Translation:Cassian Conferences XXII/Chapter 1

A full seven days later, when the festival of Quinquagesima had been completed, in the beginning of that night, after the evening service, we entered the cell of the holy Theonas, gripped with expectation of the promised discussion. The lively elder, with a cheerful and welcoming face, began to address us as follows:

I marvel that your burning enthusiasm has been able to defer these seven days the resolution of the proposed question, and that you have granted your debtor such a long postponement, without even asking! It is only right, therefore, since your exceeding kindness has allowed me so great a deferral, that I too should make no delay in repaying the debt. This occupation of money-lender is agreeable, as it collects valuable interest when debts are paid, and enriches the recipient without impoverishing the payer. Indeed, the purveyor of spiritual riches gathers a double profit, since not only in the progress of the hearer, but also in making their own argument do they receive a great benefit, no less kindling in themselves a desire for perfection while they instruct the listener. Therefore, your ardor is my spur, your anxiety my remorse. For certainly, being myself sluggish in mind and possessing in my heart none of what you seek, I would have drawn back, if your enthusiasm and longing had not aroused me, as if from sleep, to the recollection of spiritual matters. Therefore, let the question be brought out before us, if it pleases, whose resolution we previously chose to defer for lack of time.