William, S.J. Harmless
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- July 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195162233
- eISBN:
- 9780199835645
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195162234.003.0012
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
John Cassian (d. after 345) was one of the key figures who brought traditions of desert monasticism to the Latin West. He grew up in what today is Romania and became a monk in Bethlehem and then ...
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John Cassian (d. after 345) was one of the key figures who brought traditions of desert monasticism to the Latin West. He grew up in what today is Romania and became a monk in Bethlehem and then moved to Egypt, settling at the monastery of Scetis, where he became a disciple of Evagrius Ponticus. In the wake of the Origenist Controversy, he left Egypt and settled in southern France, in the port city of Massilia (modern Marseilles), where he composed in Latin two profoundly influential works, the Institutes and the Conferences. This chapter surveys Cassian’s career and introduces his key works and theological themes, especially the monastic search for purity of heart and the monastic practice of unceasing prayer.Less
John Cassian (d. after 345) was one of the key figures who brought traditions of desert monasticism to the Latin West. He grew up in what today is Romania and became a monk in Bethlehem and then moved to Egypt, settling at the monastery of Scetis, where he became a disciple of Evagrius Ponticus. In the wake of the Origenist Controversy, he left Egypt and settled in southern France, in the port city of Massilia (modern Marseilles), where he composed in Latin two profoundly influential works, the Institutes and the Conferences. This chapter surveys Cassian’s career and introduces his key works and theological themes, especially the monastic search for purity of heart and the monastic practice of unceasing prayer.
Conrad Leyser
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198208686
- eISBN:
- 9780191678127
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198208686.003.0002
- Subject:
- History, European Medieval History
The Lérinians were not the only face of the Gallic monastic movement. Closely associated with them, and well known to Pope Celestine, was John Cassian, an ascetic teacher who had gone to great ...
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The Lérinians were not the only face of the Gallic monastic movement. Closely associated with them, and well known to Pope Celestine, was John Cassian, an ascetic teacher who had gone to great lengths to ensure that he could not be accused of traducing the moral authority of his position. In his capacity as mentor to ascetics in southern Gaul, Cassian was as fierce as any critic of the ascetic movement in his determination to curb its tendency towards scandal. His response, however, was not to distrust the ascetic project itself, but to make all the more exacting and precise the means of assessing a person's integrity. Where Augustine of Hippo had come to doubt the possibility or value of achieving such a moral science, Cassian strove to establish secure grounds for the expert use of authority in the Church. His intervention was crucial in restoring public credibility to the ascetic movement. He argued that to speak as a trained ascetic was in itself a means of exerting moral authority.Less
The Lérinians were not the only face of the Gallic monastic movement. Closely associated with them, and well known to Pope Celestine, was John Cassian, an ascetic teacher who had gone to great lengths to ensure that he could not be accused of traducing the moral authority of his position. In his capacity as mentor to ascetics in southern Gaul, Cassian was as fierce as any critic of the ascetic movement in his determination to curb its tendency towards scandal. His response, however, was not to distrust the ascetic project itself, but to make all the more exacting and precise the means of assessing a person's integrity. Where Augustine of Hippo had come to doubt the possibility or value of achieving such a moral science, Cassian strove to establish secure grounds for the expert use of authority in the Church. His intervention was crucial in restoring public credibility to the ascetic movement. He argued that to speak as a trained ascetic was in itself a means of exerting moral authority.
Thomas L. Humphries
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199685035
- eISBN:
- 9780191765537
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685035.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies, Theology
The first chapter opens an argument about Cassian’s pneumatological project by addressing three aspects of his ascetic pneumatology. Cassian’s theology of the Holy Spirit is orthodox according to the ...
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The first chapter opens an argument about Cassian’s pneumatological project by addressing three aspects of his ascetic pneumatology. Cassian’s theology of the Holy Spirit is orthodox according to the Nicene Catholic position in the 5th century. He applies this belief in the full divinity of the Holy Spirit to the ascetic traditions he knew well to argue that the Holy Spirit is the guide for reading scripture and that the Holy Spirit is the former of virtues in monks.Less
The first chapter opens an argument about Cassian’s pneumatological project by addressing three aspects of his ascetic pneumatology. Cassian’s theology of the Holy Spirit is orthodox according to the Nicene Catholic position in the 5th century. He applies this belief in the full divinity of the Holy Spirit to the ascetic traditions he knew well to argue that the Holy Spirit is the guide for reading scripture and that the Holy Spirit is the former of virtues in monks.
