(Updated July 14, 2025)
This Quote Archive collects pertinent quotes from the Church Father, St. Caesarius of Arles.
Next to each quote are the topic-based Quote Archives in which they are included.
This Quote Archive is being continuously updated as research continues.
Sermons
St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 1 : The Humble Advice of a Sinner, Addressed in General to All Saints and Priests (522)
(§12)1
No woman should take potions for purposes of abortion, because she should not doubt that before the tribunal of Christ she will have to plead as many cases as the number of those she killed when already born or still conceived. Is anyone unable to warn that no woman should accept a potion to prevent conception or to condemn within herself the nature which God wanted to be fruitful? Indeed, she will be held guilty of as many murders as the number of those she might have conceived or borne, and unless suitable penance saves her she will be condemned to eternal death in hell. If a woman does not want to bear children she should enter upon a pious agreement with her husband [to abstain], for only the abstinence of a Christian woman is chastity.
St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 10: On the Catholic Faith
(§3)2
Let no one commit theft or murder or adultery or perjury, or bear false witness. Every man should honor his father and mother that he may live long on earth. Let him cherish God more than himself and love his neighbor as himself. If anyone has committed any of the aforementioned offenses, he should quickly amend his life, make his confession, perform true penance, and then his sins will be forgiven him. If you are willing to do what I have suggested, brethren, you will merit pardon for your sins and obtain eternal life: with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 13: A Sermon Necessary in Parishes
(§3)3
As soon as some infirmity overtakes him, a sick man should receive the Body and Blood of Christ, humbly and devoutly ask the presbyters for blessed oil, and anoint his body with it. Thus will be fulfilled in him what we read: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the presbyters, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil. And the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him” (Jas. 5:14-15). See to it, brethren, that a man hastens to the health and the remission of his sins.
St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 16: The Qualities of Good and Bad Christians
(§4)4
Behold, brethren, we are showing you the qualities of good Christians and of bad. Therefore, imitate those whom you see are good; those whom you know are evil, reprimand, reproach, and rebuke them so that you may have a double reward for your own progress and their amendment. May those, then, who are good, chaste, sober, humble, and gentle, persevere with God’s help in their good works; may those who do evil correct themselves at once before their souls depart from this life. If they die without repentance they do not enter into life, but are cast into death. From this punishment may the good Lord deign to free us, who, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns world without end. Amen.
St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 110: St. Jerome on the Censers of Core and Dathan
(§1)5
If the doctrine of the Church were simple and not surrounded by the assertions of heretical doctrines from without, our faith could not appear so clear 144 | 145 and well-verified. However, due to the fact that the attack of objectors besets Catholic doctrine, our faith does not become paralyzed through inactivity, but is perfected by much exercise. For this reason, the Apostle used to say: “There must be factions, so that those who are approved may also be made manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11:19). In other words, the altar must be surrounded by the censers of heretics, so that the difference between the faithful and unbelievers may become certain and clear to everyone. When the faith of the Church begins to shine like gold and its preaching glitters to all that behold it like silver that has been tried by fire, then the words of heretics will be despised with greater shame and disgrace because of the worthlessness of their dull brass.
Footnotes
- St. Caesarius of Arles, Mary Magdaleine Mueller, OSF, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 31: Saint Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, Vol. 1 (1-80) (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1956), 13. ↩︎
- St. Caesarius of Arles, Mary Magdaleine Mueller, O.S.F., trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 31: Saint Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, Vol. 1 (1-80) (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2004), 61. ↩︎
- St. Caesarius of Arles, Mary Magdaleine Mueller, OSF, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 31: Saint Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, Vol. 1 (1-80) (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1956), 77. ↩︎
- St. Caesarius of Arles, Mary Magdaleine Mueller, O.S.F., trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 31: Saint Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, Vol. 1 (1-80) (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2004), 90. ↩︎
- St. Caesarius of Arles, Sister Mary Magdeleine Mueller, O.S.F., trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 47: Saint Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, Vol. 2 (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1964), 144-45. ↩︎
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