The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X

Works of St John Cassian (Institutes, Conferences, On the Incarnation) · Saint John Cassian

Preface.
Chapter I. Of our stay in Scete, and that which we proposed to Abbot Moses.
Chapter II. Of the question of Abbot Moses, who asked what was the goal and what the end of the monk.
Chapter III. Of our reply.
Chapter IV. Of Abbot Moses' question on the aforesaid statement.
Chapter V. A comparison with a man who is trying to hit a mark.
Chapter VI. Of those who in renouncing the world, aim at perfection without love.
Chapter VII. How peace of mind should be sought.
Chapter VIII. Of the main effort towards the contemplation of things and an illustration from the case of Martha and Mary.
Chapter IX. A question how it is that the practice of virtue cannot remain with a man.
Chapter X. The answer that not the reward, but the doing of them will come to an end.
Chapter XI. On the abiding character of love.
Chapter XII. A question on perseverance in spiritual contemplation.
Chapter XIII. The answer concerning the direction of the heart towards and concerning the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil.
Chapter XIV. Of the continuance of the soul.
Chapter XV. How we must meditate on God.
Chapter XVI. A question on the changing character of the thoughts.
Chapter XVII. The answer what the mind can and what it cannot do with regard to the state of its thoughts.
Chapter XVIII. Comparison of a soul and a millstone.
Chapter XIX. Of the three origins of our thoughts.
Chapter XX. About discerning the thoughts, with an illustration from a good money-changer.
Chapter XXI. Of the illusion of Abbot John.
Chapter XXII. Of the fourfold method of discrimination.
Chapter XXIII. Of the discourse of the teacher in regard to the merits of his hearers.
Chapter I. Abbot Moses' introduction on the grace of discretion.
Chapter II. What discretion alone can give a monk; and a discourse of the blessed Antony on this subject.
Chapter III. Of the error of Saul and of Ahab, by which they were deceived through lack of discretion.
Chapter IV. What is said of the value of discretion in Holy Scripture.
Chapter V. Of the death of the old man Heron.
Chapter VI. Of the destruction of two brethren for lack of discretion.
Chapter VII. Of an illusion into which another fell for lack of discretion.
Chapter VIII. Of the fall and deception of a monk of Mesopotamia.
Chapter IX. A question about the acquirement of true discretion.
Chapter X. The answer how true discretion may be gained.
Chapter XI. The words of Abbot Serapion on the decline of thoughts that are exposed to others, and also on the danger of self-confidence.
Chapter XII. A confession of the modesty which made us ashamed to reveal our thoughts to the elders.
Chapter XIII. The answer concerning the trampling down of shame, and the danger of one without contrition.
Chapter XIV. Of the call of Samuel.
Chapter XV. Of the call of the Apostle Paul.
Chapter XVI. How to seek for discretion.
Chapter XVII. On excessive fasts and vigils.
Chapter XVIII. A question on the right measure of abstinence and refreshment.
Chapter XIX. Of the best plan for our daily food.
Chapter XX. An objection on the ease of that abstinence in which a man is sustained by two biscuits.
Chapter XXI. The answer concerning the value and measure of well-proved abstinence.
Chapter XXII. What is the usual limit both of abstinence and of partaking food.
Chapter XXIII. Quemadmodum abundantia umorum genitalium castigetur.
Chapter XXIV. Of the difficulty of uniformity in eating; and of the gluttony of brother Benjamin.
Chapter XXV. A question how is it possible always to observe one and the same measure.
Chapter XXVI. The answer how we should not exceed the proper measure of food.
Chapter I. Of the life and conduct of Abbot Paphnutius.
Chapter II. Of the discourse of the same old man, and our reply to it.
Chapter III. The statement of Abbot Paphnutius on the three kinds of vocations, and the three sorts of renunciations.
Chapter IV. An explanation of the three callings.
Chapter V. How the first of these calls is of no use to a sluggard, and the last is no hindrance to one who is in earnest.
Chapter VI. An account of the three sorts of renunciations.
Chapter VII. How we can attain perfection in each of these sorts of renunciations.
Chapter VIII. Of our very own possessions in which the beauty of the soul is seen or its foulness.
Chapter IX. Of three sorts of possessions.
Chapter X. That none can become perfect merely through the first grade of renunciation.
Chapter XI. A question on the free will of man and the grace of God.
Chapter XII. The answer on the economy of Divine Grace, with free will still remaining in us.
Chapter XIII. That the ordering of our way comes from God.
Chapter XIV. That knowledge of the law is given by the guidance and illumination of the Lord.
Chapter XV. That the understanding, by means of which we can recognize God's commands, and the performance of a good will are both gifts from the Lord.