Richard J. Goodrich
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199213139
- eISBN:
- 9780191695841
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199213139.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
This chapter presents a short biography of late Roman writer, John Cassian, and introduces the purpose of the book. Cassian was an important 5th-century writer with remarkable connections to the ...
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This chapter presents a short biography of late Roman writer, John Cassian, and introduces the purpose of the book. Cassian was an important 5th-century writer with remarkable connections to the churches of three significant areas: Constantinople, Rome, and south-eastern Gaul. While his work was one of the cornerstones for the western monastic tradition mediated by Benedict of Nursia, it was also Cassian's entry in a competition for the hearts and minds of Gallic ascetics. Competition, authority and self-justification are as present in Cassian's works as in his teaching on psalmody. Lastly, he prescribed a programme centred on the concept of renunciation, one more socially radical and rigidly dogmatic than anything proposed by his contemporaries. The purpose of this study is to make connections between Cassian's thought, work, and the much-larger milieu of later Roman society.Less
This chapter presents a short biography of late Roman writer, John Cassian, and introduces the purpose of the book. Cassian was an important 5th-century writer with remarkable connections to the churches of three significant areas: Constantinople, Rome, and south-eastern Gaul. While his work was one of the cornerstones for the western monastic tradition mediated by Benedict of Nursia, it was also Cassian's entry in a competition for the hearts and minds of Gallic ascetics. Competition, authority and self-justification are as present in Cassian's works as in his teaching on psalmody. Lastly, he prescribed a programme centred on the concept of renunciation, one more socially radical and rigidly dogmatic than anything proposed by his contemporaries. The purpose of this study is to make connections between Cassian's thought, work, and the much-larger milieu of later Roman society.
Luke Dysinger OSB
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780199273201
- eISBN:
- 9780191602986
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199273200.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
In the fourth century, the Book of Psalms gradually displaced other biblical texts used in so-called ‘canonical prayers’. Among the monks, psalmody was one of the exterior ascetical practices which, ...
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In the fourth century, the Book of Psalms gradually displaced other biblical texts used in so-called ‘canonical prayers’. Among the monks, psalmody was one of the exterior ascetical practices which, together with fasting, keeping vigil, and restraint of speech, were recommended by almost all the desert fathers of the late fourth century. John Cassian was one of the most important witnesses to the practice and spirituality of psalmody. The practice and spirit of psalmody are discussed.Less
In the fourth century, the Book of Psalms gradually displaced other biblical texts used in so-called ‘canonical prayers’. Among the monks, psalmody was one of the exterior ascetical practices which, together with fasting, keeping vigil, and restraint of speech, were recommended by almost all the desert fathers of the late fourth century. John Cassian was one of the most important witnesses to the practice and spirituality of psalmody. The practice and spirit of psalmody are discussed.
Richard J. Goodrich
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199213139
- eISBN:
- 9780191695841
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199213139.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
This book examines the attempt by the 5th-century ascetic writer John Cassian to influence and shape the development of Western monasticism. The book's close analysis of Cassian's earliest work (The ...
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This book examines the attempt by the 5th-century ascetic writer John Cassian to influence and shape the development of Western monasticism. The book's close analysis of Cassian's earliest work (The Institutes) focuses on his interaction with the values and preconceptions of a traditional Roman elite, as well as his engagement with contemporary writers. By placing The Institutes in context, the book demonstrates just how revolutionary this foundational work was for its time and milieu.Less
This book examines the attempt by the 5th-century ascetic writer John Cassian to influence and shape the development of Western monasticism. The book's close analysis of Cassian's earliest work (The Institutes) focuses on his interaction with the values and preconceptions of a traditional Roman elite, as well as his engagement with contemporary writers. By placing The Institutes in context, the book demonstrates just how revolutionary this foundational work was for its time and milieu.
Thomas L. Humphries, Jr.
