Southern France

The rule handed on by the Fathers is that whoever is guided solely by his own judgment and decision will never climb up to the summit of perfection and will fall victim to the devil’s ruinous power to delude.

- John Cassian

The older abominable schisms and heresies cannot be overcome except by refuting them on the authority of the Holy Scripture alone, or by avoiding them altogether if they have already been refuted and condemned by universal councils of the catholic bishops.

- Vincent of Lérins

It is in our own best interest to hold that all good things, especially those conducive to eternal life, are obtained through God’s favor, increased through God’s favor, and preserved through God’s favor.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

A Patristic Treasury: Early Church Wisdom for Today, edited by James R. Payton, Jr

God

It is right for us to believe, with unshaken faith, that nothing is done in this world without God. It must be admitted that everything happens either by His will or with His permission.

- John Cassian

We always need to preserve our reverence for God’s justice even when we do not understand its course.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

God’s knowledge – which embraces the past, the present, and the future – is not encompassed by time, and future events are as present to Him as current or past ones.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

The Son

The catholic faith affirms that the Word of God was made human in such a way that He assumed our nature, not fallaciously and unreally, but in truth and reality; that He did not imitate human nature as if it were something different, but rather as being His very own.

- Vincent of Lérins

Man & Sin

All of us have been created in the first man without any blemish and we have all lost the integrity of our nature through the sin of the same first man.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Human nature, vitiated in the first man’s sin, is always inclined, even when surrounded with God’s mercies, with His precepts and aids, towards a degenerate will, to surrender to which is sin.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

The human will is by itself able to sin, but cannot by itself perform good works.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

You will see later in the biography of Prosper that he was a defender of Augustine, although moderating Augustine’s views on the topic of original sin. I know the concept of original sin isn’t accepted in the Eastern Orthodox Church; at least the idea that we are all guilty because of it is not accepted, although the consequence of death is (at least something like this – I haven’t closely examined the doctrinal differences).

Here again, and maybe I am just too bland: of what consequence is this debate? Everyone reading this blog is a sinner and in need of repentance and salvation. Well, perhaps one consequence: not accepting the guilt of original sin it may resolve the issue of the death of an infant. I don’t know the Orthodox position on this, but I can see this is one consequence.

But for those who have achieved some level of consciousness and understanding of right and wrong? We all sin, no matter how that corruption got in us.

The one who teaches himself by engaging in argument will never reach the truth. The enemy will note that he relies more on his own judgment than upon that of the Fathers…

- John Cassian

Internet theological debates kind of strike me as this. Those doing the debating are usually not teachers in the best sense of the term.

The devil drags a monk headlong to death by way of no other sin that that of submission to private judgement and the neglect of the advice of our elders.

- John Cassian

I will hear strong statements from protestant pastors to read the Bible on your own, study the words through different translations, have a good concordance and study Bible etc., then, at the same time, they preach extensive sermons on a handful of verses at a time and recommend books by other protestants on Biblical understanding…

Both must be done (although, one need not limit the advice in the second part to books by protestants).

No one fights against me more than my own heart.

- John Cassian

My will and my pride.

Without worship of the true God even what has the appearance of virtue is sin.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Even when one’s action is morally good, one’s life remains bad if one does not live for God’s glory.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Just as faith without works is dead, good works without faith is not possible. The works cannot be good unless done to God’s glory.

Grace

Grace, in all the variety of remedy or help which it provides, first operates to prepare the will of the recipient of its call to accept and follow up its gift.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Neither the learned nor the illiterate of whatever race or rank come to God led by human reason; but everyone who is converted to God is first stirred by God’s grace.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Is there any meaningful Christian tradition or denomination that doesn’t start here? I am not aware of one. Would this statement be acceptable to an Eastern Orthodox, Romand Catholic, Lutheran, Calvinist, etc.? I think so.

In other words, I believe we all start with this notion that God moves in our lives before our lives move toward Him. It is after this that we start arguing – what happens next?

There are no crimes so hateful that can prevent the gift of grace, just as there can be no good works so excellent that can claim as their just reward what God gives gratuitously.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

The apostle Paul had some pretty hateful crimes. Yet he received God’s grace. We all know people who appear to our human eyes beyond hope. Show love for them by praying that God is graceful toward them.

As for the “excellent” good works part, see my comments on this above.

When the Apostle Paul stopped in his knowledge and discussion of this problem [God’s sovereign distribution of grace] and gave way to utter astonishment, who would be so presumptuous as to believe that he could try to explain it rather than admire it in silence?

- Prosper of Aquitaine

If we are humble of heart we shall not be disturbed by the unfathomable depth of this discrimination of God.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

On this topic, I really try to stay in my lane. “What about the people who lived and died without ever hearing anything of God or Jesus?” That’s God’s concern, not mine.

Scripture

Answering the question: Given that the canon of Scripture is complete, why is it necessary to add the authority of ecclesiastical interpretation?