Chapter XVI. That faith itself must be given us by the Lord.
Chapter XVII. That temperateness and the endurance of temptations must be given to us by the Lord.
Chapter XVIII. That the continual fear of God must be bestowed on us by the Lord.
Chapter XIX. That the beginning of our good will and its completion comes from God.
Chapter XX. That nothing can be done in this world without God.
Chapter XXI. An objection on the power of free will.
Chapter XXII. The answer; viz., that our free will always has need of the help of the Lord.
Chapter I. Of the life of Abbot Daniel.
Chapter II. An investigation of the origin of a sudden change of feeling from inexpressible joy to extreme dejection of mind.
Chapter III. His answer to the question raised.
Chapter IV. How there is a twofold reason for the permission and allowance of God.
Chapter V. How our efforts and exertions are of no use without God's help.
Chapter VI. How it is sometimes to our advantage to be left by God.
Chapter VII. Of the value of the conflict which the Apostle makes to consist in the strife between the flesh and the spirit.
Chapter VIII. A question, how it is that in the Apostle's chapter, after he has spoken of the lusts of the flesh and spirit opposing one another, he adds a third thing; viz., man's will.
Chapter IX. The answer on the understanding of one who asks rightly.
Chapter X. That the word flesh is not used with one single meaning only.
Chapter XI. What the Apostle means by flesh in this passage, and what the lust of the flesh is.
Chapter XII. What is our free will, which stands in between the lust of the flesh and the spirit.
Chapter XIII. Of the advantage of the delay which results from the struggle between flesh and spirit.
Chapter XIV. Of the incurable depravity of spiritual wickednesses.
Chapter XV. Of the value of the lust of the flesh against the spirit in our case.
Chapter XVI. Of the excitements of the flesh, without the humiliation of which we should fall more grievously.
Chapter XVII. Of the lukewarmness of eunuchs.
Chapter XVIII. The question what is the difference between the carnal and natural man.
Chapter XIX. The answer concerning the threefold condition of souls.
Chapter XX. Of those who renounce the world but ill.
Chapter XXI. Of those who having made light of great things busy themselves about trifles.
Chapter I. Our arrival at Abbot Serapion's cell, and inquiry on the different kinds of faults and the way to overcome them.
Chapter II. Abbot Serapion's enumeration of eight principal faults.
Chapter III. Of the two classes of faults and their fourfold manner of acting on us.
Chapter IV. A review of the passions of gluttony and fornication and their remedies.
Chapter V. How our Lord alone was tempted without sin.
Chapter VI. Of the manner of the temptation in which our Lord was attacked by the devil.
Chapter VII. How vainglory and pride can be consummated without any assistance from the body.
Chapter VIII. Of covetousness, which is something outside our nature, and of the difference between it and those faults which are natural to us.
Chapter IX. How dejection and accidie generally arise without any external provocation, as in the case of other faults.
Chapter X. How six of these faults are related, and the two which differ from them are akin to one another.
Chapter XI. Of the origin and character of each of these faults.
Chapter XII. How vainglory may be useful to us.
Chapter XIII. Of the different ways in which all these faults assault us.
Chapter XIV. Of the struggle into which we must enter against our faults, when they attack us.
Chapter XV. How we can do nothing against our faults without the help of God, and how we should not be puffed up by victories over them.
Chapter XVI. Of the meaning of the seven nations of whose lands Israel took possession, and the reason why they are sometimes spoken of as “seven,” and sometimes as “many.”
Chapter XVII. A question with regard to the comparison of seven nations with eight faults.
Chapter XVIII.
Chapter XIX. The reason why one nation is to be forsaken, while seven are commanded to be destroyed.
Chapter XX. Of the nature of gluttony, which may be illustrated by the simile of the eagle.
Chapter XXI. Of the lasting character of gluttony as described to some philosophers.
Chapter XXII. How it was that God foretold to Abraham that Israel would have to drive out ten nations.
Chapter XXIII. How it is useful for us to take possession of their lands.
Chapter XXIV. How the lands from which the Canaanites were expelled, had been assigned to the seed of Shem.
Chapter XXV. Different passages of Scripture on the meaning of the eight faults.
Chapter XXVI. How when we have got the better of the passion of gluttony we must take pains to gain all the other virtues.
Chapter XXVII. That our battles are not fought with our faults in the same order as that in which they stand in the list.
Chapter I. Description of the wilderness, and the question about the death of the saints.
Chapter II. Abbot Theodore's answer to the question proposed to him.
Chapter III. Of the three kinds of things there are in the world; viz., good, bad, and indifferent.
Chapter IV. How evil cannot be forced on any one by another against his will.
