Thursday, February 3 : Saint John Cassian

The tradition of the elders teaches us that the nature of spiritual gifts is enfolded in a threefold form We have understood from the tradition of our forebears that the first kind of spiritual gift is for the purpose of healing, when it accompanies certain chosen and righteous men because of their holiness , as is clear in the case of the apostles and many holy-persons, who worked signs and wonders in accordance with the authority of the Lord, who said: “Cure the sick, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have freely received, freely give.” (Mt 10:8) The second is when, for the sake of the upbuilding of the Church or because of the faith of those who bring their sick or of those who must be healed, a health-giving power comes forth even from sinners and unworthy persons. (…) On the other hand, if the faith of the petitioners or of the sick is wanting, he does not permit those to whom the gifts of healing have been granted to exercise their health-giving power. Luke the evangelist says about this: “Jesus could do no powerful deeds among them because of their lack of faith.” (Mk 6:5-6; cf. Lk 4:27) The third type of healing is aped by the deceitful workings of the demons. (…) And in the gospel it says: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and will produce great signs and wonders, so that if possible even the elect might be led into error.” (Mt 24:24) Therefore we must never admire those who feign these things by such miracles. Rather, we should see whether they have been made perfect by the uprooting of all their vices and the correction of their behavior. For when the grace of God is dispensed it is certainly not bestowed because of someone else’s faith or for any number of reasons but because of the person’s own zeal.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team