Gnosis and Enlightenment from Universal Church of Autogenes on Vimeo.
Fr. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. offers four rudimentary axioms for the “attainment” of Gnosis.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Western Pragmatism vs. Eastern Solemnity
Never did I think I’d be grateful for the Latin Rite. I left the Roman Catholic Church because I was growing weary of its “modern spirituality” and its seemingly incessant need to stay relevant, while accomplishing such in rather awkward and uncomfortable ways. The eastern Church opened up to me a vast plethora of ancient Christian praxis and when I fully integrated myself into it, I was quite content to remain there, while simultaneously forgetting all about my western origins. These days, however, I am finding myself appreciating what the west offers.
Because of the regular unavailability of my wife, who currently serves my liturgies as the only cantor (at least until the permanent monastery is built), it has become impossible to offer the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on a usual basis. Add to it the simple fact that our eight-month-old son often doesn’t possess the stamina to make it through a two and a half to three hour liturgy, and the extreme difficulty of this service becomes clear. Fortunately though, I had the foresight to render the Holy Monastic Order En Deus bi-ritual (meaning, utilizing both eastern and western rites). I did this with the intention to foster a complete Christian monasticism that explores both eastern and western spiritual contributions, but now I am finding an even more practical benefit to this decision.
The Latin Rite Mass can be offered respectably, solitarily and without chanting in no more than 40 minutes. Making this rite the perfect solution to the difficulties listed above. While I do happen to be the sort of person who actually enjoys long three hour Divine Liturgies, the realities of being a married priest, with a young child, who has a rather busy ministerial out-reach schedule must be reckoned with in the best way possible.
Interestingly enough, offering Mass on a regular basis has begun to reconnect me and resolve the “western fall-out” that occurred so many years ago when I left the Roman Catholic Church for the east. Much to my surprise, I am actually finding it to be more spiritually rewarding than I could have ever imagined. Being blessed with the tremendous privilege to offer the Eucharist as a priest is an experience beyond words. Even when I was at my most 'Buddhist' in life, the Eucharist remained that Sacrament I could not seem to forget. It kept calling me, sometimes quite literally, until eventually I returned to the Church, and the rest is history. Now, I can say with complete confidence that regardless of eastern Divine Liturgy or western Mass, the experience of the True Presence in the Eucharist transcends any past, present, or future preconceptions.
Because of the regular unavailability of my wife, who currently serves my liturgies as the only cantor (at least until the permanent monastery is built), it has become impossible to offer the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom on a usual basis. Add to it the simple fact that our eight-month-old son often doesn’t possess the stamina to make it through a two and a half to three hour liturgy, and the extreme difficulty of this service becomes clear. Fortunately though, I had the foresight to render the Holy Monastic Order En Deus bi-ritual (meaning, utilizing both eastern and western rites). I did this with the intention to foster a complete Christian monasticism that explores both eastern and western spiritual contributions, but now I am finding an even more practical benefit to this decision.
The Latin Rite Mass can be offered respectably, solitarily and without chanting in no more than 40 minutes. Making this rite the perfect solution to the difficulties listed above. While I do happen to be the sort of person who actually enjoys long three hour Divine Liturgies, the realities of being a married priest, with a young child, who has a rather busy ministerial out-reach schedule must be reckoned with in the best way possible.
Interestingly enough, offering Mass on a regular basis has begun to reconnect me and resolve the “western fall-out” that occurred so many years ago when I left the Roman Catholic Church for the east. Much to my surprise, I am actually finding it to be more spiritually rewarding than I could have ever imagined. Being blessed with the tremendous privilege to offer the Eucharist as a priest is an experience beyond words. Even when I was at my most 'Buddhist' in life, the Eucharist remained that Sacrament I could not seem to forget. It kept calling me, sometimes quite literally, until eventually I returned to the Church, and the rest is history. Now, I can say with complete confidence that regardless of eastern Divine Liturgy or western Mass, the experience of the True Presence in the Eucharist transcends any past, present, or future preconceptions.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
About Heresy with Fr. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D.
About Heresy with Fr. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. from Universal Church of Autogenes on Vimeo.
Father Bryan talks about the issue of heresy in the Christian Church and how to deal with it as a Gnostic.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Ordination of Reverend Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. to the priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Tradition.
The Ordination of Reverend Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. to the priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Tradition. from Universal Church of Autogenes on Vimeo.
Dr. Bryan Ouellette is ordained priest in the Universal Church of Autogenes and is officially elevated to Abbot of the Holy Monastic Order En Deus. Later he celebrates the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Very Busy Week
Greetings All!
My apologies for not contributing much activity to the blog this week. My ordination to priesthood and my formal elevation to abbot will take place on Lazarus Saturday (March 27, 2010), but we will be celebrating the vigil of Palm Sunday at the liturgy. Needless to say, the preparations for this event are huge and have been taking up all of my time. The complete event, however, will be filmed and posted to the blog probably sometime after Easter. Then things should start returning to normal.
Blessings to you all!
My apologies for not contributing much activity to the blog this week. My ordination to priesthood and my formal elevation to abbot will take place on Lazarus Saturday (March 27, 2010), but we will be celebrating the vigil of Palm Sunday at the liturgy. Needless to say, the preparations for this event are huge and have been taking up all of my time. The complete event, however, will be filmed and posted to the blog probably sometime after Easter. Then things should start returning to normal.
Blessings to you all!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Eucharist with Rev. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D.
The Eucharist with Rev. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. from Universal Church of Autogenes on Vimeo.
Dr. Bryan Ouellette explains the position of the Christian School of the Universal Church of Autogenes concerning the Holy Sacrament of Eucharist.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My Journey
My Journey with Rev. Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. from Universal Church of Autogenes on Vimeo.
Reverend Abbot Bryan D. Ouellette, Ph.D. introduces the blog of the Christian School of the Universal Church of Autogenes with a short description of his own spiritual journey that led him to the priesthood.
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