JOHN CASSIAN: THE CONFERENCES PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Boniface Ramsey | 912 pages | 01 Nov 1997 | Paulist Press International, U.S. | 9780809104840 | English | Mahwah, United States Conferences: Contents

MP3 audio file. Reviews Goodreads reviews for Conferences of J. Reviews from Goodreads. Source: Wikipedia. Related topics: and religious orders, Church history--Primitive and early church, Vices, Cassian, John,--ca. Also, it is not by repression that one comes to chastity but rather by filling the heart with a greater desire and love. We must burn for love of Christ and fill our minds, imagination and memories with salutary dispositions. We must fix our who gaze and all our efforts and concerns on the cultivation of our hearts. Discussion then ensued about fostering chastity in modern times and the need for clarity and an heroic response to the grace of God. Visit pghco. MistyLook made free by Web Hosting Bluebook. Feed on Posts. Conferences and Institutes. Following his teacher, Evagrius Ponticus, he stressed wordless prayer and the mystical journey of the soul. William Harmless John Cassian ca. He is known both as one of the "Scythian " and as one of the ". In these, he codified and transmitted the wisdom of the Desert Fathers of . These books were written at the request of Castor, of Apt, of the subsequent , and of several Gallic and monks. St. John Cassian and the Spirituality of St. Dominic | Dominicana

More in Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Write a Review. Advanced Search Links. Product Close-up This product is not available for expedited shipping. Add To Cart. The Collations. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain. The Didache. Francis Classics of Western Spirituuality. At the turn of the sixth century the Mediterranean world was witnessing the decline of Roman rule that had formed the bedrock of its civil order. During the chaos of those years, there arose in the deserts of Egypt and Syria monastic movements that offered men and women a radical God- centered alternative to the present society. Spiritual , Heart , Humility. Christian , Found , Orthodox. Spiritual , Doctors , Soul. Christian , Spiritual , Eye. Christian , Brother , Eye. Air , Miracle , Patient. Christian , Reading , Light. Heart , Humility , Soul. John Cassian Christian , Blessed , Age. Humility , Possession , Turns. Christian , Lying , Mind. Brother , Heart , Apology. Christian , Jealous , Heart. Christian , Kings , Father. Christian , Taken , Justice. Christian , Spiritual , Men. Christian , Spiritual , Prayer. Christian , Reading , Passion. Father , Self , Eating. Cutting , Fire , Forever. Christian , Spiritual , Father. Send Report. Mistake: Choose Email for contact not necessary :. Related Authors Evagrius Ponticus Writer. Saint Author. Vincent of Lerins Author. Saint Basil Saint. Pachomius the Great Saint. Saint. John Main Priest. Saint. Pope Gregory I. Jean Leloup. Symeon the New Theologian Poet. Origen Scholar. Thus many of the literary devices which function as essential elements of Cassian's pedagogy escape Ramsey's notice. Secondly, a faulty understanding of the role Cassian accords discretion directs the commentary. Ramsey describes discretion both as a conflation of tradition, manifestation of thoughts, submission and discretion, and as a virtue which is practiced through tradition, manifestation of thoughts, and submission. He holds that Cassian denies a can ever acquire a capacity for independent discernment. In actual fact, Cassian teaches that a monk is trained in discretion which approximates prudence through the other named practices, and that one who humbly submits to proper monastic formation will learn discretion so as to become free to follow its dictates in relative independence. Despite the shortcomings, this is a very good book. Ramsey deserves high praise for giving us one of our finest monastic writers and spiritual theologians in reliable and readable English. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential humanities and social science resources through collaboration with libraries, publishers, and scholars worldwide. Forged from a partnership between a university press and a library, Project MUSE is a trusted part of the academic and scholarly community it serves. Built on the Johns Hopkins University Campus. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. TOP 25 QUOTES BY JOHN CASSIAN | A-Z Quotes

By the time he wrote some of this was commonplace he learned the eight vices from Evagrius, the most sophisticated thinker of the Egyptian desert , but he adds his own insight and experience to what he had received. It was not only what he said but his skill as a teacher that accounts for his popularity over the centuries. Though he was not the first to make a list of eight vices, it was from him that later generations learned to group the vices in that way. Prayer is varied and takes different forms at different times. A person prays one way, he says, when he is happy and another way when burdened by a weight of sadness, one way when enjoying spiritual successes and another when oppressed by troubles, one way when begging pardon for sins and another when asking for grace or some virtue. This being said, he can now analyze the different occasions for prayer in light of the list given by Paul. The Conferences is a book to be read as one practices and practiced as one