The Sayings of the Fathers
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
From the middle of the fifth century, and probably from the late fourth century, collections of sayings from the hermits of the Egyptian desert began to be circulated. Smaller collections of these sayings were gradually assembled into larger collections arranged alphabetically, by author, or by subject. In The Sayings of the Fathers, Owen Chadwick translates the standard and celebrated edition of this collection of sayings that was printed by the Jesuit Heribert Rosweyde at Antwerp in 1615. Chadwick chose this version to translate because it is one of the earliest of the western collections, and because it was probably the most influential of the collections in western monastic history.
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Key Features
- Provides an alphabetized collection of ancient sayings
- Offers a translation of an influential work in western monastic history
- Examines the priorities and culture of wanderers in the fifth and fourth century
Contents
- Of the Progress of the Fathers in Perfection
- Of Quiet
- Of Compunction
- Of Self-Control
- Of Lust
- That a Monk Should Possess Nothing
- Of Patience, or Fortitude
- That Nothing Should Be Done for Show
- That We Should Judge No Man
- On Discretion
- That It Is Right to Live Soberly
- That We Ought to Pray Earnestly and Unceasingly
- That We Ought to Be Hospitable and Show Mercy with Cheerfulness
- Of Obedience
- Of Humility
- Of Patience
- Of Charity
Top Highlights
“Abba Antony said: ‘I reckon that the body has a natural movement within itself, which obeys the behest of the soul, a kind of passionless movement of which the body’s actions are but symptoms. And there is a second movement in the body, caused by eating and drinking, whereby the blood is heated and excited. That is why Paul said: ‘Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess,’ and again the Lord commanded his disciples in the Gospel: ‘See that your hearts be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.’12 And there is another movement which comes from the craft and envy of demons upon men who are striving to live a good life. Thus it is a help to know that there are three bodily movements—from nature, from plenty of food, and from demons.’” (Pages 59–60)
“Abba Evagrius said: ‘A wandering mind is strengthened by reading, and prayer. Passion is dampened down by hunger and work and solitude. Anger is repressed by psalmody, and long-suffering, and mercy. But all these should be at the proper times and in due measure. If they are used at the wrong times and to excess, they are useful for a short time. But what is only useful for a short time, is harmful in the long run.’” (Page 109)
“If you always remember your death and do not forget the eternal judgement, there will be no sin in your soul.’” (Page 132)
“To keep guard—to meditate on itself—to judge with discernment—these are the three functions of the soul.” (Page 39)
“There is a useful sorrow, and a destructive sorrow. Sorrow is useful when we weep for sin, and for our neighbour’s ignorance, and so that we may not relax our purpose to attain to true goodness: these are the true kinds of sorrow. Our enemy adds something to this. For he sends sorrow without reason, which is something called accidie. We ought always to drive out a spirit like this with prayer and psalmody.” (Page 120)
Product Details
- Title: The Sayings of the Fathers
- Editor: Owen Chadwick
- Publisher: Westminster Press
- Publication Date: 1958
- Pages: 156
- Christian Group: Anglican
- Resource Type: Collected Works
- Topic: Ancient History
About Owen Chadwick
Owen Chadwick was made fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1947, and in 1968 was elected regius professor of modern history, a chair he held for 14 years. A prominent Christian historian, his books include The Secularization of the European Mind in the 19th Century, Hensley Henson: A Study in the Friction between Church and state, and The Christian Church in the Cold War.