THE WORKS OF OUR HOLY FATHER JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Volume I

Book 2

ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD

FIRST WORD. The best childhood friend of John Chrysostom is Basil. "They never parted with each other. - The intention of both of them to accept monasticism. - The tears and entreaties of his mother, which diverted John from carrying out this intention. - The ascetic life of friends. - Rumor of the intention to consecrate them both to the episcopal dignity. - The deviation of Chrysostom and the election of Basil. - Basil's Complaints and John's Justifications. The moral meaning of cunning depends on the intention. - Its use both in peace and in war. - Both the doctors of the body and the doctors of the soul resort to it. - Healing the sick in this way. - It is also used by St. Paul. Paul in order to draw the Jews to Jesus Christ.

SECOND WORD. The priesthood is the highest proof of love that can be given in relation to Jesus Christ. - The Benefits of the Priesthood. - The blood of Jesus Christ is the price of souls. - The love of Jesus Christ for His church. - Priesthood duties are more important than any other office. "There are few worthy of him. - Responsibility of the priest. - Enemies of the flock of Christ. - The treatment of souls is more difficult than the treatment of sheep. - The difficulty of comprehending the very cause of the sickness of souls. - There is no other means than persuasion. - The priesthood requires an excellent soul. - How prudent a priest needs. - The priesthood is an office full of difficulties and dangers. - The need to know the candidate for the priesthood fully. - Excellent qualities of philanthropy. - Praise to Basil. - His philanthropy. - Why Chrysostom refused the episcopacy. "His refusal will not only do not harm the voters, but will save them from reproaches to which they would otherwise be subjected.

THIRD WORD. Chrysostom continues his justification. - His refusal did not come from pride. - To accuse others of disrespect for the priesthood is to reveal one's low opinion of it. - His refusal did not come from vanity. - Love of glory, on the contrary, should have led him to accept the episcopacy. - The priesthood has a heavenly character. - The majestic atmosphere of the Old Testament priesthood and the superiority of the New Testament priesthood. - The greatness of the Christian mystery. - A priest is stronger than angels. - The Sources of His Power. - The Old Testament priests only gave testimony about the healing of the leprosy of the body, and the New Testament priests heal the leprosy of the soul. - If our parents give us bodily life, then the priests give us spiritual life, and they can give it to us even when we have lost it. -Baptism. -Repentance. - Even Ap. Paul trembled as he pondered the height of his ministry. - The same frightened Chrysostom. - A clear awareness of the loftiness of the priesthood on the one hand, and an awareness of his own weakness as the motives that forced him to renounce the episcopacy. - Other motives, as consisting in the dangers and difficulties associated with the priesthood. - Elimination of vanity with all its accompanying passions. - The more exalted the priesthood, the more abominable the abuse of it. - One may desire the priesthood, but not the exaltation and authority associated with the priesthood. - A priest must be master over himself: the sad consequences of anger. - The errors of the priests quickly become known to everyone and the temptation that comes from it. - Examples of unsuccessful choices. - Administration of widows, care for virgins, ecclesiastical proceedings, and the difficulties associated with it. - Excommunication and the prudence it requires.

FOURTH WORD. Basil's objections that everything his friend said refers to those who seek the priesthood themselves, and not to those who are brought to him against their will. - Refutation of this objection. - Examples of Saul, Elijah, Aaron, and Moses. - Judas was called to the apostleship. - Those who ordain unworthy people are subject to the same punishment as them. - It is necessary to ordain with extreme caution. - On church service. - The gift of speech as a necessary attribute of a priest. - Without the gift of speech, neither a good example nor even the gift of miracles is enough. - The Word as the only weapon with which to repel the enemies of the Church. - Comparison of the Church with a strong fortress. - The main enemies with whom the Church has to deal are: Jews, pagans, Manichaeans, Valentinians, Marcionites, Sabellians, Arians. - Enemies at home, instigators of idle and insoluble questions. - Basil's objections: did he not despise the eloquence of the apostle? Paul? - No, he condemned only the frivolous art of the rhetoricians of his time. - If any servant of Jesus Christ could do without the gift of speech, it was Ap. Paul, who had the gift of wonderworking and an incomparable love for the Lord Jesus. - The eloquence of Ap. Paul's is simple and powerful, the only one based on knowledge and enthusiasm. - A commendation of his epistles. - The need for a bishop to have learning in order to instruct others. - He must be able to defend the dogmas of the faith.

FIFTH WORD. Continuation of the discourse on ecclesiastical eloquence. - Conversations intended for the people require more work. - Difficulty in satisfying the hearers, because they often come not to be edified, but to judge the preacher. - In order to successfully overcome this difficulty and win over the audience, two things are necessary: disdain for praise and the power of words. - Disregard for praise has no meaning without the power of the word, and vice versa. - To the neglect of praise must be added contempt for envy. - It is not enough to acquire the gift of speech, it is also necessary to preserve it by work and exercise, because eloquence is a gift of study even more than nature. - The higher the preacher's gift of speech, the more he must work on it. - Intrigues of the great preacher on the part of his envious enemies. - Few people who are able to judge conversations thoroughly. - Strong in the consciousness of his gift, the preacher can rise above the judgments of the crowd. - Even more confidence can be given to him by striving for the main goal - to please God. - Disdain for praise is no less necessary for one who does not have the gift of eloquence.

The Priest's Responsibility for the Sins of the Flock Entrusted to Him. - Prudence and caution, with which one must live in order to protect oneself from infection by the affairs of this world and preserve the beauty of the soul. - Zeal, thoroughness and vigilance in the performance of the priesthood. - Priests are God's messengers not only to one city, but to the whole earth. - They are appointed to pray and intercede for the forgiveness of the sins of people, and not only the living, but also the dead. - Summoning St. They reverently offer a great sacrifice, which must be approached with fear and trembling. - They carry in their hands the Lord and Lord of all people. - Necessity for them of the most careful prudence, so as not to offend any of their neighbors, to adapt themselves to all, without resorting to cunning, pretense and flattery, but rather acting with great boldness and freedom, and alternately, according to circumstances, it is possible to use severity or mildness. - No matter how great the labors of monks and no matter how difficult the battle they conduct, in any case, the service of a bishop is more difficult than hermitage. - It is easier to exercise virtue in the wilderness than in the performance of ecclesiastical affairs, since these deeds expose the bishop to many accidents and easily reveal in him vices and shortcomings that would not be found in the desert. - Repetition of the advice not to neglect popular rumors, even if they are false. "It's not hard to save yourself. - A priest is subject to a more terrible punishment than ordinary believers. - The state that a person must experience when they want to elevate him to the priesthood. - There is no more terrible battle than that which the devil raises against us in such cases.

XI. Discourse on the ordination to the priesthood.

Thoughts and feelings on the occasion of the elevation to the high rank of the priesthood. Lack of confidence in one's abilities. - The whole universe praises God, except for sinners. - But even a sinner can find a way to praise him. - Praise to Flavian, Bishop of Antioch. - The nobility of his origin and the greatness of his asceticism. - Remembrance of Meletius, Bishop of Antioch. - A request for prayer for a new presbyter.

XII. Against the Anomaeans