reads, digested slowly over time, as one might read, for example, St. There are chapters on discretion, renunciation, desire, the vices, changeableness of the soul, prayer, chastity, perfection, friendship, spiritual knowledge, making promises. Yet Stewart writes from within the tradition of which Cassian was a part, and is eager to present him as a living master of the spiritual life. I recall an electrifying moment a few years ago at a learned conference on the when Fr. Stewart stood up and challenged a speaker who was treating the early monks as though they belonged to a forgotten and moribund past. He reminded her that people still practiced what these monks had written about centuries ago. Stewart discusses Cassian the theologian, his ascetical teaching, and other matters, but fully a third of the book is devoted to prayer. Cassian does not mean that one learns how to pray by studying the Scriptures; for him rather the words of the Bible are the primary vehicle that one uses to pray. Yet it must have happened often enough for the ancient monks to talk about it and for Cassian to find the words to describe it. For now one can read Ramsey and turn to Stewart for clarification or read Stewart and open the pages of Ramsey for confirmation. Together they invite us into a world that has much to teach us. He will be all that we are zealous for, all that we strive for. He will be all that we think about, all our living, all that we talk about, our very breath. And that union of Father and Son, of Son and Father, will fill our senses and our minds. As God "The perfect love with which God 'first loved us' 1 Jn will come into our hearts, for our faith tells us that this prayer of our Savior will not be in vain. As God loves us with a love that is true and pure, a love that never breaks, we too will be joined to Him in a never-ending unshakable love, and it will be such a union that our breathing and our thinking and our talking will be 'God. Written in the 4th century as a end-of-life recollections of conferences and discussions Cassian had attended with Egyptian desert monks in his youth, each collection more or less covers the teachings of a different abba or holy man. Each conference covers a different thematic topic ranging from the goal or objective of a monk to the gifts of God, prayer, perfection, discernment, etc. Purchased a translation of The Institutes and looking forward to reading that next. Mar 04, C Lucas rated it it was amazing Shelves: theology- biblical-studies. This books is simply a manual for those who would be monks, written by one who sought out advice from monastics in the Holy Land, Levant and Egypt. That's was its purpose, but its broader goal is instruction in prayer. It's basically a technical manual. If one wants to understand how to pray a task which might seem so simple that we'd wonder at the need for a technical manual , one must understand the pre-requisites of effective, earnest prayer. And herein is where this work, composed seventeen This books is simply a manual for those who would be monks, written by one who sought out advice from monastics in the Holy Land, Levant and Egypt. And herein is where this work, composed seventeen centuries ago, explodes with its practicality and deep understanding of man's psyche. Cassian's voice is wonderfully anachronistic. Many of his assumptions and observations took me aback: how could someone have this much insight into our cogitations and our universal inability to understand mindfulness before 20th century psychology, before westerners had come into contact with the many rich resources of Buddhist practitioners for those seeking any form of "spirituality? Jan 27, Zecchaeus Jensen rated it really liked it. I think I finished it, but at least read most, I believe. Sep 19, Fr. Jedidiah Tritle rated it it was amazing. Surprisingly practical for the contemporary spiritual life, St. John Cassian shares his wisdom concerning growth in the monastic spiritual life. It's important to separate his understanding of monasticism in the Eastern Church from that of the West. While the West is characterized by community life governed by a rule Benedictines, Dominicans, etc. Essentially, Cassian teaches the reader how to Surprisingly practical for the contemporary spiritual life, St. Essentially, Cassian teaches the reader how to govern their own spiritual growth in cooperation with a spiritual director, taking wisdom from their elders, and living the Christian life in an increasingly secular and apathetic world-- all pertinent for today, as well. Nov 23, Mir rated it liked it Shelves: ideas. I read this many years ago and all I remember is really disliking the way his neck is distorted in the cover image. I dislike most of the covers in this series, but this one the most. I just tried rereading it and it seemed boring. I guess I'd recommend this more to those interested in the historical development of religious ideas than in theology per se. Cassian's writing is clear enough but not especially interesting or moving. Aug 23, Harman rated it liked it. Lots of good material to consider for personal edification if you know enough history and philosophy to translate Cassian's worldview to our own. Often he struck me as dangerously close to espousing Gnostic views of the body and physical world, adhering a bit too stubbornly to some Neo-Platonisms less easily accommodated to orthodoxy than others. Passages on prayer and meditation on Scripture were superb and helpful. Do your research before reading. I consider the reading of this book to be a watershed event in my life. I don't recommend reading it as a matter of curiosity or to gain some intellectual knowledge, however. Such approaches will obscure its benefits. Aug 20, Drew rated it really liked it Shelves: spiritual-devotional , theology. