union with our bodies. But if we ask the question: ‘What is the purpose of…
Beginning with the judgement of existence ‘this is’, and discovering the reality of existence outside ourselves, enables us to affirm the metaphysical, objective, reality of ‘I am’. ‘I am’ becomes therefore more than I am conscious of myself being, and leads onward to the discovery of my radical autonomy. More than this, I discover I…
Beyond all determinations, which describe our form, there is a more profound level of being which is described by ‘act’. As human beings we have the capacity to choose, and this implies a capacity to choose an ‘end’, in other words to choose our ‘finality’. To what principles or persons is our life ordered? Our…
What is ‘that-which-is in so far as it is’? This question is concerned with the judgement of existence. It leads further to such questions as: Can the matter which exists be described solely by its form? Or solely by its actions? Or both? Or is there something more ultimate than both these? Aristotle used the…
‘First Philosophy’ was the term used by Aristotle to embrace the study or search for what is absolutely first, or ultimate. In more recent centuries the term ‘Metaphysics’ has tended to replace the term ‘First Philosophy’, but it is concerned with the same aim – to go beyond the characteristics of man to the question…
Aristotle’s contribution to our notion of the human person was and still is, fundamental. He considered the relationship between nature and the person, and concluded that the person is not simply a natural being, similar to plants and animals, due to his ability to choose. In contrast to the natural world, human beings have the…
“Psychology is generally understood as one of the most important forces in contemporary society, as such it is useful to trace its modern history in order to truly grasp modern psychology’s current directions. During the first half of the 20th century, American psychology was dominated by two schools of thought, behaviourism and psycho-analysis. While both…
Fr Marie-Dominique Philippe, the founder of the Community of St John, wrote the following lines in the first chapter of his book entitled ‘Retracing Reality’: “The search for wisdom has become particularly difficult in our time. The cultural milieu in which contemporary man lives does not favour it. The search for such wisdom is considered…
This autumn term 2017, we will spend our Tuesday morning sessions (10am-12noon) looking at the development of Hellenistic thought after Aristotle: Epicurus, the Stoics, Plotinus – who influences are still felt in the ethical patterns of thought of our modern era. In the afternoons (from 12.45-1.45pm) Br Micheal Paul will give a theological commentary on…
We are pleased to be able to publish this series of talks given by Fr Thomas Dunton of the Community of St John to novices of the Community based at their priory in Princeville, Ohio, USA, on the subject of the Human Person. In this first talk entitled ‘An Introduction to a Philosophical Gaze on…
Br Michael Paul CSJ will be giving an introduction to the First Letter of St John in Bath on Friday 14 October 2016, entitled ‘God is Light, God is Love’. We will give more information – time and venue – when we have it.
The new term dates have been scheduled as follows. Included in the studies will be the De Deo Uno of St Thomas Aquinas beginning from question 5, during which we will be looking at the divine attributes of the First Being. There will also be classes on the Gospel of St John, looking at the Passion, Death…