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Saint John Cassian

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September 2017

September 18, 2017

Don’t despair when you’re in a dry spell; Church Fathers: Day 056

St. John Cassian recalls the wise words of the abbot Daniel in the Egyptian desert....

September 08, 2017

Be reconciled before you pray, Church Fathers: Day 046

Writing an instruction book for monks, St. John Cassian amplifies the Gospel’s advice; if you...

September 07, 2017

Clean out your heart before you pray, Church Fathers: Day 045

The Egyptian abbot Isaac gave St. John Cassian some practical advice on praying: before you...

July 2015

July 10, 2015

Find the best models to imitate, Church Fathers: Day 354

Find the best models to imitate A bit of practical advice for monks, but also...

June 2015

June 30, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 344: St. John Cassian advises let your struggles help others

Let your struggles help others The desert fathers, St. John Cassian tells us, had a...

June 21, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 335: St. John Cassian says evil is evil, even if God turns it to good

Evil is evil, even if God turns it to good St. John Cassian tells how...

May 2015

May 15, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 298: St. John Cassian tells us to set one vice against another

Set one vice against another St. John Cassian shares the wise advice of Abbot Serapion...

May 14, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 297: St. John Cassian says guard against every vice

No matter how strong your defenses against the worst vices, says St. John Cas­sian, opening...

May 08, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 291: St. John Cassian says to destroy covetousness before it destroys you

Destroy covetousness before it destroys you How dangerous is covetousness? St. John Cassian answers that...

May 03, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 286: St. John Cassian says don’t blame your bad mood on someone else

Don’t blame your bad mood on someone else The cause of our gloominess is nowhere...

May 02, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 285: St. John Cassian advises us to never be angry—at all

Never be angry—at all Anger clouds our judgment, says St. John Cassian. The only way...

May 01, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 284: St. John Cassian says blame yourself for your anger

Blame yourself for your anger We often say that someone has “made” us angry. Don’t...

April 2015

April 30, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 283: St. John Cassian wants us to find the right use for our anger

Find the right use for your anger The passion of anger blinds us and sends...

April 29, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 282: St. John Cassian says don’t excuse your anger from Scripture

Don’t excuse your anger from Scripture Some people, says St. John Cassian, try to excuse...

April 18, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 271: St. John Cassian says gluttony brings you down to earth

Gluttony brings you down to earth The abbot Serapion tells St. John Cassian that we...

April 17, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 270: St. John Cassian reminds us that the opposite of gluttony is moderation

The opposite of gluttony is moderation You’re never too sick or weak to be virtuous,...

April 15, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 268: St. John Cassian tells us don’t run away from sloth

Don’t run away from sloth Sloth, laziness, boredom—these are problems that can sap our energy...

April 12, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 265: St. John Cassian wants us to keep struggling against vanity

Keep struggling against vanity Vanity, or “vainglory” as old English writers used to call it,...

April 06, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 259: St. John Cassian wants us to give the credit to God

Give the credit to God The Syrian abbot Chaeremon tells St. John Cassian that we...

March 2015

March 31, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 253: St. John Cassian says keep your soul light as a feather

Keep your soul light as a feather The abbot Isaac told St. John Cassian that...

March 21, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 243: St. John Cassian advises us to attack our strongest sin first

Attack your strongest sin first The wise abbot Serapion told St. John Cassian that we...

January 2015

January 01, 2015

Church Fathers, Day 164: St. John Cassian compares our heart to a flour mill

Your heart is like a flour mill St. John Cassian recalls a striking illustration a...

November 2014

November 27, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred Twenty-Nine: St. John Cassian warns us to beware of depression

Beware of depression Are you feeling gloomy? That’s good if it leads you to repent...

November 15, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred Seventeen: St. John Cassian advises us to suit your practice to your nature

Suit your practice to your nature. Not everyone can fast heroically, says St. John Cassian....

November 13, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred Fifteen: St. John Cassian urges us to be like steel, not like wax

Be like steel, not like wax St. John Cassian remembers the wise comparison of the...

November 07, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred Nine: St. John Cassian tells us to feel pity for your persecutors

Feel pity for your persecutors The wise abbot Chaeremon told St. John Cassian that forgiveness...

November 04, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred Six: St. John Cassian wants us to cultivate patience and be at peace

Cultivate patience and be at peace If you cultivate patience, says St. John Cassian, you...

October 2014

October 29, 2014

Church Fathers, Day One Hundred: St. John Cassian says be kind even to people who don’t deserve it

Be kind even to people who don’t deserve it Is that beggar on the street...

October 18, 2014

Church Fathers, Day Eighty-Nine: St. John Cassian tell us to learn how to control your thoughts

Learn how to control your thoughts St. John Cassian recalls the wise words of an...

October 13, 2014

Church Fathers, Day Eighty-Four: St. John Cassian tells us to learn practice before theory

Learn practice before theory The abbot Nesteros tells St. John Cassian that he needs to...

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