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the spiritual life or monasticism. Have had this on my shelves for years Our parish youth minister, Frank, referred to it last November and it piqued my interest. Thanks Frank! Apr 20, Hain rated it it was amazing. Want to understand the teachings of the desert fathers? Jun 22, Irene rated it really liked it. I find most of these early monastic texts inspiring as they call me back to my roots, ask me to find a truly radical spirituality. Dec 17, Jen rated it really liked it. I liked Cassian's value of moderation, discretion, and insight against self-delusion. Cassian's conferences are a series of interviews with various spiritual masters among the desert monastics, covering a wide array of topics. Truly heroic! What an epic battle I am witnessing! Feb 12, Scott rated it liked it Shelves: I liked this one. The typical anti-material bent of any Ancient Near Eastern spirituality notwithstanding, Cassian's work has a lot to offer even after years. Christopher J. Mark rated it it was amazing Jul 07, Luke Smith rated it really liked it Feb 11, Omar rated it it was amazing Apr 05, He Li rated it really liked it Jun 22, Marsha rated it it was amazing Nov 16, Massimo rated it it was amazing Sep 30, Matt rated it really liked it Mar 17, rated it did not like it Mar 06, There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Readers also enjoyed. About John Cassian. John Cassian. Saint John Cassian was a monk and theologian. Born in the region of today's and . As a member of wealthy family he received a good classical education he was bilingual, knew Latin and Greek. Died in Marseille in Celebrated in both the Western and Eastern Churches for his mystical writings. Cassian is noted for bringing the ideas and practices of Egyptian Saint John Cassian was a monk and theologian. Although often polemical, it is still worthwhile to consult, and it has been referred to several times in the pages that follow. But for those who do not read Latin, the language in which it was written, the great learning that it demonstrates is valueless. Moreover, even impressive scholarship such as Gazet's must occasionally be reverently supplemented by subsequent efforts. The commentary and notes at hand, much shorter than Gazet's, intend to serve that role. The reader will notice that the text of Cassian's work itself is divisible into three parts—the conferences themselves, the chapters of the conferences, and subdivisions within the chapters. When a particular place in The Conferences is referred to in the course of the commentary and annotations, this reference ordinarily occurs in numerical form alone, following the division just mentioned—as, for example, But when there might be some doubt that the reference is in fact to The Conferences rather than to some other work, it occurs as, for example, Conlat. References to patristic and other ancient writings are usually not accompanied by any indication of.

Cassian the Monk and John Cassian: The Conferences by Robert Louis Wilken | Articles | First Things

We must burn for love of Christ and fill our minds, imagination and memories with salutary dispositions. We must fix our who gaze and all our efforts and concerns on the cultivation of our hearts. Discussion then ensued about fostering chastity in modern times and the need for clarity and an heroic response to the grace of God. Visit pghco. MistyLook made free by Web Hosting Bluebook. Feed on Posts. Conferences of St. John Cassian was born around A. He traveled with his friend Germanus to the in Egypt on at least two different occasions and was ordained by St. John Chrysostom. Cassian eventually travelled to Rome where he was asked to open a based on the Egyptian model near Montpellier in modern-day France. His two major works — the Institutes and the Conferences — were designed to assist the monastery and others like it. His feast day is celebrated on July The Institutes is a short work of twelve chapters and can be ideal for a short retreat. It first presents the monastic routine and clothing, before moving on to a systematic discussion of eight vices. Cassian obtains the eight vices from Evagrius Ponticus, a monk of the 4th century, whose list would be slightly modified in subsequent ages to become the seven deadly sins. Cassian first attacks the vices of gluttony and fornication. Only after the body is trained is it able to counter the more spiritual vices like avarice, acedia, and pride. One should not gloss too quickly over the first chapters, however, as the manner in which a person lives and acts greatly impacts on their ability to live a virtuous life. The Conferences is a much longer work, containing twenty-four extended dialogues between Cassian, Germanus, and the desert fathers of Egypt. These conversations deal primarily with the interior struggle of a person coming closer to God. Less systematic than the Institutes , the Conferences explore the interrelation of virtues and vices within our lives. Too much self-denial brings weakness