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199685035
- eISBN:
- 9780191765537
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685035.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies, Theology
This book is about the Holy Spirit, monks, and other Catholic theologians who lived around the Mediterranean in the 5th and 6th centuries. It makes three interconnected arguments. The first argument ...
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This book is about the Holy Spirit, monks, and other Catholic theologians who lived around the Mediterranean in the 5th and 6th centuries. It makes three interconnected arguments. The first argument concerns scholarly readings of antiquity: there are developments in 5th and 6th century Latin pneumatology which we have overlooked. Theologians like John Cassian and Gregory the Great were engaged in a significant discussion of how the Holy Spirit works within Christian ascetics to reform their inner lives. Other theologians, like Leo the Great, participate to a lesser extent in a similar project. They applied pneumatology to theological anthropology. This book labels that development “ascetic pneumatology,” and tracks some of the schools of thought about the Holy Spirit we find in late antiquity. The second argument concerns the reception of Augustine in the two centuries immediately after his death: different people read Augustine differently. Augustine’s theology was known and understood to varying degrees in various regions. The book demonstrates significant engagements with Augustine’s theology as it was relevant to Pelagianism (evidenced in Prosper of Aquitaine), as it was relevant to Gallic Arians (evidenced with the Lérinian theologians), and as it was relevant to African Arians and certain questions posed of Nestorianism (evidenced with Fulgentius of Ruspe). Instead of attempting to rank various theologians as better and worse “Augustinians,” this book argues that there were different kinds of “Augustinianisms” even in the years immediately after Augustine. The third argument concerns Gregory the Great and his sources. Once we see that ascetic pneumatology was a strain of thought in this era and see that there are different kinds of Augustinianisms, we can see that Gregory depends on both Augustine and Cassian. The final chapters argue that Gregory uses Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology, and this allows Gregory’s synthesis Cassian and Augustine to stand in greater relief than it has before. The study begins with Cassian, ends with Gregory, and is attentive to Augustine throughout.Less
This book is about the Holy Spirit, monks, and other Catholic theologians who lived around the Mediterranean in the 5th and 6th centuries. It makes three interconnected arguments. The first argument concerns scholarly readings of antiquity: there are developments in 5th and 6th century Latin pneumatology which we have overlooked. Theologians like John Cassian and Gregory the Great were engaged in a significant discussion of how the Holy Spirit works within Christian ascetics to reform their inner lives. Other theologians, like Leo the Great, participate to a lesser extent in a similar project. They applied pneumatology to theological anthropology. This book labels that development “ascetic pneumatology,” and tracks some of the schools of thought about the Holy Spirit we find in late antiquity. The second argument concerns the reception of Augustine in the two centuries immediately after his death: different people read Augustine differently. Augustine’s theology was known and understood to varying degrees in various regions. The book demonstrates significant engagements with Augustine’s theology as it was relevant to Pelagianism (evidenced in Prosper of Aquitaine), as it was relevant to Gallic Arians (evidenced with the Lérinian theologians), and as it was relevant to African Arians and certain questions posed of Nestorianism (evidenced with Fulgentius of Ruspe). Instead of attempting to rank various theologians as better and worse “Augustinians,” this book argues that there were different kinds of “Augustinianisms” even in the years immediately after Augustine. The third argument concerns Gregory the Great and his sources. Once we see that ascetic pneumatology was a strain of thought in this era and see that there are different kinds of Augustinianisms, we can see that Gregory depends on both Augustine and Cassian. The final chapters argue that Gregory uses Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology, and this allows Gregory’s synthesis Cassian and Augustine to stand in greater relief than it has before. The study begins with Cassian, ends with Gregory, and is attentive to Augustine throughout.
Thomas L. Humphries
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199685035
- eISBN:
- 9780191765537
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685035.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies, Theology
The second chapter closes the argument about Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology by demonstrating that Cassian understands the Holy Spirit as the divine agent who reforms human affections, thoughts, and ...
