Contemptus mundi or contempt for the world is not a contempt for Creation, but rather "a contempt for the false vision of the world that is presented to us" by greed.
The title's name comes from Ambrose Autpert, used in one of his treatise to describe the combat between vice and virtue. Worldiness and holiness. Autpert "insinuates that 'having' is the supreme value of our being, of our life in the world, and seems important". This greed seen clearly in the rich and powerful of society destroys and is the 'root of all evil'. The present Pope, who writes about this medieval author, states that it is our duty to combat greed, "to fight the desire to possess ... and the false concept of freedom as the faculty to dispose of all things as one pleases". Greed kills faith. Greed is possession. Greed is clinging to something material and putting a value on it.
"For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains." (1 Tim.6:7-10)
Contemptus mundi. I recognise Plato here too, his City of Pigs. And Buddha's dukkha: craving, attachment and suffering. And Mr. Scrooge in Dicken's A Christmas Carol. It seems that when one chooses greed above the True Reality of life (which is love) then evil climbs up on your back, weighs you down, haunts your dreams, befouls reason, distorts the ability to to see suffering in one's brother, undermines and infects faith and hope and charity.
Is the world an illusion? No, but the sensual pleasures sought and bought are as ephemeral as dreams. Let go of the world and gain the World.
Deo gratias.
The title's name comes from Ambrose Autpert, used in one of his treatise to describe the combat between vice and virtue. Worldiness and holiness. Autpert "insinuates that 'having' is the supreme value of our being, of our life in the world, and seems important". This greed seen clearly in the rich and powerful of society destroys and is the 'root of all evil'. The present Pope, who writes about this medieval author, states that it is our duty to combat greed, "to fight the desire to possess ... and the false concept of freedom as the faculty to dispose of all things as one pleases". Greed kills faith. Greed is possession. Greed is clinging to something material and putting a value on it.
"For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains." (1 Tim.6:7-10)
Contemptus mundi. I recognise Plato here too, his City of Pigs. And Buddha's dukkha: craving, attachment and suffering. And Mr. Scrooge in Dicken's A Christmas Carol. It seems that when one chooses greed above the True Reality of life (which is love) then evil climbs up on your back, weighs you down, haunts your dreams, befouls reason, distorts the ability to to see suffering in one's brother, undermines and infects faith and hope and charity.
Is the world an illusion? No, but the sensual pleasures sought and bought are as ephemeral as dreams. Let go of the world and gain the World.
Deo gratias.
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