Mar 30 John Climacus b. 525 d. 606

John and Thommy


Good morning
I love you

Happy April Fools’ eve.

What’s up? How ya doin’? Who are the whoms these days? Not only the peers and friends and family, also the teachers and mentors you’re hanging with? And, more importantly, those you’re looking for? ….

In the same way that interest accrues and necessarily increases wealth and provides security, so too with the people you nurture in your life: and those who nurture you….


March 30
John Climacus b. 525 d. 606


John received and excelled in an elite education. And you, how are you leveraging your talents, gifts, resources, and the educational opportunity we’ve given you?

John Climacus chose a life of solitude. An eremetical monasticism - ok two days in a row I’ve found the word useful, fun to think, write, say…. Eremetical. Not just the solitude, though I recommend periods of solitude for communing with God and self. The eremetical monks also had a community for shared prayer and liturgy plus periods together, sorta like a study group, to delve together into scripture, mysticism, and the writings and knowing of the church fathers. This is the life John Climacus chose for his vocation. Discernment of your vocation should take a similar path - college has been given to you as time and setting for discernment in your growing up. And the discernment process includes God and family and church and mentors and friends….

John Climacus went to Mount Sinai and chose to learn the practice of Christian virtues under Martyrius. Did I mention that the practice of Christian virtues is one of the foundations you are suppose to be reinforcing at this time in your life? Thus, the importance of a holiness mentor in your life: a confessor: a spiritual director. I was lucky, I got to attend a Jesuit novitiate after high school. Talk about immersion in spiritual development of the practice of the Christian virtues. Imagine how badly I would have developed afterwards if I hadn’t had some serious work done on my foundation.!?


After the death of Martyrius, John Climacus lived for twenty years in more isolation: studying the lives of the saints et al. A daily saint is not quite studying the lives of the saints but it’s a part of our foundational development as well as the sustaining of our practice of Christian virtues with models and mentors. Like the cycle of liturgical readings keeping us in the loop of scriptural prayer, our coming back to the same saints on an annual basis if not preferentially more often, we keep in touch with the life blood of faith and action.

In 600, at 75, the monks of Sinai persuaded John of Climacus to be their abbot. His reputation of holiness and wisdom as leader of the Christian community reached pope St Gregory the Great who asked for the monk’s prayers as well as supported the hospital and hostel that were built to serve the increasing number of pilgrims.

In 604, John Climacus returned to his hermitage to prepare for his death. Such preparation is a daily activity, part of prayer and awareness; Pascal’s wager if you will. And then at some point, preparation for death becomes a higher priority, a focus, a greater probability. If you’re lucky enough to make it to seventy or eighty, like your grandfathers, then you can bet death is coming sooner than later. But today, you’re not thinking that way. But my brother died at 5. I’ve had cousins die in their 20s, thirties, etc. I’m coming on 60. Live each day as if it is your last. You never know when the bridegroom will come for you….

In the seventh century, the local churches picked the saints, the people to emulate. John Climacus’ life of personal holiness, wisdom, teaching, caring, serving, and leadership made the church select him. In addition, we have writings from John Climacus which are extant and important still.

Scala Klimax Paradisi. From which John became known as Climacus, ladder. The abbot of Raithu, another John, asked John Climacus to give guidance about attaining the highest degree of religious perfection.

I suggest you peruse the Climacus - thirty steps with parables and historical anecdotes [Jesus’ 30 years of ministry?]. A picture of the virtues, practical applications of the precepts of our faith. Sure they’re drawn from the monastic life - we have much to learn from every sort of life on the Way to heaven. And since the monastic life is not in your wheelhouse, I suggest you take a glimpse.

This is a time given to you - immerse with zest….

I love you
dad