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The second chapter closes the argument about Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology by demonstrating that Cassian understands the Holy Spirit as the divine agent who reforms human affections, thoughts, and desires, and is the giver of ecstatic contemplation. Cassian offers a unique synthesis of ascetic theories which blend the intellect-centered and heart-centered anthropological systems that were common in his day. Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology articulates a role for the Holy Spirit in reforming both intellectual and affective elements of human life. The crowning experience in Cassian’s ascetical system is an ecstatic contemplative state. Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology teaches that this is a special gift from God to the ascetic who is completely permeable to the Holy Spirit.Less
The second chapter closes the argument about Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology by demonstrating that Cassian understands the Holy Spirit as the divine agent who reforms human affections, thoughts, and desires, and is the giver of ecstatic contemplation. Cassian offers a unique synthesis of ascetic theories which blend the intellect-centered and heart-centered anthropological systems that were common in his day. Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology articulates a role for the Holy Spirit in reforming both intellectual and affective elements of human life. The crowning experience in Cassian’s ascetical system is an ecstatic contemplative state. Cassian’s ascetic pneumatology teaches that this is a special gift from God to the ascetic who is completely permeable to the Holy Spirit.
Donald Fairbairn
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199256143
- eISBN:
- 9780191600586
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199256144.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
This book addresses the question of whether the fifth‐century pronouncements about Christ's person were reflective of a genuine theological consensus in the early Church, or whether they were merely ...
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This book addresses the question of whether the fifth‐century pronouncements about Christ's person were reflective of a genuine theological consensus in the early Church, or whether they were merely the result of political pressure or compromise between opposing christological ‘schools.’ The book seeks to use the concept of grace to clarify the question of christology. The study finds that for Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius, grace is God's gift of co‐operation to Christians as we seek to advance from the current age to a perfect future age, and Christ is the supreme example of this co‐operative grace. In contrast, Cyril of Alexandria views grace primarily as God's gift of himself to Christians by sharing with us the communion he has within himself, between the persons of the Trinity. This view of grace leads Cyril to argue that Christ must be the Son of God by nature in order to give grace to us. Furthermore, this study finds that Cassian holds to a view of grace very similar to that of Cyril. In the light of this connection between grace and christology, the book argues that the central issue of the christological controversy was whether God the Logos was himself personally present on earth through the incarnation. The study concludes by treating several other important writers from the christological controversy, and by suggesting that Cyril's understanding of grace and christology was not merely his own, but was in fact the consensus of the early Church.Less
This book addresses the question of whether the fifth‐century pronouncements about Christ's person were reflective of a genuine theological consensus in the early Church, or whether they were merely the result of political pressure or compromise between opposing christological ‘schools.’ The book seeks to use the concept of grace to clarify the question of christology. The study finds that for Theodore of Mopsuestia and Nestorius, grace is God's gift of co‐operation to Christians as we seek to advance from the current age to a perfect future age, and Christ is the supreme example of this co‐operative grace. In contrast, Cyril of Alexandria views grace primarily as God's gift of himself to Christians by sharing with us the communion he has within himself, between the persons of the Trinity. This view of grace leads Cyril to argue that Christ must be the Son of God by nature in order to give grace to us. Furthermore, this study finds that Cassian holds to a view of grace very similar to that of Cyril. In the light of this connection between grace and christology, the book argues that the central issue of the christological controversy was whether God the Logos was himself personally present on earth through the incarnation. The study concludes by treating several other important writers from the christological controversy, and by suggesting that Cyril's understanding of grace and christology was not merely his own, but was in fact the consensus of the early Church.
Eleonore Stump
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199277421
- eISBN:
- 9780191594298
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199277421.003.0014
- Subject:
- Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter develops Aquinas's theodicy by considering the way in which the suffering stemming from the loss or deprivation of the desires of a person's heart can be defeated. It discusses the ...
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This chapter develops Aquinas's theodicy by considering the way in which the suffering stemming from the loss or deprivation of the desires of a person's heart can be defeated. It discusses the possibility — supported by one strand in the Christian tradition, deriving from John Cassian's thought, among other sources — that the desires of the heart are to be given up. It argues against this approach on the grounds that it is incompatible with the nature of love, of oneself or others. It develops Aquinas's theodicy to take account of suffering of this sort.Less
This chapter develops Aquinas's theodicy by considering the way in which the suffering stemming from the loss or deprivation of the desires of a person's heart can be defeated. It discusses the possibility — supported by one strand in the Christian tradition, deriving from John Cassian's thought, among other sources — that the desires of the heart are to be given up. It argues against this approach on the grounds that it is incompatible with the nature of love, of oneself or others. It develops Aquinas's theodicy to take account of suffering of this sort.
