Barlaam and Ioasaph · Chapter
Chapter XXXIX explained
Barlaam, nearing the end of his life, delivers a final spiritual discourse to Ioasaph, urging him to persevere in the monastic life, resist worldly thoughts, and trust in divine grace.
What happens
Barlaam, nearing the end of his life, delivers a final spiritual discourse to Ioasaph, urging him to persevere in the monastic life, resist worldly thoughts, and trust in divine grace. After a tearful exchange, Barlaam offers the unbloody Sacrifice, gives Ioasaph his last blessings, and dies in peace, while Ioasaph is left to continue his ascetic struggle.
Themes in this chapter
The Monastic Ideal
Barlaam's final words emphasize the monastic virtues of perseverance, detachment from the world, and constant remembrance of God, urging Ioasaph to continue the ascetic life.
Spiritual Warfare
Barlaam warns Ioasaph about the 'darksome army of fiends' and the adversary's tactics, encouraging him to resist high thoughts and worldly lures through faith and humility.
Fatherhood and Spiritual Guidance
Barlaam acts as a spiritual father to Ioasaph, offering comfort, instruction, and a final blessing before his death, embodying the ideal of paternal guidance in the monastic tradition.
Characters to notice
- Barlaam
Nearing death, Barlaam delivers his final exhortation to Ioasaph, offers the Holy Sacrifice, and dies in peace after blessing his spiritual son.
- Ioasaph
Ioasaph weeps uncontrollably at the prospect of Barlaam's death, begs to accompany him, but is consoled and instructed to remain in the desert to continue his spiritual labors.
Key passages
“Long ago, dearly beloved Ioasaph, was it destined that thou shouldest dwell in this wilderness; and, in answer to my prayer for thee, Christ promised me that I should see it before the ending of my life.”
Barlaam tells Ioasaph that it was always fated for him to live as a hermit, and that Christ assured Barlaam he would witness this before dying.
Barlaam reflects on the fulfillment of his long-held hope to see Ioasaph established in the monastic life.
“For I fear lest perchance the darksome army of fiends may stand in the way of my soul, by reason of the multitude of mine ignorances.”
Barlaam expresses anxiety that demons might obstruct his soul's journey after death due to his many sins.
Even a saintly hermit humbly acknowledges his own shortcomings and the reality of spiritual warfare at the hour of death.
“But, strong in the grace of Christ, confidently laugh at the weakness of these thy foes; and, as for the hardness of thy toils, and the long duration of the time, be as one that daily expecteth his departure hence.”
Barlaam encourages Ioasaph to rely on Christ's grace, mock the devil's power, and live each day as if it were his last.
A key exhortation to perseverance and detachment from temporal concerns.
“What God hath ordered, who, of men, can scatter? Endure, then, under the protection of his grace.”
No one can undo what God has decreed, so Ioasaph must endure under divine protection.
Barlaam counsels submission to divine providence and patient endurance.