The Institutes, Book X

Book X

• The Institutes X.1 — How our sixth combat is against the spirit of accidie, and what its character is. Our sixth combat is with what the Greeks call ἀκηδία, which we may term weariness or distress of heart. This is akin to dejection, and…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.2 — A description of accidie, and the way in which it creeps over the heart of a monk, and the injury it inflicts on the soul. A description of accidie, and the way in which it creeps over the heart of a monk, and the…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.3 — Of the different ways in which accidie overcomes a monk. And so the wretched soul, embarrassed by such contrivances of the enemy, is disturbed, until, worn out by the spirit of accidie, as by some strong battering…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.4 — How accidie hinders the mind from all contemplation of the virtues. All the inconveniences of this disease are admirably expressed by David in a single verse, where he says, “My soul slept from weariness,” that is,…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.5 — How the attack of accidie is twofold. And so the true Christian athlete who desires to strive lawfully in the lists of perfection, should hasten to expel this disease also from the recesses of his soul; and should…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.6 — How injurious are the effects of accidie. And whenever it begins in any degree to overcome any one, it either makes him stay in his cell idle and lazy, without making any spiritual progress, or it drives him out from…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.7 — Testimonies from the Apostle concerning the spirit of accidie. The blessed Apostle, like a true and spiritual physician, either seeing this disease, which springs from the spirit of accidie, already creeping in, or…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.8 — That he is sure to be restless who will not be content with the work of his own hands. “Because we were not restless among you.” When he wants to prove by the practice of work that he was not restless among them, he…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.9 — That not the Apostle only, but those two who were with him laboured with their own hands. And he testifies that it was not he alone who so lived among them, lest haply this method might not seem important or general…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.10 — That for this reason the Apostle laboured with his own hands, that he might set us an example of work. That for this reason the Apostle laboured with his own hands, that he might set us an example of work. “Not as if…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.11 — That he preached and taught men to work not only by his example, but also by his words. But lest haply it might be thought that, while he worked in silence and tried to teach them by example, he had not instructed…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.12 — Of his saying: “If any will not work, neither shall he eat.”. And now he no longer addresses to them the advice of a teacher or physician, but proceeds with the severity of a judicial sentence, and, resuming his…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.13 — Of his saying: “We have heard that some among you walk disorderly.”. Then after all this rigour of gospel severity, he now lays bare the reason why he put forward all these matters. “For we have heard that some among…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.14 — How manual labour prevents many faults. And so he loses no time in at once applying a suitable remedy to the incentive to so many faults, and laying aside that apostolic power of his which he had made use of a little…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.15 — How kindness should be shown even to the idle and careless. Nevertheless, like a far-sighted and careful physician, he is not only anxious to heal the wounds of the sick, but gives suitable directions as well to the…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.16 — How we ought to admonish those who go wrong, not out of hatred, but out of love. But again in case some might be encouraged by this gentleness, and scorn to obey his commands, he proceeds with the severity of an…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.17 — Different passages in which the Apostle declares that we ought to work, or in which it is shown that he himself worked. Different passages in which the Apostle declares that we ought to work, or in which it is shown…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.18 — That the Apostle wrought what he thought would be sufficient for him and for others who were with him. That the Apostle wrought what he thought would be sufficient for him and for others who were with him. Then going…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.19 — How we should understand these words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”. And he says that this is a command of the Lord: “For He Himself,” namely the Lord Jesus, said he, “said it is more blessed to give…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.20 — Of a lazy brother who tried to persuade others to leave the monastery. We know a brother, whose name we would give if it would do any good, who, although he was remaining in the monastery and compelled to deliver to…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.21 — Different passages from the writings of Solomon against accidie. And Solomon, the wisest of men, clearly points to this fault of idleness in many passages, as he says: “He that followeth idleness shall be filled with…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.22 — How the brethren in Egypt work with their hands, not only to supply their own needs, but also to minister to those who are in prison. How the brethren in Egypt work with their hands, not only to supply their own…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.23 — That idleness is the reason why there are not monasteries for monks in the West. Hence it is that in these countries we see no monasteries found with such numbers of brethren: for they are not supported by the…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.24 — Abbot Paul who every year burnt with fire all the works of his hands. Lastly, Abbot Paul, one of the greatest of the Fathers, while he was living in a vast desert which is called the Porphyrian desert, and being…vatican.va
• The Institutes X.25 — The words of Abbot Moses which he said to me about the cure of accidie. When I was beginning my stay in the desert, and had said to Abbot Moses, the chief of all the saints, that I had been terribly troubled…vatican.va