S.J. William Harmless
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300383
- eISBN:
- 9780199851560
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300383.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, World Religions
This chapter explores the pioneers of Christian mysticism, the fourth-century desert fathers of Egypt. These early monks forged techniques of prayer and asceticism, of discipleship and spiritual ...
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This chapter explores the pioneers of Christian mysticism, the fourth-century desert fathers of Egypt. These early monks forged techniques of prayer and asceticism, of discipleship and spiritual direction, that have remained central to Christianity ever since. Intellectuals helped record and systematize this early mystical spirituality. The most important — but still little known — is Evagrius Ponticus (345–399). He sought to map out the soul's journey to God and is best known for his formulation and analysis of the seven deadly sins. His disciple, John Cassian (c.360–c.435), ended up settling in southern France after long experience in the monasteries of Egypt. Writing in Latin, he introduced the spirituality of Evagrius and the desert fathers to Western Christianity. Evagrius helped pioneer Christian mysticism, advocating unceasing prayer, and was among the first to plot milestones in the soul's journey to God.Less
This chapter explores the pioneers of Christian mysticism, the fourth-century desert fathers of Egypt. These early monks forged techniques of prayer and asceticism, of discipleship and spiritual direction, that have remained central to Christianity ever since. Intellectuals helped record and systematize this early mystical spirituality. The most important — but still little known — is Evagrius Ponticus (345–399). He sought to map out the soul's journey to God and is best known for his formulation and analysis of the seven deadly sins. His disciple, John Cassian (c.360–c.435), ended up settling in southern France after long experience in the monasteries of Egypt. Writing in Latin, he introduced the spirituality of Evagrius and the desert fathers to Western Christianity. Evagrius helped pioneer Christian mysticism, advocating unceasing prayer, and was among the first to plot milestones in the soul's journey to God.
Henry Chadwick
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780199246953
- eISBN:
- 9780191600463
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199246955.003.0043
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
The earliest Christian ascetics in Syria drew on the New Testament as well as the legacy of Stoic philosophy. Information about the ascetic movement comes from Athanasius’ Life of Antony, which was ...
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The earliest Christian ascetics in Syria drew on the New Testament as well as the legacy of Stoic philosophy. Information about the ascetic movement comes from Athanasius’ Life of Antony, which was influential in Augustine's conversion, and lives of Pachomius, who created a community of Coptic monks in the Nile valley. Both monastic groups and individual hermitages were founded in Palestine and Asia Minor in the fourth and early fifth century and from there spread to the west. Among the most influential figures were John Cassian, who wrote in Marseille specifically for Gaul, and Benedict of Nursia, founder of Montecassino. The mortifications of some Syrian ascetics went to extreme lengths.Less
The earliest Christian ascetics in Syria drew on the New Testament as well as the legacy of Stoic philosophy. Information about the ascetic movement comes from Athanasius’ Life of Antony, which was influential in Augustine's conversion, and lives of Pachomius, who created a community of Coptic monks in the Nile valley. Both monastic groups and individual hermitages were founded in Palestine and Asia Minor in the fourth and early fifth century and from there spread to the west. Among the most influential figures were John Cassian, who wrote in Marseille specifically for Gaul, and Benedict of Nursia, founder of Montecassino. The mortifications of some Syrian ascetics went to extreme lengths.
Conrad Leyser
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198208686
- eISBN:
- 9780191678127
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198208686.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, European Medieval History
There can be few more vivid illustrations of the moral power of humility than that afforded by The Rule of St Benedict. Its appeal is readily ascribed precisely to its winning lack of ...
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There can be few more vivid illustrations of the moral power of humility than that afforded by The Rule of St Benedict. Its appeal is readily ascribed precisely to its winning lack of self-importance. This chapter argues that the author of the Rule’s determination to write for beginners represented not merely a generalized modesty, but a particular resolve to establish a monastic community and a language of authority which did not presume a high, or even a uniform, level of ascetic competence among its members. The Rule solves the problem of asceticism and community that had specifically defeated John Cassian: how experts and beginners could live together in a monastery.Less
There can be few more vivid illustrations of the moral power of humility than that afforded by The Rule of St Benedict. Its appeal is readily ascribed precisely to its winning lack of self-importance. This chapter argues that the author of the Rule’s determination to write for beginners represented not merely a generalized modesty, but a particular resolve to establish a monastic community and a language of authority which did not presume a high, or even a uniform, level of ascetic competence among its members. The Rule solves the problem of asceticism and community that had specifically defeated John Cassian: how experts and beginners could live together in a monastery.
