Conferences I–X, Conference VII

Conference VII

• Conferences I–X VII.1 — On the chastity of Abbot Serenus. As we desire to introduce to earnest minds the Abbot Serenus, a man of the greatest holiness and continence, and one who answers like a mirror to his name, whom we admired above all…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.2 — The question of the aforesaid old man on the state of our thoughts. This man then in his prayers by day and night, and in fasts and vigils unweariedly entreated for inward chastity of heart and soul, and seeing that…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.3 — Our answer on the fickle character of our thoughts. The time spent here, and the dwelling in solitude, and meditation, through which you think that we ought to have attained perfection of the inner man, has only done…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.4 — The discourse of the old man on the state of the soul and its excellence. Serenus: It is dangerous to jump to a conclusion and lay down the law hastily on the nature of anything before you have properly discussed the…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.5 — On the perfection of the soul, as drawn from the comparison of the Centurion in the gospel. On the perfection of the soul, as drawn from the comparison of the Centurion in the gospel. Of this perfect mind then there…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.6 — Of perseverance as regards care of the thoughts. But we shall find out by our own experience that we can and ought to cling to the Lord if we have our wills mortified and the desires of this world cut off, and we…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.7 — A question on the roving tendency of the mind and the attacks of spiritual wickedness. Germanus: Perhaps this tendency of the mind to rove might to some extent be checked were it not that so great a swam of enemies…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.8 — The answer on the help of God and the power of free will. Serenus: No one who has experienced the conflicts of the inner man, can doubt that our foes are continually lying in wait for us. But we mean that they oppose…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.9 — A question on the union of the soul with devils. Germanus: What, I pray you, is that indiscriminate and common union of the soul with those evil spirits, by which it is possible for them to be (I will not say joined…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.10 — The answer how unclean spirits are united with human souls. Serenus: It is no wonder that spirit can be imperceptibly joined with spirit, and exercise an unseen power of persuasion toward what is allowed to it. For…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.11 — An objection whether unclean spirits can be present in or united with the souls of those whom they have filled. An objection whether unclean spirits can be present in or united with the souls of those whom they have…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.12 — The answer how it is that unclean spirits can lord it over those possessed. Serenus: What you speak of as taking place in the case of demoniacs is not opposed to our assertion; viz., that those possessed by unclean…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.13 — How spirit cannot be penetrated by spirit, and how God alone is incorporeal. For even if spirit is mingled with this crass and solid matter; viz., flesh (as very easily happens), should we therefore believe that it…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.14 — An objection, as to how we ought to believe that devils see into the thoughts of men. Germanus: In this way, which you describe, those spirits cannot possibly see into our thoughts. But we think it utterly absurd to…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.15 — The answer what devils can and what they cannot do in regard to the thoughts of men. Serenus: Nobody doubts that unclean spirits can influence the character of our thoughts, but this is by affecting them from without…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.16 — An illustration showing how we are taught that unclean spirits know the thoughts of men. For just as some thieves are in the habit of examining the concealed treasures of the men in those houses which they mean to…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.17 — On the fact that not every devil has the power of suggesting every passion to men. But we ought to know this, that not all devils can implant all the passions in men, but that certain spirits brood over each sin, and…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.18 — A question whether among the devils there is any order observed in the attack, or system in its changes. A question whether among the devils there is any order observed in the attack, or system in its changes.…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.19 — The answer how far an agreement exists among devils about the attack and its changes. Serenus: It is a true assertion that there is no lasting concord among bad men, and that perfect harmony cannot exist even in…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.20 — Of the fact that opposite powers are not of the same boldness, and that the occasions of temptation are not under their control. Of the fact that opposite powers are not of the same boldness, and that the occasions…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.21 — Of the fact that devils struggle with men not without effort on their part. But our belief is that they undertake this struggle not without effort on their part. For in their conflict they themselves have some sort…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.22 — On the fact that the power to hurt does not depend upon the will of the devils. But that they have not the power of hurting any man is shown in a very clear way by the instance of the blessed Job, where the enemy did…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.23 — Of the diminished power of the devils. But we have thoroughly discovered both by our own experience and by the testimony of the Elders that the devils have not now the same power as they had formerly during the early…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.24 — Of the way in which the devils prepare for themselves an entrance into the bodies of those whom they are going to possess. Of the way in which the devils prepare for themselves an entrance into the bodies of those…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.25 — On the fact that those men are more wretched who are possessed by sins than those who are possessed by devils. On the fact that those men are more wretched who are possessed by sins than those who are possessed by…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.26 — 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. And we see clear instance of this in the case of that prophet and man…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.27 — On the temptation of Abbot Moses. But the second person whom we mentioned as living in this desert, although he was also a remarkable and striking man, yet, in order to punish a single word, to which in a dispute…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.28 — How we ought not to despise those who are delivered up to unclean spirits. From which it plainly results that we ought not to hate or despise those whom we see to be delivered up to various temptations or to those…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.29 — An objection, asking why those who are tormented by unclean spirits are separated from the Lord's communion. An objection, asking why those who are tormented by unclean spirits are separated from the Lord’s…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.30 — The answer to the question raised. Serenus: If we had this knowledge, or rather faith, of which I treated above; viz., to believe that all things were brought about by God, and ordered for the good of our souls, we…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.31 — On the fact that those men are more to be pitied to whom it is not given to be subjected to those temporal temptations. On the fact that those men are more to be pitied to whom it is not given to be subjected to…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.32 — Of the different desires and wishes which exist in the powers of the air. But it is clearly proved that there exist in unclean spirits as many desires as there are in men. For some of them, which are commonly called…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.33 — A question as to the origin of such differences in powers of evil in the sky. Germanus: We certainly do not doubt that those orders which the Apostle enumerates refer to them: “For we wrestle not against flesh and…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X VII.34 — The postponement of the answer to the question raised. Serenus: Although your proposals would rob us of our whole night’s rest, so that we should not notice the approach of the rising dawn, and should be tempted…vatican.va