and induces the same condition as carelessness. Often I have seen men who could not be snared by gluttony fall, nevertheless, through immoderate fasting and tumble in weakness into the very urge which they had overcome. Unmeasured vigils and foolish denial of rest overcame those whom sleep could not overcome. Let the dear reader judge for himself, whether the passages just cited be indeed indicative of an antipathy towards measure and moderation in the ascetical life, or not! That Nietzsche should somehow have missed the basic teaching of the two greatest exponents of the ascetical tradition in the East and West shows how little regard for scholarly standards he has. And if Nietzsche, surely a great man of the worldly type, could have so thoroughly fooled himself in this crucial matter, how much the more so his twentieth-century epigone, Walter Kaufmann! We will most easily come to a precise knowledge of true discernment if we follow the paths of our elders, if we do nothing novel, and if we do not presume to decide anything on the basis of our own private judgment. Instead let us in all things travel the road laid down for us by the tradition of our elders and by the goodness of their lives p. The whole purpose of the monk and indeed the perfection of his heart amount to this—total and uninterrupted dedication to prayer. He strives for unstirring calm of mind and for never-ending purity, and he does so to the extent that this is possible for human fragility p. This, then, is the goal of the monk. All his striving must be for this so that he may deserve to possess in this life an image of future happiness and may have the beginnings of a foretaste in this body of that life and glory of heaven. This, I say, is the object of all perfection, to have the soul so removed from all dalliance with the body that it rises each day to the things of the spirit until all its living and all its wishing become one unending prayer pp. A very clear proof of the fact that a soul has not yet cut loose from the corruption of sin is when it feels no sympathizing pity for the wrongdoing of others but holds instead to the strict censoriousness of a judge p. Cassian keeps for us a sense of monasticism as it was in its youthful vigor; one will not look here for the exalted refinements of later medieval mystical writers, but the core is there, pure as ever. Can be practiced on small scale: homeschooling, parish life, spiritual direction and reception of the sacraments, leisure-time reading, mystical prayer and contemplation. Whether or not one happens to be an eastern Orthodox Christian, the collection of monastic writings going under the etymologically very telling heading of the Philokalia must come as most highly to be recommended. If one be familiar with the deep-seated attachment among the medieval laity to assimilating monastic practices, so far as feasible under the circumstances of its station in life documented nicely by Marie-Dominique Chenu in Nature, Man and Society in the Twelfth Century , chapter 6 , it will be apparent to the unprejudiced that it is not so very difficult after all to adapt prescriptions intended for monks to the needs of the layman mutatis mutandis. For to be sure, just as the last thing that would have occurred to the monks and of old would have been to found a political program and ideology, a forerunner whether of current-day neo-fascism on the right or of identity politics on the left, to be relentlessly and imperiously foisted upon everyone else; so too for us today it will rather be dedicated attention to the seemingly little things in life, along with cultivation of the virtues which always apply first of all to oneself and a real peaceableness directed to others, that makes the difference to the renewal of a society riven with hatred and recrimination on all sides. The Conferences is his primary writing, a series of twenty-four dialogues conferences with various holy monks. The most interesting of these are conferences three and thirteen where we find discussion on free will and predestination. During Cassian's life the church was experiencing the debate between Augustine and Pelagius. Pelagius argued humans were born more or less in the same situation as our first parents, Adam John Cassian lived from AD, during the life of Augustine of Hippo. Pelagius argued humans were born more or less in the same situation as our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinless. Born sinless, we have Adam as a bad example which we follow. Thus, dies for us and we can freely choose to accept his forgiveness. On the other side was Augustine, who argued that in Adam all humanity fell into sin. We are born sinful and guilty, unable to save ourselves. The only way any can be saved is if God gives us life, gifts us with faith. Cassian's work, much less well-known, comes in between these two. It has often been called "semi-" and it was condemned by a church council sometime in the s. Yet it could just as easily be called "semi-". Cassian argues that sometimes humans choose God and sometimes God compels humans. His is a sort of mystical theology, saying we can't really know how it works but perhaps in the end we both freely choose God and he compels us. For any who are interested in such theological questions, reading conferences 3 and 13 would be enriching. The rest of the conferences are at times helpful and at times a lightning bolt from a foreign