John M. McManamon
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780823245048
- eISBN:
- 9780823252787
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823245048.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
The chapter beings by analyzing Ignatius's account of his foolhardy defense of Pamplona as exemplary vainglory on his part. It then briefly summarizes the scriptural, patristic, and medieval ideas on ...
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The chapter beings by analyzing Ignatius's account of his foolhardy defense of Pamplona as exemplary vainglory on his part. It then briefly summarizes the scriptural, patristic, and medieval ideas on vainglory as a principal fault of human nature. In his Acts, Ignatius emphasized the ways that he practiced vainglory during his recovery from his wounds in battle, his asceticism, his confrontation with the “Moor,” and his vigil at Montserrat. The chapter argues that Ignatius's account of his experience along the Cardoner River has subtle resonances of the myth of Narcissus. The chapter then follows his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, his initial success in ministry and begging, and his stepping out of the Lord's footsteps on the Mount of the Ascension. The chapter concludes with analysis of John Cassian and Ignatius as strange bedfellows and of Freud's observations regarding narcissism as a clinical ailment.Less
The chapter beings by analyzing Ignatius's account of his foolhardy defense of Pamplona as exemplary vainglory on his part. It then briefly summarizes the scriptural, patristic, and medieval ideas on vainglory as a principal fault of human nature. In his Acts, Ignatius emphasized the ways that he practiced vainglory during his recovery from his wounds in battle, his asceticism, his confrontation with the “Moor,” and his vigil at Montserrat. The chapter argues that Ignatius's account of his experience along the Cardoner River has subtle resonances of the myth of Narcissus. The chapter then follows his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, his initial success in ministry and begging, and his stepping out of the Lord's footsteps on the Mount of the Ascension. The chapter concludes with analysis of John Cassian and Ignatius as strange bedfellows and of Freud's observations regarding narcissism as a clinical ailment.
Robert E. Sinkewicz
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199259939
- eISBN:
- 9780191698651
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199259939.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
Evagrius of Pontus (c.345–99) was one of the most prominent figures among the monks of the desert settlements of Nitria, Sketis, and Kellia in Lower Egypt. Through the course of his ascetic writings ...
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Evagrius of Pontus (c.345–99) was one of the most prominent figures among the monks of the desert settlements of Nitria, Sketis, and Kellia in Lower Egypt. Through the course of his ascetic writings he formulated a systematic presentation of the teaching of the semi-eremitic monks of these settlements. The works of Evagrius had a profound influence on Eastern Orthodox monastic teaching and passed to the West through the writings of John Cassian (c.365–435). This book provides an English translation of Evagrius' Greek ascetic writings, based on modern critical editions, where available, and, where they are not, on collations of the principal manuscripts. Two appendices provide variant readings for the Greek texts and the complete text of the long recension of Eulogios. The translations are accompanied by a commentary to guide the reader through the intricacies of Evagrian thought by offering explanatory comments and references to other Evagrian texts and relevant scholarly literature. Finally, detailed indexes are provided to allow the reader to identify and study the numerous themes of Evagrian teaching.Less
Evagrius of Pontus (c.345–99) was one of the most prominent figures among the monks of the desert settlements of Nitria, Sketis, and Kellia in Lower Egypt. Through the course of his ascetic writings he formulated a systematic presentation of the teaching of the semi-eremitic monks of these settlements. The works of Evagrius had a profound influence on Eastern Orthodox monastic teaching and passed to the West through the writings of John Cassian (c.365–435). This book provides an English translation of Evagrius' Greek ascetic writings, based on modern critical editions, where available, and, where they are not, on collations of the principal manuscripts. Two appendices provide variant readings for the Greek texts and the complete text of the long recension of Eulogios. The translations are accompanied by a commentary to guide the reader through the intricacies of Evagrian thought by offering explanatory comments and references to other Evagrian texts and relevant scholarly literature. Finally, detailed indexes are provided to allow the reader to identify and study the numerous themes of Evagrian teaching.