Chapter V. An objection, how God Himself can be said to create evil.
Chapter VI. The answer to the question proposed.
Chapter VII. A question whether the man who causes the death of a good man is guilty, if the good man is the gainer by his death.
Chapter VIII. The answer to the foregoing question.
Chapter IX. The case of Job who was tempted by the devil and of the Lord who was betrayed by Judas: and how prosperity as well as adversity is advantageous to a good man.
Chapter X. Of the excellence of the perfect man who is figuratively spoken of as ambidextrous.
Chapter XI. Of the two kinds of trials, which come upon us in a three-fold way.
Chapter XII. How the upright man ought to be like a stamp not of wax but of hard steel.
Chapter XIII. A question whether the mind can constantly continue in one and the same condition.
Chapter XIV. The answer to the point raised by the questioner.
Chapter XV. How one loses by going away from one's cell.
Chapter XVI. How even celestial powers above are capable of change.
Chapter XVII. That no one is dashed to the ground by a sudden fall.
Chapter I. On the chastity of Abbot Serenus.
Chapter II. The question of the aforesaid old man on the state of our thoughts.
Chapter III. Our answer on the fickle character of our thoughts.
Chapter IV. The discourse of the old man on the state of the soul and its excellence.
Chapter V. On the perfection of the soul, as drawn from the comparison of the Centurion in the gospel.
Chapter VI. Of perseverance as regards care of the thoughts.
Chapter VII. A question on the roving tendency of the mind and the attacks of spiritual wickedness.
Chapter VIII. The answer on the help of God and the power of free will.
Chapter IX. A question on the union of the soul with devils.
Chapter X. The answer how unclean spirits are united with human souls.
Chapter XI. An objection whether unclean spirits can be present in or united with the souls of those whom they have filled.
Chapter XII. The answer how it is that unclean spirits can lord it over those possessed.
Chapter XIII. How spirit cannot be penetrated by spirit, and how God alone is incorporeal.
Chapter XIV. An objection, as to how we ought to believe that devils see into the thoughts of men.
Chapter XV. The answer what devils can and what they cannot do in regard to the thoughts of men.
Chapter XVI. An illustration showing how we are taught that unclean spirits know the thoughts of men.
Chapter XVII. On the fact that not every devil has the power of suggesting every passion to men.
Chapter XVIII. A question whether among the devils there is any order observed in the attack, or system in its changes.
Chapter XIX. The answer how far an agreement exists among devils about the attack and its changes.
Chapter XX. Of the fact that opposite powers are not of the same boldness, and that the occasions of temptation are not under their control.
Chapter XXI. Of the fact that devils struggle with men not without effort on their part.
Chapter XXII. On the fact that the power to hurt does not depend upon the will of the devils.
Chapter XXIII. Of the diminished power of the devils.
Chapter XXIV. Of the way in which the devils prepare for themselves an entrance into the bodies of those whom they are going to possess.
Chapter XXV. On the fact that those men are more wretched who are possessed by sins than those who are possessed by devils.
Chapter XXVI. Of the death of the prophet who was led astray, and of the infirmity of the Abbot Paul, with which he was visited for the sake of his cleansing.
Chapter XXVII. On the temptation of Abbot Moses.
Chapter XXVIII. How we ought not to despise those who are delivered up to unclean spirits.
Chapter XXIX. An objection, asking why those who are tormented by unclean spirits are separated from the Lord's communion.
Chapter XXX. The answer to the question raised.
Chapter XXXI. On the fact that those men are more to be pitied to whom it is not given to be subjected to those temporal temptations.
Chapter XXXII. Of the different desires and wishes which exist in the powers of the air.
Chapter XXXIII. A question as to the origin of such differences in powers of evil in the sky.
Chapter XXXIV. The postponement of the answer to the question raised.
Chapter I. Of the hospitality of Abbot Serenus.
Chapter II. Statements on the different kinds of spiritual wickednesses.
Chapter III. The answer on the many kinds of food provided in holy Scripture.
Chapter IV. Of the double sense in which Holy Scripture may be taken.
Chapter V. Of the fact that the question suggested ought to be included among those things to be held in a neutral or doubtful way.
Chapter VI. Of the fact that nothing is created evil by God.
Chapter VII. Of the origin of principalities or powers.
Chapter VIII. Of the fall of the devil and the angels.
Chapter IX. An objection stating that the fall of the devil took its origin from the deception of God.
Chapter X. The answer about the beginning of the devil's fall.
Chapter XI. The punishment of the deceiver and the deceived.
Chapter XII. Of the crowd of the devils, and the disturbance which they always raise in our atmosphere.
