John Cassian: The Conferences
Overview
The first complete English translation of John Cassian’s Conferences, this work records the dialogues between Cassian and his traveling companion, Germanus, and other great desert masters. They discuss the idea of “the purity of heart” and other goals on the spiritual life.
Top Highlights
“‘The end of our profession, as we have said, is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven; but the goal or scopos is purity of heart, without which it is impossible for anyone to reach that end.” (Page 43)
“‘Now something must be said about the renunciations which the tradition of the fathers and the authority of Holy Scripture show to be three and which each one of us ought to pursue with all our zeal. The first is that by which in bodily fashion we despise all the wealth and resources of the world. The second is that by which we reject the erstwhile behavior, vices, and affections of soul and body. The third is that by which we call our mind away from everything that is present and visible and contemplate only what is to come and desire those things that are invisible.” (Page 123)
“But as our mind is increasingly renewed by this study, the face of Scripture will also begin to be renewed, and the beauty of a more sacred understanding will somehow grow with the person who is making progress. For its form is also adapted to the capacity of the human intelligence, and it will appear as earthly to carnal persons and as divine to spiritual persons, such that those to whom it previously seemed wrapped in thick clouds will be unable to grasp its subtlety or endure its splendor.” (Page 515)
“Thus, indeed, the end of our chosen orientation is eternal life, according to the very words of the Apostle: ‘Having your reward, indeed, in holiness, but your end in eternal life.’1 But the scopos is purity of heart, which has not undeservedly been called holiness. Without this the aforesaid end will not be able to be seized.” (Page 44)