Table of Contents
The Works of Sulpitius Severus.
Life and Writings of Sulpitius Severus.
Chapter I. Reasons for writing the Life of St. Martin.
Chapter II. Military Service of St. Martin.
Chapter III. Christ appears to St. Martin.
Chapter IV. Martin retires from Military Service.
Chapter V. Martin converts a Robber to the Faith.
Chapter VI. The Devil throws himself in the Way of Martin.
Chapter VII. Martin restores a Catechumen to Life.
Chapter VIII. Martin restores one that had been strangled.
Chapter IX. High Esteem in which Martin was held.
Chapter X. Martin as Bishop of Tours.
Chapter XI. Martin demolishes an Altar consecrated to a Robber.
Chapter XII. Martin causes the Bearers of a Dead Body to stop.
Chapter XIII. Martin escapes from a Falling Pine-tree.
Chapter XIV. Martin destroys Heathen Temples and Altars.
Chapter XV. Martin offers his Neck to an Assassin.
Chapter XVI. Cures effected by St. Martin.
Chapter XVII. Martin casts out Several Devils.
Chapter XVIII. Martin performs Various Miracles.
Chapter XIX. A Letter of Martin effects a Cure, with Other Miracles.
Chapter XX. How Martin acted towards the Emperor Maximus.
Chapter XXI. Martin has to do both with Angels and Devils.
Chapter XXII. Martin preaches Repentance even to the Devil.
Chapter XXIII. A Case of Diabolic Deception.
Chapter XXIV. Martin is tempted by the Wiles of the Devil.
Chapter XXV. Intercourse of Sulpitius with Martin.
Chapter XXVI. Words cannot describe the Excellences of Martin.
The Letters of Sulpitius Severus.
Letter I. To Eusebius. Against Some Envious Assailants of Martin.
Letter II. To the Deacon Aurelius. Sulpitius has a Vision of St. Martin.
Letter III. To Bassula, His Mother-In-Law. How St. Martin passed from this Life to Life Eternal.
Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus.
Dialogue I. Concerning the Virtues of the Monks of the East.
Dialogue II. Concerning the Virtues of St. Martin.
The Doubtful Letters of Sulpitius Severus.
Letter I. A Letter of the Holy Presbyter Severus to His Sister Claudia Concerning the Last Judgment.
Letter II. A Letter of Sulpitius Severus to His Sister Claudia Concerning Virginity.
Letter III. A Letter of Severus to Holy Paul the Bishop.
Letter IV. To the Same, on His Wisdom and Gentleness.
Letter V. To an Unknown Person, Entreating Him to Deal Gently with His Brother.
Letter VII. To an Unknown Person, Begging the Favor of a Letter.
The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus.
Chapter I. The Object of the Following Treatise.
Chapter III. What is to be done if one or more dissent from the rest.
Chapter VI. The example of Pope Stephen in resisting the Iteration of Baptism.
Chapter VIII. Exposition of St. Paul's Words, Gal. i. 8.
Chapter IX. His warning to the Galatians a warning to all.
Chapter X. Why Eminent Men are permitted by God to become Authors of Novelties in the Church.
Chapter XII. A fuller account of the Errors of Photinus, Apollinaris and Nestorius.
Chapter XIII. The Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity and the Incarnation explained.
Chapter XIV. Jesus Christ Man in Truth, not in Semblance.
Chapter XVII. The Error of Origen a great Trial to the Church.
Chapter XVIII. Tertullian a great Trial to the Church.
Chapter XIX. What we ought to learn from these Examples.
Chapter XX. The Notes of a true Catholic.
Chapter XXI. Exposition of St. Paul's Words.--1 Tim. vi. 20.
Chapter XXII. A more particular Exposition of 1 Tim. vi. 20.
Chapter XXIII. On Development in Religious Knowledge.
Chapter XXIV. Continuation of the Exposition of 1 Tim. vi. 20.
Chapter XXV. Heretics appeal to Scripture that they may more easily succeed in deceiving.
Chapter XXVI. Heretics, in quoting Scripture, follow the example of the Devil.
Chapter XXVII. What Rule is to be observed in the Interpretation of Scripture.
Chapter XXX. The Council of Ephesus.
Chapter XXXII. The zeal of Celestine and Sixtus, bishops of Rome, in opposing Novelty.
Appendix I. Note on Section 41, Page 143.
The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults.
Book I. Of the Dress of the Monks.