world. There is a reason this has never caught on as a devotional in the same way as The Imitation of Christ, for example. You can read it as a devotional and you will find things that challenge you. But unless you are a monk living in the desert, you will find much either just weird, or even just plain wrong. One monk tells of how he was married and felt called by God to forsake the world and go into the desert. He just assumed his wife would do the same and when she refused, he divorced her to spend his life in solitude, contemplating God. My reaction - what a jerk. Another story is told of a monk who was "dead to the world" for twenty years, so he refused to leave his cell to help his brother save a farm animal that had fallen in a ditch. To me, it seems Jesus would want people to honor their marriage vows and help those in need. Such practical things are much more important than meditating in the desert. Of course, both those stories are from the final two conferences and there was a lot of thought provoking parts earlier. Maybe I was just getting tired of it. Thus, I give four stars for the conferences on free will and predestination and three stars for most of the rest of it. Sep 19, Dan Glover rated it really liked it Shelves: devotional , spiritual-formation-spiritual-theol. There were things I did not like about this book, mainly because there are elements of the desert monastic tradition that I have serious problems with, but a charitable reading will find much rich treasure for the spiritual life in this book. This was more humane, pastoral and balanced than I expected, and, as C. Lewis has said in his preface to St. Athanasius' On the Incarnation, the errors and blind spots of the past are not our errors and blind spots and so old books like this have much to There were things I did not like about this book, mainly because there are elements of the desert monastic tradition that I have serious problems with, but a charitable reading will find much rich treasure for the spiritual life in this book. Athanasius' On the Incarnation, the errors and blind spots of the past are not our errors and blind spots and so old books like this have much to say to us by way of correction. I especially liked the explanation of spiritual reading of the Scriptures 4 fold , Cassian's insights on the life of unceasing prayer its purpose, theology and practice , on spiritual discernment being the mother and guide of all virtues, on balance in one's spiritual walk, and on the in our day lost practice of exposing and confessing our sins to others who can help us grow in sanctification or "purity of heart," without which no one will attain to God's kingdom. I did not read the whole thing, as it is incredibly long. However, I was impressed that a 5th century ascetic classic is so accessible and readable. May 15, Alexis rated it it was amazing Shelves: church-fathers. And these will be the signs of God being all that we love and all that we want. He will be all that we are zealous for, all that we strive for. He will be all that we think about, all our living, all that we talk about, our very breath. And that union of Father and Son, of Son and Father, will fill our senses and our minds. As God "The perfect love with which God 'first loved us' 1 Jn will come into our hearts, for our faith tells us that this prayer of our Savior will not be in vain. As God loves us with a love that is true and pure, a love that never breaks, we too will be joined to Him in a never-ending unshakable love, and it will be such a union that our breathing and our thinking and our talking will be 'God. Written in the 4th century as a end-of-life recollections of conferences and discussions Cassian had attended with Egyptian desert monks in his youth, each collection more or less covers the teachings of a different abba or holy man. Each conference covers a different thematic topic ranging from the goal or objective of a monk to the gifts of God, prayer, perfection, discernment, etc. Purchased a translation of The Institutes and looking forward to reading that next. Mar 04, C Lucas rated it it was amazing Shelves: theology-biblical-studies. This books is simply a manual for those who would be monks, written by one who sought out advice from monastics in the Holy Land, Levant and Egypt. That's was its purpose, but its broader goal is instruction in prayer. It's basically a technical manual. If one wants to understand how to pray a task which might seem so simple that we'd wonder at the need for a technical manual , one must understand the pre-requisites of effective, earnest prayer. And herein is where this work, composed seventeen This books is simply a manual for those who would be monks, written by one who sought out advice from monastics in the Holy Land, Levant and Egypt. And herein is where this work, composed seventeen centuries ago, explodes with its practicality and deep understanding of man's psyche. Cassian's voice is wonderfully anachronistic. Many of his assumptions and observations took me aback: how could someone have this much insight into our cogitations and our universal inability to understand mindfulness before 20th century psychology, before westerners had come into contact with the many rich resources of Buddhist practitioners for those seeking any form of "spirituality? Jan 27, Zecchaeus Jensen rated it really liked it.

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