Paul L. Gavrilyuk
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- November 2004
- ISBN:
- 9780199269822
- eISBN:
- 9780191601569
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199269823.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
The author shows that by calling the Christian God impassible the Fathers sought to distance God the creator from the gods of mythology. At the same time the Fathers viewed divine impassibility as ...
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The author shows that by calling the Christian God impassible the Fathers sought to distance God the creator from the gods of mythology. At the same time the Fathers viewed divine impassibility as compatible with select emotionally coloured characteristics, such as love, mercy, and compassion. Especially revealing in this regard is the patristic treatment of divine anger, an issue that first came to the fore in the debate with Marcionism. The author argues that instead of the context of Hellenistic philosophy the divine impassibility must be located in the conceptual sphere of apophatic theology, where it functioned as an apophatic qualifier of the divine emotions. The divine impassibility was first of all an ontological term, expressing God’s unlikeness to everything created, his transcendence and undiminished divinity, rather than a psychological term implying the absence of emotions.Less
The author shows that by calling the Christian God impassible the Fathers sought to distance God the creator from the gods of mythology. At the same time the Fathers viewed divine impassibility as compatible with select emotionally coloured characteristics, such as love, mercy, and compassion. Especially revealing in this regard is the patristic treatment of divine anger, an issue that first came to the fore in the debate with Marcionism. The author argues that instead of the context of Hellenistic philosophy the divine impassibility must be located in the conceptual sphere of apophatic theology, where it functioned as an apophatic qualifier of the divine emotions. The divine impassibility was first of all an ontological term, expressing God’s unlikeness to everything created, his transcendence and undiminished divinity, rather than a psychological term implying the absence of emotions.
Conrad Leyser
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198208686
- eISBN:
- 9780191678127
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198208686.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, European Medieval History
Caesarius of Arles, Julianus Pomerius’ star pupil, has the reputation of a popular preacher of great fervour and enduring influence. In one sense, Caesarius’ mission as a preacher had been to secure ...
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Caesarius of Arles, Julianus Pomerius’ star pupil, has the reputation of a popular preacher of great fervour and enduring influence. In one sense, Caesarius’ mission as a preacher had been to secure the assimilation by his hearers of an inherited language — the words of Scripture and the texts of the Fathers. In devoting his prodigious energies to the fulfilment of this vocation, however, Caesarius had left his successors with an indelible sense of his own voice. His claim simply to represent an established tradition jarred with the palpable force of his intervention. Caesarius’ very rhetorical charisma undermined his own attempts to routinize the spiritual purification of his flock. This tension between the language of tradition and the voice of the individual speaker was inherent in the asceticism of ‘pure speech’ as promulgated by John Cassian. Caesarius’ prowess as a popular preacher is understood to follow from his close attention to the example of Augustine of Hippo.Less
Caesarius of Arles, Julianus Pomerius’ star pupil, has the reputation of a popular preacher of great fervour and enduring influence. In one sense, Caesarius’ mission as a preacher had been to secure the assimilation by his hearers of an inherited language — the words of Scripture and the texts of the Fathers. In devoting his prodigious energies to the fulfilment of this vocation, however, Caesarius had left his successors with an indelible sense of his own voice. His claim simply to represent an established tradition jarred with the palpable force of his intervention. Caesarius’ very rhetorical charisma undermined his own attempts to routinize the spiritual purification of his flock. This tension between the language of tradition and the voice of the individual speaker was inherent in the asceticism of ‘pure speech’ as promulgated by John Cassian. Caesarius’ prowess as a popular preacher is understood to follow from his close attention to the example of Augustine of Hippo.
Mark Sheridan
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9789774166631
- eISBN:
- 9781617976551
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774166631.003.0012
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
This chapter focuses on St. John of Lykopolis, the most famous among Egyptian monks, second only to St. Antony the Great. It surveys all the known sources about him, literary and documentary. It then ...
