Conferences I–X, Conference III

Conference III

• Conferences I–X III.1 — Of the life and conduct of Abbot Paphnutius. In that choir of saints who shine like brilliant stars in the night of this world, we have seen the holy Paphnutius, like some great luminary, shining with the brightness…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.2 — Of the discourse of the same old man, and our reply to it. As then we were anxious to learn from his teaching, we came in some agitation to his cell towards evening. And after a short silence he began to commend our…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.3 — The statement of Abbot Paphnutius on the three kinds of vocations, and the three sorts of renunciations. The statement of Abbot Paphnutius on the three kinds of vocations, and the three sorts of renunciations. Then…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.4 — An explanation of the three callings. To make clear therefore the main differences between these three kinds of calling, the first is from God, the second comes through man, the third is from compulsion. And a…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.5 — 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. How the first of these calls is of no use to a sluggard, and the last is no hindrance to one who is in…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.6 — An account of the three sorts of renunciations. We must now speak of the renunciations, of which tradition and the authority of Holy Scripture show us three, and which every one of us ought with the utmost zeal to…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.7 — How we can attain perfection in each of these sorts of renunciations. Wherefore it will not be of much advantage to us that we have made our first renunciation with the utmost devotion and faith, if we do not…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.8 — Of our very own possessions in which the beauty of the soul is seen or its foulness. We ought then to take the utmost care that our inner man as well may cast off and make away with all those possessions of its sins,…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.9 — Of three sorts of possessions. Riches and possessions are taken in Holy Scripture in three different ways, i.e., as good, bad, and indifferent. Those are bad, of which it is said: “The rich have wanted and have…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.10 — That none can become perfect merely through the first grade of renunciation. In leaving then these visible goods of the world we forsake not our own wealth, but that which is not ours, although we boast of it as…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.11 — A question on the free will of man and the grace of God. Germanus: Where then is there room for free will, and how is it ascribed to our efforts that we are worthy of praise, if God both begins and ends everything in…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.12 — The answer on the economy of Divine Grace, with free will still remaining in us. Paphnutius: This would fairly influence us, if in every work and practice, the beginning and the end were everything, and there were no…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.13 — That the ordering of our way comes from God. And truly the saints have never said that it was by their own efforts that they secured the direction of the way in which they walked in their course towards advance and…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.14 — That knowledge of the law is given by the guidance and illumination of the Lord. The knowledge also of the law itself they daily endeavour to gain not by diligence in reading, but by the guidance and illumination of…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.15 — 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. That the understanding, by means of which we can recognize God’s commands,…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.16 — That faith itself must be given us by the Lord. But so thoroughly did the Apostles realize that everything which concerns salvation was given them by the Lord, that they even asked that faith itself should be granted…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.17 — That temperateness and the endurance of temptations must be given to us by the Lord. And that all the endurance, with which we can bear the temptations brought upon us, depends not so much on our own strength as on…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.18 — That the continual fear of God must be bestowed on us by the Lord. And lastly the prophet Jeremiah, speaking in the person of God, clearly testifies that even the fear of God, by which we can hold fast to Him, is…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.19 — That the beginning of our good will and its completion comes from God. And this plainly teaches us that the beginning of our good will is given to us by the inspiration of the Lord, when He draws us towards the way…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.20 — That nothing can be done in this world without God. But it is right for us to hold with unswerving faith that nothing whatever is done in this world without God. For we must acknowledge that everything is done either…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.21 — An objection on the power of free will. Germanus: This passage very clearly shows the freedom of the will, where it is said “If My people would have hearkened unto Me,” and elsewhere “But My people would not hear My…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X III.22 — The answer; viz., that our free will always has need of the help of the Lord. Paphnutius: You have shrewdly enough noticed how it is said “If they would have hearkened to Me:” but have not sufficiently considered…vatican.va