Chapter I. Of the Monk's Girdle.
Chapter II. Of the Monk's Robe.
Chapter III. Of the Hoods of the Egyptians.
Chapter IV. Of the Tunics of the Egyptians.
Chapter VII. Of the Sheepskin and the Goatskin.
Chapter VIII. Of the Staff of the Egyptians.
Chapter XI. Of the Spiritual Girdle and its Mystical Meaning.
Book II. Of the Canonical System of the Nocturnal Prayers and Psalms.
Chapter I. Of the Canonical System of the Nocturnal Prayers and Psalms.
Chapter II. Of the difference of the number of Psalms appointed to be sung in all the provinces.
Chapter VI. Of the Custom of having Twelve Prayers.
Chapter VII. Of their Method of Praying.
Chapter VIII. Of the Prayer which follows the Psalm.
Chapter X. Of the silence and conciseness with which the Collects are offered up by the Egyptians.
Chapter XI. Of the system according to which the Psalms are said among the Egyptians.
Chapter XIII. The reason why they are not allowed to go to sleep after the night service.
Chapter XVI. How no one is allowed to pray with one who has been suspended from prayer.
Chapter XVII. How he who rouses them for prayer ought to call them at the usual time.
Chapter XVIII. How they do not kneel from the evening of Saturday till the evening of Sunday.
Book III. Of the Canonical System of the Daily Prayers and Psalms.
Chapter V. How they ought not to go back to bed again after the Mattin prayers.
Chapter X. How it was brought about that they fast on the Sabbath in the city.
Book IV. Of the Institutes of the Renunciants.
Chapter II. Of the way in which among them men remain in the monasteries even to extreme old age.
Chapter III. Of the ordeal by which one who is to be received in the monastery is tested.
Chapter XI. The kind of food which is considered the greater delicacy by them.
Chapter XV. Of the excessive desire of possession among us.
Chapter XVI. On the rules for various rebukes.
Chapter XIX. How throughout Palestine and Mesopotamia a daily service is undertaken by the brethren.
Chapter XX. Of the three lentil beans which the Steward found.
Chapter XXI. Of the spontaneous service of some of the brethren.
Chapter XXII. The system of the Egyptians, which is appointed for the daily service of the brethren.
Chapter XXIII. The obedience of Abbot John by which he was exalted even to the grace of prophecy.
Chapter XXV. Of the unique vase of oil thrown away by Abbot John at his senior's command.
Chapter XXXV. How the fear of the Lord is our cross.
Chapter XLI. The appearance of what infirmities one who lives in a Cœnobium ought to exhibit.
Chapter XLIII. Recapitulation of the explanation how a monk can mount up towards perfection.
Book V. Of the Spirit of Gluttony.
Chapter V. That one and the same rule of fasting cannot be observed by everybody.
Chapter VI. That the mind is not intoxicated by wine alone.
Chapter VII. How bodily weakness need not interfere with purity of heart.
Chapter VIII. How food should be taken with regard to the aim at perfect continence.
Chapter IX. Of the measure of the chastisement to be undertaken, and the remedy of fasting.
Chapter XI. That bodily lusts are not extinguished except by the entire rooting out of vice.
Chapter XII. That in our spiritual contest we ought to draw an example from the carnal contests.
Chapter XIV. How gluttonous desires can be overcome.
Chapter XV. How a monk must always be eager to preserve his purity of heart.
Chapter XIX. That the athlete of Christ, so long as he is in the body, is never without a battle.
Chapter XXI. Of the inward peace of a monk, and of spiritual abstinence.
Chapter XXIII. What should be the character of the monk's food.
Chapter XXIV. How in Egypt we saw that the daily fast was broken without scruple on our arrival.
Chapter XXVI. Of another old man, who never partook of food alone in his cell.
Chapter XXVII. What the two Abbots Pæsius and John said of the fruits of their zeal.
Chapter XXVIII. The lesson and example which Abbot John when dying left to his disciples.
Chapter XXX. A saying of the same old man about not judging any one.
Chapter XXXII. Of the letters which were burnt without being read.
Chapter XXXIII. Of the solution of a question which Abbot Theodore obtained by prayer.
Chapter XXXV. A rebuke of the same old man, when he had come to my cell in the middle of the night.
Chapter XXXVI. A description of the desert in Diolcos, where the anchorites live.
Chapter XXXVII. Of the cells which Abbot Archebius gave up to us with their furniture.
