Conferences XVIII–XXIV, Conference XXIV

Conference XXIV

• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.1 — How we laid bare the secrets of our thoughts to Abbot Abraham. This twenty-fourth Conference of Abbot Abraham is by the favour of Christ produced, which concludes the traditions and decisions of all the Elders; and…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.2 — How the old man exposed our errors. The feebleness of your ideas shows that you have not yet renounced worldly desires nor mortified your former lusts. For as the wandering character of your desires testifies to the…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.3 — Of the character of the districts which anchorites ought to seek. And therefore by him who is exercising anxious care over the purity of his inner man, those districts should be sought, which do not by their…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.4 — What sorts of work should be chosen by solitaries. Everyone therefore who constantly perseveres in this watchfulness will effectually fulfil what is very plainly expressed by the prophet Habakkuk: “I will stand upon…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.5 — That anxiety of heart is made worse rather than better by restlessness of body. Nor is it wonderful if one who lives in a cell, having his thoughts collected together as it were in a narrow cloister, is oppressed by…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.6 — A comparison showing how a monk ought to keep guard over his thoughts. Wherefore a monk’s whole attention should thus be fixed on one point, and the rise and circle of all his thoughts be vigorously restricted to it;…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.7 — A question why the neighbourhood of our kinsfolk is considered to interfere with us, whereas it does not interfere in the case of those living in Egypt. Germanus: It is a very useful and needful rule that is given…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.8 — The answer that all things are not suitable for all men. Abraham: Sometimes we see bad precedents taken from good things. For if a man ventures to do the same thing as another, but not with the same mind and purpose,…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.9 — That those need not fear the neighbourhood of their kinsfolk, who can emulate the mortification of Abbot Apollos. That those need not fear the neighbourhood of their kinsfolk, who can emulate the mortification of…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.10 — A question whether it is bad for a monk to have his wants supplied by his kinsfolk. Germanus: On this subject you have certainly left no room for any further uncertainty. For we are sure that we cannot possibly keep…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.11 — The answer stating what Saint Antony laid down on this matter. Abraham: I will not give you my own opinion against this, but that of the blessed Antony, whereby he confounded the laziness of a certain brother…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.12 — Of the value of work and the harm of idleness. And so though we also might have the protection of our kinsfolk, yet we have preferred his abstinence to all riches, and have chosen to procure our daily bodily…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.13 — A story of a barber's payments, introduced for the sake of recognizing the devil's illusions. A story of a barber’s payments, introduced for the sake of recognizing the devil’s illusions. For as you hope that you can…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.14 — A question how such wrong notions can creep into us. Germanus: Very aptly has your discussion shown the error of these illusions by this illustration: but we should like in the same way to be taught its origin and…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.15 — The answer on the threefold movement of the soul. Abraham: Of all faults there is one source and origin, but different names are assigned to the passions and corruptions in accordance with the character of that part,…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.16 — That the rational part of our soul is corrupt. And therefore if you want to discover the source and origin of this fault, you must recognize that the rational part of your mind and soul is corrupt, that part namely…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.17 — How the weaker part of the soul is the first to yield to the devil's temptations. You should then apply to this member or part of the soul which we have described as particularly wounded, the remedy of true humility:…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.18 — A question whether we should be drawn back to our country by a proper desire for greater silence. A question whether we should be drawn back to our country by a proper desire for greater silence. Germanus: Among…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.19 — The answer on the devil's illusion, because he promises us the peace of a vaster solitude. Abraham: Never to be resorted to by men at all is a sign of an unreasonable and ill-considered strictness, or rather of the…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.20 — How useful is relaxation on the arrival of brethren. That most refreshing interlude also of relaxation and courtesy, which sometimes is wont to intervene because of the arrival of brethren, although it may seem to us…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.21 — How the Evangelist John is said to have shown the value of relaxation. It is said that the blessed John, while he was gently stroking a partridge with his hands suddenly saw a philosopher approaching him in the garb…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.22 — A question how we ought to understand what the gospel says “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.“. A question how we ought to understand what the gospel says “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Germanus: As…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.23 — The answer with the explanation of the saying. Abraham: We can prove by the easy teaching of our own experience that our Lord and Saviour’s saying is perfectly true, if we approach the way of perfection properly and…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.24 — Why the Lord's yoke is felt grievous and His burden heavy. But the fact that to us on the contrary the yoke of Christ seems neither light nor easy, must be rightly ascribed to our perverseness, as we are cast down by…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.25 — Of the good which an attack of temptation brings about. And so by the struggle with temptation the kindly grace of the Saviour bestows on us larger rewards of praise than if it had taken away from us all need of…vatican.va
• Conferences XVIII–XXIV XXIV.26 — How the promise of an hundredfold in this life is made to those whose renunciation is perfect. How the promise of an hundredfold in this life is made to those whose renunciation is perfect. Further also that…vatican.va