The Monk And The Martyr
The Monk As The Successor Of The Martyr
- 180 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The ideal of Christian perfection does not change from age to age but remains forever essentially the same. Nevertheless, the manner in which Christians attempt to realize that ideal in their own lives may vary considerably according to the age in which they live, and according to the circumstances in which they find themselves placed. During the apostolic age, and during the time of the great persecutions, when almost every Christian might expect to end his life as a martyr, the disposition to offer one's life for the faith was considered the highest expression of Christian perfection.
When the age of the martyrs had passed, it became necessary for the Christian to express his desire to imitate Christ in some other way. Many Christians wishing to disengage their affection entirely from the world, sought to apply the evangelical counsels to their lives in a very literal fashion. This ascetical ideal was accepted by many of the rigorists of the second century as a substitute for martyrdom as the highest expression of the love of God. Thus the ascetical life came to be looked upon as a martyrium cotidianum, and the concept of spiritual martyrdom was born.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Title page
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- DEDICATION
- FOREWORD
- LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- CHAPTER I - THE IDEAL OF PERFECTION IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE
- CHAPTER II - SPIRITUAL MARTYRDOM IN THE EARLY LATIN FATHERS TERTULLIAN, CYPRIAN, AND COMMODIAN
- CHAPTER III - MONASTIC LIFE AS SPIRITUAL MARTYRDOM
- CHAPTER IV - THE MONKS AND THE MARTYRS AS ATHLETES OF CHRIST
- CHAPTER V - MARTYRDOM AND MONASTIC LIFE AS A MILITIA SPIRITUALS
- CHAPTER VI - MARTYRDOM AND MONASTIC PROFESSION AS A SECOND BAPTISM