Chapter XXXVIII. The same Archebius paid a debt of his mother's by the labour of his own hands.
Book VI. On the Spirit of Fornication.
Book VII. Of the Spirit of Covetousness.
Chapter II. How dangerous is the disease of covetousness.
Chapter III. What is the usefulness of those vices which are natural to us.
Chapter V. Of the faults which are contracted through our own fault, without natural impulses.
Chapter VI. How difficult the evil of covetousness is to drive away when once it has been admitted.
Chapter VIII. How covetousness is a hindrance to all virtues.
Chapter IX. How a monk who has money cannot stay in the monastery.
Chapter XI. That under pretence of keeping the purse women have to besought to dwell with them.
Chapter XII. An instance of a lukewarm monk caught in the snares of covetousness.
Chapter XIII. What the elders relate to the juniors in the matter of stripping off sins.
Chapter XIV. Instances to show that the disease of covetousness is threefold.
Chapter XVII. Of the renunciation of the apostles and the primitive church.
Chapter XIX. A saying of S. Basil, the Bishop, directed against Syncletius.
Chapter XX. How contemptible it is to be overcome by covetousness.
Chapter XXI. How covetousness can be conquered.
Chapter XXII. That one who actually has no money may still be deemed covetous.
Chapter XXIII. An example drawn from the case of Judas.
Chapter XXIV. That covetousness cannot be overcome except by stripping one's self of everything.
Chapter XXVI. That covetousness brings upon the soul a spiritual leprosy.
Chapter XXIX. How a monk can retain his poverty.
Chapter XXX. The remedies against the disease of covetousness.
Book VIII. Of the Spirit of Anger.
Chapter III. Of those things which are spoken of God anthropomorphically.
Chapter V. How calm a monk ought to be.
Chapter VI. Of the righteous and unrighteous passion of wrath.
Chapter VII. Of the only case in which anger is useful to us.
Chapter VIII. Instances from the life of the blessed David in which anger was rightly felt.
Chapter IX. Of the anger which should be directed against ourselves.
Chapter X. Of the sun, of which it is said that it should not go down upon your wrath.
Chapter XI. Of those to whose wrath even the going down of the sun sets no limit.
Chapter XIII. That we should not retain our anger even for an instant.
Chapter XIV. Of reconciliation with our brother.
Chapter XV. How the Old Law would root out anger not only from the actions but from the thoughts.
Chapter XVI. How useless is the retirement of those who do not give up their bad manners.
Chapter XX. Of the way in which auger should be banished according to the gospel.
Chapter XXII. The remedies by which we can root out anger from our hearts.
Book IX. Of the Spirit of Dejection.
Chapter II. Of the care with which the malady of dejection must be healed.
Chapter III. To what the soul may be compared which is a prey to the attacks of dejection.
Chapter IV. Whence and in what way dejection arises.
Chapter V. That disturbances are caused in us not by the faults of other people, but by our own.
Chapter VIII. That if we have improved our character it is possible for us to get on with everybody.
Chapter IX. Of another sort of dejection which produces despair of salvation.
Chapter X. Of the only thing in which dejection is useful to us.
Chapter XIII. The means by which we can root out dejection from our hearts.
Book X. Of the Spirit of Accidie.
Chapter I. How our sixth combat is against the spirit of accidie, and what its character is.
Chapter III. Of the different ways in which accidie overcomes a monk.
Chapter IV. How accidie hinders the mind from all contemplation of the virtues.
Chapter V. How the attack of accidie is twofold.
Chapter VI. How injurious are the effects of accidie.
Chapter VII. Testimonies from the Apostle concerning the spirit of accidie.
Chapter VIII. That he is sure to be restless who will not be content with the work of his own hands.
Chapter XI. That he preached and taught men to work not only by his example, but also by his words.
Chapter XII. Of his saying: “If any will not work, neither shall he eat.”
Chapter XIII. Of his saying: “We have heard that some among you walk disorderly.”
Chapter XIV. How manual labour prevents many faults.
Chapter XV. How kindness should be shown even to the idle and careless.
Chapter XVI. How we ought to admonish those who go wrong, not out of hatred, but out of love.
Chapter XIX. How we should understand these words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Chapter XX. Of a lazy brother who tried to persuade others to leave the monastery.
Chapter XXI. Different passages from the writings of Solomon against accidie.
Chapter XXIII. That idleness is the reason why there are not monasteries for monks in the West.
