Advent Retreat 1/3: Three Powers of the Soul - The Desiring Power (will) of the Soul

About this sermon

In this Advent mission talk, Fr. Deacon Matthew Haynes of St. Basil the Great Parish explores the Desiring (Repetitive) Power of the Soul, the first of the three powers of the soul taught by the Eastern Fathers. Drawing deeply from Scripture, the Desert Fathers, and saints like St. Maximus the Confessor, St. Gregory Palamas, St. John Climacus, and St. Isaac the Syrian, he explains how human desire—created by God—is meant to be transformed, purified, and ultimately directed toward Divine Eros: passionate love for Christ the Bridegroom. Fr. Deacon Matthew reflects on • the eight passionate thoughts (gluttony, lust, avarice, etc.) • the misdirection of desire after the Fall • how Christ begins healing the soul • fasting as the “fountain-clearing” discipline • remembrance of death • suffering united to Christ • and how worldly eros can be transformed into holy desire for God. Through unforgettable quotations from saints across the centuries, this talk highlights how Christian life is meant to become a burning love for the Lord — a love that purifies, humbles, and draws us into union with Christ. A powerful reflection for Advent or for anyone seeking deeper spiritual healing and renewal. 📌 This is Part 1: The Desiring Power of the Soul. Parts 2 and 3 will explore the Irascible Power and the Rational/Intellective Power. 🙏 “Wound our souls with love for You…” — Closing prayer from the Eastern tradition 0:00 – Opening Prayer: The Precious and Life-Giving Cross 1:25 – Introduction by Fr. Deacon Matthew Haynes 2:30 – Eastern Catholics vs. Roman Catholics 3:31 – The Three Powers of the Soul Explained 4:22 – Purpose of the Soul’s Powers (St. Maximus, St. Hezekiah) 5:48 – Misuse of the Powers: The Eight Passionate Thoughts 6:51 – Root of All Passions: Disordered Self-Love 7:34 – Why Christ Begins Healing with the Desiring Power 8:22 – Divine Eros: Understanding Holy Desire 9:44 – God as Bridegroom: The Love Beyond Agape 11:09 – Marriage as an Icon of Divine Intimacy 12:25 – Aros in the Spiritual Writings (St. John Climacus, St. Gregory of Nyssa) 14:50 – Wounded by Love: St. Teresa of Ávila & the Fathers 15:45 – Desire’s Healing: Loving God Above All 16:32 – Remedies: Prayer & Sacramental Life 17:42 – The Power of Fasting (St. John Climacus, St. Gregory Palamas) 19:43 – Traditional Degrees of Eating & Discipline 20:48 – Remembrance of Death & Judgment 21:21 – Affliction as Healing (St. Macarius) 23:09 – The Marriage of Suffering & Love in Christ 24:29 – Desire Transformed: From Sin to Christ 26:05 – Longing for God Protects Us from Sin 27:09 – Christ as the Object of Holy Desire 29:00 – The “Fools for Christ” and Divine Madness 30:56 – St. Isaac of Syria on Holy In-ebriation 31:33 – Final Prayer & Closing Please say 3 Hail Marys for the deacon. 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #Catholic #EasternCatholic #ByzantineCatholic #Advent #AdventMission #ChristianSpirituality #ThreePowersOfTheSoul #DesiringPower #DivineEros #ChristTheBridegroom #StMaximus #StGregoryPalamas #SongOfSongs #Fasting #Prayer #Holiness #SpiritualH

Topics

• Christmas