Translation:Cassian Conferences XXII

by John Cassian

XXI. The Second Conference of Abba Theonas.

On Nocturnal Emissions

This is a Wikisource original translation for this conference, which is omitted from the Philip Schaff translation.

Contents

• Chapter 1: On our again returning to Abba Theonas and his exhortation.
• Chapter 2: Remembering our inquiry, why greater attacks on the flesh sometimes follow greater abstinence.
• Chapter 3: That an emptying flow from the genitals may be proceeded by three reasons.
• Chapter 4: An inquiry whether those polluted by a nocturnal emission may take holy communion.
• Chapter 5: The response, when the passions of the sleeper incur blame.
• Chapter 6: That sometimes even an emission pollutes through the action of the enemy.
• Chapter 7: That no-one should ever judge themselves worthy of the Lord's communion.
• Chapter 8: Objection: if no-one is without sin, then all should be prohibited from the Lord's communion.
• Chapter 9: The response, many people can be saints, but no-one is without sin except Christ.
• Chapter 10: That only the Son of God, without any wound of sin, defeated the tempter.
• Chapter 11: That Christ came only in the likeness of sinful flesh.
• Chapter 12: That all the just and the saints were not in the likeness, but in the reality of sin.
• Chapter 13: That the sins of the saints are not so serious as to deprive them of the merits of sanctity.
• Chapter 14: How the saying of the Apostle should be understood: for I do not do the good that I will.
• Chapter 15: Objection: The Apostle should rather be understood to have said this in the persona of sinners.
• Chapter 16: The deferral of the proposed question.