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This chapter focuses on St. John of Lykopolis, the most famous among Egyptian monks, second only to St. Antony the Great. It surveys all the known sources about him, literary and documentary. It then describes the roles that these sources portray, from miracle worker to spiritual leader. The longest, most detailed account of John of Lykopolis is to be found in the Historia Monachorum (HM) where it occupies the first place and constitutes about one-fifth of the entire work. The HM is the account of a journey to Egypt undertaken by a group of seven monks from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Other accounts of John can be found in Palladius' Historia Lausiaca, and in the works of Sulpicius Severus, Augustine of Hippo, Jerome, John Cassian, and the Apophthegmata.Less
This chapter focuses on St. John of Lykopolis, the most famous among Egyptian monks, second only to St. Antony the Great. It surveys all the known sources about him, literary and documentary. It then describes the roles that these sources portray, from miracle worker to spiritual leader. The longest, most detailed account of John of Lykopolis is to be found in the Historia Monachorum (HM) where it occupies the first place and constitutes about one-fifth of the entire work. The HM is the account of a journey to Egypt undertaken by a group of seven monks from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Other accounts of John can be found in Palladius' Historia Lausiaca, and in the works of Sulpicius Severus, Augustine of Hippo, Jerome, John Cassian, and the Apophthegmata.
David Wheeler-Reed
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780300227727
- eISBN:
- 9780300231311
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300227727.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This chapter shows how second- and third-generation Christians wrestled with the familial ideologies codified by the New Testament writers until sexual renunciation became the norm by 300 CE. It ...
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This chapter shows how second- and third-generation Christians wrestled with the familial ideologies codified by the New Testament writers until sexual renunciation became the norm by 300 CE. It begins with an analysis of Tatian’s “encratite” argument, Clement’s emerging ecclesiastical sexual ethics, and Epiphanes’s so-called libertine Christianity. It concludes by demonstrating how all of these ideas coalesce in the writings of John Cassian, whom Foucault deems the quintessence of late antique sexual morality.Less
This chapter shows how second- and third-generation Christians wrestled with the familial ideologies codified by the New Testament writers until sexual renunciation became the norm by 300 CE. It begins with an analysis of Tatian’s “encratite” argument, Clement’s emerging ecclesiastical sexual ethics, and Epiphanes’s so-called libertine Christianity. It concludes by demonstrating how all of these ideas coalesce in the writings of John Cassian, whom Foucault deems the quintessence of late antique sexual morality.
Conrad Leyser
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198208686
- eISBN:
- 9780191678127
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198208686.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, European Medieval History
In the modern era, Gregory the Great is often depicted as a man at the border, poised between the Roman and the Germanic worlds, between East and West, and above all, perhaps, between the ancient and ...
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In the modern era, Gregory the Great is often depicted as a man at the border, poised between the Roman and the Germanic worlds, between East and West, and above all, perhaps, between the ancient and medieval epochs. Certainly, in stationing Gregory at the frontier, this chapter begins to acknowledge the immense future influence of his account of Benedict of Nursia, as of all his writings, in the medieval Catholic Church and beyond. However, this acknowledgement is frequently based on the assumption that Gregory, as a hinge figure engaged in cultural transmission, has no original point of view. Gregory tends to be typecast as a ‘moral’ thinker, whose assimilation of the texts of Augustine of Hippo and John Cassian was of critical import — but who was himself less capable of analytical or innovative thought, and who therefore concentrated his energies on reducing the complexities of earlier patristic writings for consumption by a future medieval audience. This chapter also looks at Gregory's views on monasticism and asceticism.Less
In the modern era, Gregory the Great is often depicted as a man at the border, poised between the Roman and the Germanic worlds, between East and West, and above all, perhaps, between the ancient and medieval epochs. Certainly, in stationing Gregory at the frontier, this chapter begins to acknowledge the immense future influence of his account of Benedict of Nursia, as of all his writings, in the medieval Catholic Church and beyond. However, this acknowledgement is frequently based on the assumption that Gregory, as a hinge figure engaged in cultural transmission, has no original point of view. Gregory tends to be typecast as a ‘moral’ thinker, whose assimilation of the texts of Augustine of Hippo and John Cassian was of critical import — but who was himself less capable of analytical or innovative thought, and who therefore concentrated his energies on reducing the complexities of earlier patristic writings for consumption by a future medieval audience. This chapter also looks at Gregory's views on monasticism and asceticism.
