Ascetical Works

Contents

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION v AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ASCETICAL LIFE. 9 AN ASCETICAL DISCOURSE AND EXHORTATION ON THE RENUNCIATION OF THE WORLD AND SPIRITUAL PERFECTION 15 A DISCOURSE ON ASCETICAL DISCIPLINE 33 PREFACE ON THE JUDGMENT OF GOD 37 CONCERNING FAITH 57 HEREWITH BEGINS THE MORALS 71 AN ASCETICAL DISCOURSE .207 AN ASCETICAL DISCOURSE . 217 THE LONG RULES .. . .223 CONCERNING BAPTISM . 339 HOMILY ON THE WORDS: 'GIVE HEED TO THYSELF' 431 HOMILY 10: AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE PRONE TO ANGER . . . . . . . . . . HOMILY 11: CONCERNING ENVY HOMILY 20: OF HUMILITY HOMILY 21: ON DETACHMENT FROM WORLDLY GOODS . . • . . . ON MERCY AND JUSTICE INDEX 447 .463 .475 .487 .507 . 513 PREFATORY NOTE Of the ascetical works traditionally ascribed to Saint Basil of Caesarea, this volume contains a translation of the followmg : Three short treatises, seemingly addressed to ascetics, comprising exhortations to the monastic life and ascetical recommendations and prescriptions on certain matters of behavior in community life. Two additional tracts, placed after the Morals, are of similar content, with greater emphasis on detail . The Morals or Ethics, with its double prologue, the treatise, On the Judgment of God and Concerning Faith. The Morals consists of eighty precepts or rules, some with subdivisions, based upon the teachings of the Gospel. In general, the work appears to be directed to the Christian laity, but particular sections are concerned with the duties and needs of monks and of clergy living in the world. The Long Rules, with its preface. The fifty-five chapters or instructions of the Long Rules, mostly in the form of questions and answers, deal with specifically monastic problems. Concerning Baptism. Although they do not form a part of the Ascetica proper, the two books, Concerning Baptism, have been added because of their moral and ascetical content. Similarly, selected homilies on ethico-ascetical themes attributed to St. Basil are included. 5 6 SAINT BASIL The Migne reprint of the Benedictine edition was used as the text and the Scriptural passages follow the Douay-Rheims translation. SELECT BIBUOGRAPHY Texts: Amand, Dom David, L'Ascese Monastique d6 Saint Basile, Essai Historique (Maredsous 1949). Bardy, Gustave, 'Basile (Saint), ev~que de cesaree de Cappadoce,' Dictionnaire de spiritualite asCtitique et mystique (Pans 1937), 1:1273-1283; 2:1276-1283. Clarke, W. K. Lowther, St. Basil the Great. A Study in Monasticism (Cambridge, Eng. 1913). Humbertclaude. Pierre, La Doctrine AsCtitique de Saint Basile de Cesaree (Paris 1932). Morison. E. F.• St. Basil and His Rule. A Study in Early Monas· ticism (Oxford 1912). Murphy. Sister Margaret Gertrude. St. Basil and Monasticism (Washmgton 1930) . SAINT BASIL ASCETICAL WORKS Translated by SISTER M. MONICA WAGNER, C. S. C. Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross ...