Conferences XVIII–XXIV, Conference XXI

Conference XXI

• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.1 — How Theonas came to Abbot John. Before we begin to set forth the words of this Conference held with that excellent man Abbot Theonas, I think it well to describe in a brief discourse the origin of his conversion…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.2 — The exhortation of Abbot John to Theonas and the others who had come together with him. I am indeed delighted, my children, with the duteous liberality of your gifts; and your devout offering, the disposal of which…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.3 — Of the offering of tithes and firstfruits. For indeed by the Lord’s command tithes were consecrated to the service of the Levites, but oblations and firstfruits for the priests. But this was the law of the…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.4 — How Abraham, David, and other saints went beyond the requirement of the law. For so we read that Abraham went beyond the requirement of the law which was afterwards to be given, when after his victory over the four…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.5 — How those who live under the grace of the Gospel ought to go beyond the requirement of the law. How those who live under the grace of the Gospel ought to go beyond the requirement of the law. Wherefore we ought to…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.6 — How the grace of the gospel supports the weak so that they can obtain pardon, as it secures to the perfect the kingdom of God. How the grace of the gospel supports the weak so that they can obtain pardon, as it…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.7 — How it lies in our own power to choose whether to remain under the grace of the gospel or under the terror of the law. How it lies in our own power to choose whether to remain under the grace of the gospel or under…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.8 — How Theonas exhorted his wife that she too should make her renunciation. And when he had heard this the blessed Theonas was fired with an uncontrollable desire for the perfection of the gospel, and, committed, as it…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.9 — How he fled to a monastery when his wife would not consent. And when his wife was hard and would not consent to him as he constantly persisted with entreaties of this kind, but said that as she was in the flower of…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.10 — An explanation that we may not appear to recommend separation from wives. But let no one imagine that we have invented this for the sake of encouraging divorce, as we not only in no way condemn marriage, but also,…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.11 — An inquiry why in Egypt they do not fast during all the fifty days (of Easter) nor bend their knees in prayer. An inquiry why in Egypt they do not fast during all the fifty days (of Easter) nor bend their knees in…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.12 — The answer on the nature of things good, bad, and indifferent. To this Abbot Theonas thus began his reply. It is indeed right for us, even when we cannot see the reason, to yield to the authority of the fathers and…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.13 — What kind of good fasting is. Wherefore we must now inquire what we ought to hold about the state of fasting, whether we meant that it was good in the same sort of way as justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance,…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.14 — How fasting is not good in its own nature. And so that it is a thing indifferent is very clearly shown from this also; viz., because as it brings justification when observed, so it does not bring condemnation when it…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.15 — How a thing that is good in its own nature ought not to be done for the sake of some lesser good. How a thing that is good in its own nature ought not to be done for the sake of some lesser good. For we ought not to…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.16 — How what is good in its own nature can be distinguished from other things that are good. And this may be distinguished from those other things which we have termed indifferent, in these ways: if a thing is good in…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.17 — Of the reason for fasting and its value. So then let us constantly remember this description of the character of fasting, and always aim at it with all the powers of the soul, in such a way as to recognize that then…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.18 — How fasting is not always suitable. Wherefore as we have premised this on the conditions of fasting, it seems well to subjoin the authority of Holy Scripture, by which it will be more clearly proved that fasting…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.19 — A question why we break the fast all through Eastertide. Germanus: Why then do we relax the rigour of our abstinence in our meals all through the fifty days, whereas Christ only remained with His disciples for forty…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.20 — The answer. Your pertinent question deserves to be told the perfect true reason. After the Ascension of our Saviour which took place on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, the apostles returned from the Mount of…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.21 — A question whether the relaxation of the fast is not prejudicial to the chastity of the body. A question whether the relaxation of the fast is not prejudicial to the chastity of the body. Germanus: Can the flesh,…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.22 — The answer on the way to keep control over abstinence. Theonas: If we weigh everything that we do, by a reasonable judgment of the mind, and on the purity of our heart always consult not the opinions of other people…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.23 — Of the time and measure of refreshment. So then we should keep the observance of the days mentioned in such a way that the relaxation allowed may be useful rather than harmful to the good of body and soul, because…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.24 — A question on the different ways of keeping Lent. Germanus: What is the reason why Lent is kept for six weeks, while in some countries a possibly more earnest care for religion seems to have added a seventh week as…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.25 — The answer to the effect that the fast of Lent has reference to the tithe of the year. Theonas: Although the pious simplicity of some folks would put aside a question on this subject, yet because you are more…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.26 — How we ought also to offer our firstfruits to the Lord. But what shall I say of the firstfruits which surely are given daily by all who serve Christ faithfully? For when men waking from sleep and arising with renewed…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.27 — Why Lent is kept by very many with a different number of days. Further, as for what you say; viz., that in some countries Lent is kept in different ways, i.e., for six or seven weeks, it is but one system and the…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.28 — Why it is called Quadragesima, when the fast is only kept for thirty-six days. But further, as man’s carelessness dropped out of sight the reason of this, this season when, as was said, the tithes of the year are…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.29 — How those who are perfect go beyond the fixed rule of Lent. By this law of Lent then the man who is upright and perfect is not restrained nor is he content with merely submitting to that paltry rule which the heads…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.30 — Of the origin and beginning of Lent. Howbeit you should know that as long as the primitive church retained its perfection unbroken, this observance of Lent did not exist. For they were not bound by the requirements…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.31 — A question, how we ought to understand the Apostle's words: “Sin shall not have dominion over you.”. A question, how we ought to understand the Apostle’s words: “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Germanus:…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.32 — The answer on the difference between grace and the commands of the law. Theonas: Your inquiry once more raises before us a question of no small extent. The explanation of which though I know that it cannot be taught…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.33 — Of the fact that the precepts of the gospel are milder than those of the law. Whoever therefore climbs this height of evangelical perfection, is at once raised by the merits of such virtue above every law, and…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.34 — How a man can be shown to be under grace. Whoever then strives to reach the perfection of evangelical teaching, this man living under grace is not oppressed by the dominion of sin, for to be under grace is to do…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.35 — A question, why sometimes when we are fasting more strictly than usual, we are troubled by carnal desires more keenly than usual. A question, why sometimes when we are fasting more strictly than usual, we are…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXI.36 — The answer, telling that this question should be reserved for a future Conference. Theonas: Your zeal indeed, whereby you desire to reach the way of perfection, not for a moment only but fully and perfectly, urges us…vatican.va