The great ascetic movement was in its first years of explosive growth when John Cassian journeyed from West to East. He visited the communities of monks and hermits in Palestine and Egypt. Though he sought a quiet life, he got caught up in international intrigue and adventure. In his later years he drew together the memories of his years in the desert, and composed two works on the cultivation of virtue and the practices of prayer.

LINKS

John Cassian, The Conferences (Part 1) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2107

John Cassian, The Institutes https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2106

John Cassian, Seven Books on the Incarnation of the Lord, against Nestorius https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=2097

Gennadius, Lives of Illustrious Men (see Chapter LXII) https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3079

Mike Aquilina’s website https://fathersofthechurch.com

Mike Aquilina’s books https://catholicbooksdirect.com/writer/mike-aquilina/

Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed http://www.ccwatershed.org

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