Conferences XI–XVII, Conference XVII

Conference XVII

• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.1 — Of the vigils which we endured. When then the previous Conference was ended, and the intervening silence of night as well, as we had been conducted by the holy Abbot Joseph to a separate cell for the sake of quiet,…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.2 — Of the anxiety of Abbot Germanus at the recollection of our promise. What are we doing? said he. For we see that we are involved in a great difficulty and are in an evil plight, as reason itself and the life of the…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.3 — My ideas on this subject. Then I replied: The counsel or rather the authority of the Elder to whom we ought to refer our anxieties would make a short way out of our difficulties, and whatever is decided by his…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.4 — Abbot Joseph's question and our answer on the origin of our anxiety. Then the venerable Joseph saw that we were in rather low spirits, and, guessing that this was not the case without reason, addressed us in these…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.5 — The explanation of Abbot Germanus why we wanted to stay in Egypt, and were drawn back to Syria. The explanation of Abbot Germanus why we wanted to stay in Egypt, and were drawn back to Syria. To this Germanus: We…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.6 — Abbot Joseph's question whether we got more good in Egypt than in Syria. To this the blessed Joseph, after a short silence: Are you sure, said he, that you can get more profit in spiritual matters in this country?vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.7 — The answer on the difference of customs in the two countries. Germanus: Although we ought to be most grateful for the teaching of those men who taught us from our youth up to attempt great things, and, by giving us a…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.8 — How those who are perfect ought not to make any promises absolutely, and whether decisions can be reversed without sin. How those who are perfect ought not to make any promises absolutely, and whether decisions can…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.9 — How it is often better to break one's engagements than to fulfil them. And both these points are very clearly shown by the cases of S. Peter the Apostle and Herod. For the former, because he departed from his…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.10 — Our question about our fear of the oath which we gave in the monastery in Syria. Germanus: In so far as it concerns our desire, which we undertook to carry out for the sake of spiritual profit, we were hoping to be…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.11 — The answer that we must take into account the purpose of the doer rather than the execution of the business. The answer that we must take into account the purpose of the doer rather than the execution of the…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.12 — How a fortunate issue will be of no avail to evil doers, while bad deeds will not injure good men. How a fortunate issue will be of no avail to evil doers, while bad deeds will not injure good men. And that we may…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.13 — Our answer as to the reason which demanded an oath from us. Germanus: The first reason, as we said, was that we were afraid of vexing our Elders and resisting their orders; the second was that we very foolishly…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.14 — The discourse of the Elder showing how the plan of action may be changed without fault provided that one keeps to the carrying out of a good intention. Joseph: As we premised, the intent of the mind brings a man…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.15 — A question whether it can be without sin that our knowledge affords to weak brethren an opportunity for lying. A question whether it can be without sin that our knowledge affords to weak brethren an opportunity for…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.16 — The answer that Scripture truth is not to be altered on account of an offence given to the weak. The answer that Scripture truth is not to be altered on account of an offence given to the weak. Joseph: Occasions and…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.17 — How the saints have profitably employed a lie like hellebore. And so we ought to regard a lie and to employ it as if its nature were that of hellebore; which is useful if taken when some deadly disease is…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.18 — An objection that only those men employed lies with impunity, who lived under the law. Germanus: It is no wonder that these schemes were properly employed in the Old Testament, and that some holy men laudably or at…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.19 — The answer, that leave to lie, which was not even granted under the old Covenant, has rightly been taken by many. The answer, that leave to lie, which was not even granted under the old Covenant, has rightly been…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.20 — How even Apostles thought that a lie was often useful and the truth injurious. Instructed by which examples, the blessed Apostle James also, and all the chief princes of the primitive Church urged the Apostle Paul in…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.21 — Whether secret abstinence ought to be made known, without telling a lie about it, to those who ask, and whether what has once been declined may be taken in hand. And to bring forward some instances from our…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.22 — An objection, that abstinence ought to be concealed, but that things that have been declined should not be received. An objection, that abstinence ought to be concealed, but that things that have been declined should…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.23 — The answer that obstinacy in this decision is unreasonable. Joseph: There is no doubt that these are the decisions of those monasteries in which the infancy of your renunciation was, as you tell us, trained, as their…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.24 — How Abbot Piamun chose to hide his abstinence. Finally Abbot Piamun after twenty-five years did not hesitate to receive some grapes and wine offered to him by a certain brother, and at once preferred, against his…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.25 — The evidence of Scripture on changes of determination. It is impossible for us briefly to run through everything. For who could count up almost all the patriarchs and numberless saints, some of whom for the…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.26 — How saintly men cannot be hard and obstinate. Nor must we emit the value of that command because even if we have bound ourselves by some oath under the influence of anger or some other passion, (a thing which ought…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.27 — A question whether the saying: “I have sworn and am purposed” is opposed to the view given above. A question whether the saying: “I have sworn and am purposed” is opposed to the view given above. Germanus: So far as…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.28 — The answer telling in what cases the determination is to be kept fixedly, and in what cases it may be broken if need be. The answer telling in what cases the determination is to be kept fixedly, and in what cases it…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.29 — How we ought to do those things which are to be kept secret. You must also provide with the same care that if by chance some word has slipped out of your mouth which you want to be a secret, no injunction to secrecy…vatican.va
• Conferences XI–XVII XVII.30 — That no determination should be made on those things which concern the needs of the common life. That no determination should be made on those things which concern the needs of the common life. And therefore a monk…vatican.va