Conferences XI–XVII, Conference XIII

Conference XIII

• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.1 — Introduction. When after a short sleep we returned for morning service and were waiting for the old man, Abbot Germanus was troubled by great scruples because in the previous discussion, the force of which had…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.2 — A question why the merit of good deeds may not be ascribed to the exertions of the man who does them. A question why the merit of good deeds may not be ascribed to the exertions of the man who does them. Then…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.3 — The answer that without God's help not only perfect chastity but all good of every kind cannot be performed. The answer that without God’s help not only perfect chastity but all good of every kind cannot be…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.4 — An objection, asking how the Gentiles can be said to have chastity without the grace of God. An objection, asking how the Gentiles can be said to have chastity without the grace of God. Germanus: To this explanation,…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.5 — The answer on the imaginary chastity of the philosophers. Chæremon: I am pleased that, though you are fired with the greatest longing to know the truth, yet you bring forward some foolish points, as by your raising…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.6 — That without the grace of God we cannot make any diligent efforts. And therefore though in many things, indeed in everything, it can be shown that men always have need of God’s help, and that human weakness cannot…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.7 — Of the main purpose of God and His daily Providence. For the purpose of God whereby He made man not to perish but to live for ever, stands immovable. And when His goodness sees in us even the very smallest spark of…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.8 — Of the grace of God and the freedom of the will. And this care of His and providence with regard to us the Divine word has finely described by the prophet Hosea under the figure of Jerusalem as an harlot, and…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.9 — Of the power of our good will, and the grace of God. Whence human reason cannot easily decide how the Lord gives to those that ask, is found by those that seek, and opens to those that knock, and on the other hand is…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.10 — On the weakness of free will. For Holy Scripture supports the freedom of the will where it says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence,” but the Apostle indicates its weakness by saying “The Lord keep your hearts and…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.11 — Whether the grace of God precedes or follows our good will. And so these are somehow mixed up and indiscriminately confused, so that among many persons, which depends on the other is involved in great questionings,…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.12 — That a good will should not always be attributed to grace, nor always to man himself. For we should not hold that God made man such that he can never will or be capable of what is good: or else He has not granted him…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.13 — How human efforts cannot be set against the grace of God. And so the grace of God always co-operates with our will for its advantage, and in all things assists, protects, and defends it, in such a way as sometimes…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.14 — How God makes trial of the strength of man's will by means of his temptations. And this too we read that the Divine righteousness provided for in the case of Job His well tried athlete, when the devil had challenged…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.15 — Of the manifold grace of men's calls. And by this it is clearly shown that God’s “judgments are inscrutable and His ways past finding out,” by which He draws mankind to salvation. And this too we can prove by the…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.16 — Of the grace of God; to the effect that it transcends the narrow limits of human faith. But let no one imagine that we have brought forward these instances to try to make out that the chief share in our salvation…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.17 — Of the inscrutable providence of God. By those instances then which we have brought forward from the gospel records we can very clearly perceive that God brings salvation to mankind in diverse and innumerable methods…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XIII.18 — The decision of the fathers that free will is not equal to save a man. And from this it is clearly gathered by those who, led not by chattering words but by experience, measure the magnitude of grace, and the paltry…vatican.va