Chapter XXIV. Abbot Paul who every year burnt with fire all the works of his hands.
Chapter XXV. The words of Abbot Moses which he said to me about the cure of accidie.
Book XI. Of the Spirit of Vainglory.
Chapter I. How our seventh combat is against the spirit of vainglory, and what its nature.
Chapter II. How vainglory attacks a monk not only on his carnal, but also on his spiritual side.
Chapter III. How many forms and shapes vainglory takes.
Chapter IV. How vainglory attacks a monk on the right had and on the left.
Chapter V. A comparison which shows the nature of vainglory.
Chapter VI. That vainglory is not altogether got rid of by the advantages of solitude.
Chapter VII. How vainglory, when it has been overcome, rises again keener than ever for the fight.
Chapter VIII. How vainglory is not allayed either in the desert or through advancing years.
Chapter IX. That vainglory is the more dangerous through being mixed up with virtues.
Chapter X. An instance showing how King Hezekiah was overthrown by the dart of vainglory.
Chapter XI. The instance of King Uzziah who was overcome by the taint of the same malady.
Chapter XII. Several testimonies against vainglory.
Chapter XIII. Of the ways in which vainglory attacks a monk.
Chapter XIV. How it suggests that a man may seek to take holy orders.
Chapter XV. How vainglory intoxicates the mind.
Chapter XVI. Of him whom the superior came upon and found in his cell, deluded by idle vainglory.
Chapter XVII. How faults cannot be cured unless their roots and causes have been discovered.
Book XII. Of the Spirit of Pride.
Chapter I. How our eighth combat is against the spirit of pride, and of its character.
Chapter II. How there are two kinds of pride.
Chapter III. How pride is equally destructive of all virtues.
Chapter IV. How by reason of pride Lucifer was turned from an archangel into a devil.
Chapter V. That incentives to all sins spring from pride.
Chapter IX. How we too may overcome pride.
Chapter X. How no one can obtain perfect virtue and the promised bliss by his own strength alone.
Chapter XII. That no toil is worthy to be compared with the promised bliss.
Chapter XIII. The teaching of the elders on the method of acquiring purity.
Chapter XIV. That the help of God is given to those who labour.
Chapter XV. From whom we can learn the way of perfection.
Chapter XIX. How this faith concerning the grace of God was delivered to us by the ancient Fathers.
Chapter XX. Of one who for his blasphemy was given over to a most unclean spirit.
Chapter XXI. The instance of Joash, King of Judah, showing what was the consequence of his pride.
Chapter XXII. That every proud soul is subject to spiritual wickedness to be deceived by it.
Chapter XXIII. How perfection can only be attained through the virtue of humility.
Chapter XXIV. Who are attacked by spiritual and who by carnal pride.
Chapter XXVI. That a man whose foundation is bad, sinks daily from bad to worse.
Chapter XXVII. A description of the faults which spring from the evil of pride.
Chapter XXVIII. On the pride of a certain brother.
Chapter XXIX. The signs by which you can recognize the presence of carnal pride in a soul.
Chapter XXX. How when a man has grown cold through pride he wants to be put to rule other people.
Chapter XXXI. How we can overcome pride and attain perfection.
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X.
Conference I. First Conference of Abbot Moses.
Chapter I. Of our stay in Scete, and that which we proposed to Abbot Moses.
Chapter IV. Of Abbot Moses' question on the aforesaid statement.
Chapter V. A comparison with a man who is trying to hit a mark.
Chapter VI. Of those who in renouncing the world, aim at perfection without love.
Chapter VII. How peace of mind should be sought.
Chapter IX. A question how it is that the practice of virtue cannot remain with a man.
Chapter X. The answer that not the reward, but the doing of them will come to an end.
Chapter XI. On the abiding character of love.
Chapter XII. A question on perseverance in spiritual contemplation.
Chapter XIV. Of the continuance of the soul.
Chapter XV. How we must meditate on God.
Chapter XVI. A question on the changing character of the thoughts.
Chapter XVIII. Comparison of a soul and a millstone.
Chapter XIX. Of the three origins of our thoughts.
Chapter XX. About discerning the thoughts, with an illustration from a good money-changer.
Chapter XXI. Of the illusion of Abbot John.
Chapter XXII. Of the fourfold method of discrimination.
Chapter XXIII. Of the discourse of the teacher in regard to the merits of his hearers.