John Cassian, The Institutes
John Cassian
Number of quotes: 6
Book ID: 238 Page: 21
Section: 2E2
And so, it is proper for a monk always to dress like a soldier of Christ, ever ready for battle, his loins girded.2. For the authority of Holy Scripture makes it clear that those who in the Old Testament were responsible for the beginnings of this profession—namely, Elijah and Elisha—went about dressed in this way. And we know that thereafter the leaders and authors of the New Testament—namely, John, Peter, and Paul and other men of the same caliber—behaved likewise.
Pastor John notes: John’s note: Good Grief!
….
“He was a hairy man, and his loins were girt with a leather belt.”(1) From his clothing the king at once pictured the man of God, and he said: “It was Elijah the Tishbite.”(2) He clearly recognized the man of God by his belt and by the hairy and unkempt aspect of his body because, among so many thousands of Israelites, this particular style was always associated with him; it was as it were a kind of trademark of his.
Quote ID: 5985
Time Periods: 45
Book ID: 238 Page: 26
Section: 2E2
X. We have said all of this so that it might not seem that we have left out anything concerning the Egyptians’ garb. But we ourselves should keep only those things that the situation of the place and the custom of the region permit.
Quote ID: 5986
Time Periods: 45
Book ID: 238 Page: 39
Section: 2E2
V. 1. For in the early days of the faith few indeed—but they were very upright—were regarded as monks, and they had received that form of life from the evangelist Mark of blessed memory, who was the first to rule as bishop over the city of Alexandria. They not only retained then those magnificent qualities that we read in the Acts of the Apostles were originally cultivated by the Church and by the throngs of believers (namely, “The multitude of believers had one heart and one soul, and none of them said that anything that he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them. For as many as owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of what they sold and laid it at the feet of the apostles, and this was distributed to each just as each had need”(5) but to these they even added things far more lofty. 2. For they went off to quite secluded places on the outskirts of the city and led a strict life of such rigorous abstinence that even those who did not share their religion were astonished at the arduous profession of their way of life.
Quote ID: 5987
Time Periods: 45
Book ID: 238 Page: 43
Section: 2E2
X. 1. When they come together, then, to celebrate the aforementioned services (which they call synaxes), everyone is so silent that, even though such a large number of brothers has gathered, one would easily believe that no one was present apart from the person who stands to sing the psalm in their midst.….
No sound is heard other than the priest concluding the prayer, except perhaps that which escapes by an ecstasy of the mind from the gate of the mouth and steals up all unawares on the heart, enkindled by the extreme and unendurable heat of the Spirit when what the mind, once inflamed, cannot keep within itself attempts to escape by a kind of ineffable groan issuing from the inmost chambers of the breast. 2. But they declare that the person who is lukewarm in mind and who prays loudly or makes any noise such as we have already mentioned, and particularly if he is overcome by yawning, sins doubly—in the first place because he is guilty of offering his…
Quote ID: 5988
Time Periods: 45
Book ID: 238 Page: 79
Section: 2E2
Their cenobium in the Thebaid is more populous than all the others inasmuch as it is stricter in its rigorous way of life, for in it more than five thousand brothers are ruled by a single abba, and this huge number of monks is subject at every moment to their elder with an obedience such as, among us, one could neither render to another nor demand of another even for a short while.….
III. 1. So, then, whoever seeks to be received into the discipline of the cenobium is never admitted until, by lying outside for ten days or more, he has given an indication of his perseverance and desire, as well as of his humility and patience. And when he has embraced the knees of all the brothers passing by and has been purposely rebuked and distained by everyone,…
Quote ID: 5989
Time Periods: 45
Book ID: 238 Page: 92/93
Section: 2E2
Now, I shall relate a deed of Abba Patermutus that is worthy of remembrance. He, desiring to renounce this world, persisted in keeping watch outside the monastery until, thanks to his unwavering perseverance and against every custom of the cenobia, he was called and received along with his young son, who was about eight years old.….
2. In order to find out more clearly whether he [the father] made more of his feelings for his kindred and of his own heart’s love or of obedience and mortification in Christ (which every renunciant ought to prefer out of love for him), the little boy was purposely neglected, clothed in rags rather than garments, and so covered over and marred with filth as to shock rather than delight his father whenever he would see him. He was also exposed to the blows and slaps of different persons, which he often with his own eyes saw inflicted even arbitrarily on the innocent youngster, such that whenever he saw his cheeks they were streaked with the dirty traces of tears. 3. And although the child was treated this way under his eyes day after day, the father’s heart nonetheless remained ever stern and unmoved out of love for Christ and by the virtue of obedience.
Quote ID: 5990
Time Periods: 45
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