Because Holy Scripture, given its depth, is not universally accepted in one and the same sense. The same text is interpreted differently by different people….

- Vincent of Lérins

See my comment above on studying and understanding Scripture. Yes, read and learn. But also, be willing to be taught by those today and those who came hundreds – even thousands – of years ago.

One might ask, do the heretics also make use of the testimonies of Holy Scripture? Indeed they do – and to a great degree… There is no easier way to deceive people with wicked errors that by fraudulently claiming the authority of the Bible.

- Vincent of Lérins

Yes. One can find a proof-text in Scripture for almost any belief. Which is why we should be humble in the face of those who came before us, those who have clarified what are seemingly contradictory and otherwise confusing Scripture passages.

The authority of sacred Scripture confirms that a divine gift and a divine help is necessary for one to make progress in faith and good works and to persevere in them till the end.

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Tradition

The disaster of that perilous period [the struggles with Donatism and Arianism in the fourth century] demonstrates abundantly what calamity is brought about by teaching a novel dogma.

- Vincent of Lérins

Profane novelty, with all its boastful display of errors, is to be crushed…by the authority of sacred tradition.

- Vincent of Lérins

How shall they [genuine Christians] discern truth from falsehood in what claims to be taught from Holy Scripture? By reference to what holy and scholarly men have handed down to us.

- Vincent of Lérins

What the [ecumenical] councils have brought forth in their decrees assured that what before was believed plainly and simply might from now on be believed more diligently.

- Vincent of Lérins

There is an arrogance, even pride, if one does not consider how Christian doctrines were developed over the centuries. This doesn’t mean all are acceptable – I don’t imagine I will ever let go of the idea that each must be tested against Scripture.

Justification

Suppose that justification, which is the work of grace, were due to previous merits; suppose it were like the pay of a laborer rather than the gift of a donor: would not our redemption in the blood of Christ then be debased, and the initiative claimed by human works refuse to yield to God’s mercy?

- Prosper of Aquitaine

Prayer

But one thing is certain. Anyone who prays and who doubts that he will be heard will not be listened to at all.

- John Cassian

Before the time of prayer we must put ourselves in the state of mind we would wish to have in us when we actually pray.

- John Cassian

Therefore in advance of prayer we must strive to dispose ourselves as we would wish to be during prayer. The praying spirit is shaped by its own earlier condition… therefore, before we pray we must hasten to drive from our hearts sanctuary anything we would not wish to intrude on our prayers.

- John Cassian

I try to remind myself just Who it is that I am about to talk to. That the Creator of all has afforded me this opening to speak to Him. Instead of rushing into prayer, which I do too often, I do need to remember to first take fa few minutes to prepare myself, dwelling on His goodness and mercy and grace.

Theosis

What we really want to learn is the extent to which the spirit can actually be at one with the invisible, ungraspable God.

- John Cassian

The introduction to salvation, made available to us by God’s gifts and grace, is not itself sufficient. It has to be brought to perfection by God’s mercy and His everyday assistance.

- John Cassian

Of this much we must be sure. Never by our sole diligence or zeal nor by our most tireless efforts can we reach perfection. Human zeal is not enough to win the sublime rewards of blessedness. The Lord must be there to help us and to guide our hearts toward what is good.

- John Cassian

This patristic idea of theosis continues well in the Eastern Church. I find it a much richer picture of the objective of salvation than the one too often presented in the West: avoiding punishment, avoiding damnation, the price was paid.

Now is as good a time as any to test something, so please push back if I am too far out there: the cross represents resolving the judicial consequence of sin; the resurrection represents the purpose for man of removing that consequence. No, that doesn’t sound quite right.

How about this: the West emphasizes justification, and the East emphasizes sanctification and beatification. Justification is seen on the cross, beatification is seen in the resurrection.

Anyway, enough stumbling. I would welcome any help in stating this better, and would welcome correction if it seems I am way off.

Other

Never dare to teach someone what you have not practiced yourself.

- John Cassian

Perhaps I should just stop writing. I fail at doing most of the things I write about.

Then again, I don’t consider what I am doing is teaching. I have been clear: I am not a priest, pastor, or theologian. I am not formally trained. I am on a journey, and, as always, I am grateful that many have decided to join me.

Biographies / Sources

John Cassian (c. 360-435) traveled among the monks of Egypt for many years and later sat under the ministry of John Chrysostom. He eventually established a monastery in what is now southern France.

Vincent of Lérins (? – c. 450) was a monk on an island of the southern coast of France, at the time when the western empire was enduring repeated barbarian assaults. Further, he became suspicious of Augustine’s teachings about predestination and grace; in his view, Augustine went beyond what had been accepted as the historic faith.

Prosper of Aquitaine (c. 390-463) lived as a monk in southern France before accompanying Leo to Rome when the latter was elected bishop of Rome. He sought to defend Augustine’s views on predestination and grace against the criticism of John Cassian and Vincent of Lérins. In the course of the controversy, he somewhat softened Augustine’s views.