On the Venerable Cassian (Introduction)

On the Venerable Cassian. Our venerable father Cassian the Roman lived during the reign of Theodosius the Younger in the year 433 after the Birth of Christ. From the Discourses which he compiled laboriously, we have included here the Discourses on the eight thoughts and on discretion, for they pour out every grace from themselves. Venerable Photius also mentions them in reading 197 on pages 265 and 266. And the second, he says, is Venerable Cassian’s Discourse on the eight thoughts: gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness and despondency, vanity and pride. These Discourses are more useful than anything else for those who wish to undertake laborious struggle. And the third Discourse, which we read together with these. He teaches in it what discretion is, and that it is greater than other virtues, and where it comes from, and that it is a gift that often descends from on high, etc. The Church celebrates the memory of this venerable one on the 29th day of the month of February and glorifies him with honors and praises.