Chapter XIII. Of the fact that opposing powers turn the attack, which they aim at men, even against each other.
Chapter XIV. How it is that spiritual wickednesses obtained the names of powers or principalities.
Chapter XV. Of the fact that it is not without reason that the names of angels and archangels are given to holy and heavenly powers.
Chapter XVI. Of the subjection of the devils, which they show to their own princes, as seen in a brother's victim.
Chapter XVII. Of the fact that two angels always cling to every man.
Chapter XVIII. Of the degrees of wickedness which exist in hostile spirits, as shown in the case of two philosophers.
Chapter XIX. Of the fact that devils cannot prevail at all against men unless they have first secured possession of their minds.
Chapter XX. A question about the fallen angels who are said in Genesis to have had intercourse with the daughters of men.
Chapter XXI. The answer to the question raised.
Chapter XXII. An objection, as to how an unlawful intermingling with the daughters of Cain could be charged against the line of Seth before the prohibition of the law.
Chapter XXIII. The answer, that by the law of nature men were from the beginning liable to judgment and punishment.
Chapter XXIV. Of the fact that they were justly punished, who sinned before the flood.
Chapter XXV. How this that is said of the devil in the gospel is to be understood; viz., that “he is a liar, and his father.”
Chapter I. Introduction to the Conference.
Chapter II. The words of Abbot Isaac on the nature of prayer.
Chapter III. How pure and sincere prayer can be gained.
Chapter IV. Of the lightness of the soul which may be compared to a wing or feather.
Chapter V. Of the ways in which our soul is weighed down.
Chapter VI. Of the vision which a certain Elder saw concerning the restless work of a brother.
Chapter VII. A question how it is that it is harder work to preserve than to originate good thoughts.
Chapter VIII. Of the different characters of prayer.
Chapter IX. Of the fourfold nature of prayer.
Chapter X. Of the order of the different kinds laid down with regard to the character of prayer.
Chapter XI. Of Supplications.
Chapter XII. Of Prayer.
Chapter XIII. Of Intercession.
Chapter XIV. Of Thanksgiving.
Chapter XV. Whether these four kinds of prayers are necessary for everyone to offer all at once or separately and in turns.
Chapter XVI. Of the kinds of prayer to which we ought to direct ourselves.
Chapter XVII. How the four kinds of supplication were originated by the Lord.
Chapter XVIII. Of the Lord's Prayer.
Chapter XIX. Of the clause “Thy kingdom come.”
Chapter XX. Of the clause “Thy will be done.”
Chapter XXI. Of our supersubstantial or daily bread.
Chapter XXII. Of the clause: “Forgive us our debts, etc.”
Chapter XXIII. Of the clause: “Lead us not into temptation.“
Chapter XXIV. How we ought not to ask for other things, except only those which are contained in the limits of the Lord's Prayer.
Chapter XXV. Of the character of the sublimer prayer.
Chapter XXVI. Of the different causes of conviction.
Chapter XXVII. Of the different sorts of conviction.
Chapter XXVIII. A question about the fact that a plentiful supply of tears is not in our own power.
Chapter XXIX. The answer on the varieties of conviction which spring from tears.
Chapter XXX. How tears ought not to be squeezed out, when they do not flow spontaneously.
Chapter XXXI. The opinion of Abbot Antony on the condition of prayer.
Chapter XXXII. Of the proof of prayer being heard.
Chapter XXXIII. An objection that the confidence of being thus heard as described belongs only to saints.
Chapter XXXIV. Answer on the different reasons for prayer being heard.
Chapter XXXV. Of prayer to be offered within the chamber and with the door shut.
Chapter XXXVI. Of the value of short and silent prayer.
Chapter I. Introduction.
Chapter II. Of the custom which is kept up in the Province of Egypt for signifying the time of Easter.
Chapter III. Of Abbot Sarapion and the heresy of the Anthropomorphites into which he fell in the error of simplicity.
Chapter IV. Of our return to Abbot Isaac and question concerning the error into which the aforesaid old man had fallen.
Chapter V. The answer on the heresy described above.
Chapter VI. Of the reasons why Jesus Christ appears to each one of us either in His humility or in His glorified condition.
Chapter VII. What constitutes our end and perfect bliss.
Chapter VIII. A question on the training in perfection by which we can arrive at perpetual recollection of God.
Chapter IX. The answer on the efficacy of understanding, which is gained by experience.
Chapter X. Of the method of continual prayer.
Chapter XI. Of the perfection of prayer to which we can rise by the system described.
Chapter XII. A question as to how spiritual thoughts can be retained without losing them.
Chapter XIII. On the lightness of thoughts.
Chapter XIV. The answer how we can gain stability of heart or of thoughts.