Over Afternoon Tea

Tea is not only a drink but a ritual over which people have been relaxing, talking, and catching up on each other's lives for centuries. This blog is intended to serve as a virtual cup of tea, helping me keep in touch with friends and family in my physical absence.

convertitis, n. an inflammation of the zeal. This disease is most commonly observed in adult converts to Orthodoxy from other forms of Christianity, but virulent strains are often observed in those who, having been baptized into the Church at an early point, experience later on an awakening to their faith. Convertitis begins when the catechumen, newly baptized, or newly chrismated catches a great deal of excitement about the new faith and disregards the warnings of the priest to be careful about overdoing it. It is often exacerbated by the encouragement of friends or relations who are impressed at the convert's sudden piety. Convertitis is not particularly dangerous if it is discovered and treated very early on. Here the greatest discernment is required. Developing convertitis and developing piety must be sharply distinguished.
The priest must bear in mind that those afflicted with convertitis usually have overdeveloped ideas of spiritual authority, and this can be put to good use. Appropriate instructions administered at an early point by a spiritual father or, in some milder cases, godparent may greatly mitigate or entirely avert this disease. The convert must be advised to take things at a reasonable pace, warned against starving during Lent, instructed not to devote an hour each day to morning prayers, and cautioned against staying a month in a monastery. Developing pride, abuse of other religions (especially his/her former one) and tendencies to proselytize loudly and vituperatively must be promptly put down. Charity, visits to soup kitchens and nursing homes, and other activities requiring more love than mysticism should be encouraged.
If left untreated, convertitis may develop into a bad case of (originally sincere and) exaggerated piety, usually complicated by a virulent and almost ineradicable strain of pride. The disease will soon run its course, leaving the convert exhausted; the formerly pious will be observed scarcely to visit Church and may no longer come to Communion. At this point, only the best of father confessors will be able to have any effect whatsoever. A firm and gentle priest will help the convert to begin again where he or she ought to have begun, with small but steady efforts. A pronounced wariness of the Church (which is rather unfair, since it is really the convert's fault) will be observed for some time; the best cure for this is to put the convert in a friendly and healthy parish, and let time do its healing work.

- for the instruction of those who wish to be priests, from the experiences of an idiot.