Caesarius of Arles on Swearing

Caesarius of Arles on Swearing

Regula ad virgines 

Written c. 512 CE.

Source: PL 67:1107 [Translation mine]

2. They should contend to flee from swearing and cursing as poison from the devil.

II. Iuramentum et maledictum, velut venenum diaboli, fugere et vitare contendat.

Regula ad Monachos

Source: PL 67:1099 [Translation mine]

4. ‘Swear not, for the Lord said: Do not swear at all, but let your speech be: yes, yes, no, no’

IV. Non iurent; quia Dominus dixit: Nolite iurare omnino, sed sit sermo vester est est, non non (Matth. V).

Sermon 1.12

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 31  : Fathers of the Church : Sermons, Volume 1, p. 11-12. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1956. 

( 12) Perhaps someone will say: I am not eloquent, so I cannot explain anything concerning sacred Scripture. Even if this be true, God does not require of us what we are unable to do. So definite is it that this does not harm priests that, even if some possess worldly eloquence, there is no need of pontifical language, which scarcely reaches the understanding of even a few people. Can anyone not reveal or discuss with fitting eloquence obscure passages of the Old and New Testament, and sound the depths of sacred Scripture? Doubtless, if he will he can censure and reprove adulterers, he can admonish the proud. What presbyter is there, I will not say bishop, who cannot say to his people: Do not bear false witness, because it is written: 'A false witness shall not be unpunished' ;32 do not lie, for we read: 'the mouth that belieth killeth the soul.'33 Do not swear, as it is said: 'A man that sweareth much shall be filled with iniquity' ;34 do not envy one another, for it is written: 'by the envy of the devil death came into the world.'

Sermon 14.3

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 31  : Fathers of the Church : Sermons, Volume 1, p. 82. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1956.

Accustom yourself neither to commit perjury nor to swear, because Scripture says: 'A man that sweareth much shall be filled with iniquity: and a scourge shall not depart from his house';6 while the Lord says: 'Do not swear at all. But let your speech be, "Yes, yes; No, no."'7 Do not curse, because the Apostle says: 'Nor will the evil-tongued possess the kingdom of God.'8 Do not slander, for it is written: 'Whoever speaketh ill to his brother will be destroyed.'9 Do not lie to one another, because 'The mouth that belieth killeth the soul.'10

Sermon 23.2

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 31  : Fathers of the Church : Sermons, Volume 1, p. 120. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1956.

A man should never swear, because it is written: 'A man that sweareth much shall be filled with iniquity: and a scourge shall not depart from his house.'3 What is said about a scourge not departing from his house is to be understood, not of his earthly home, but of his soul which is the temple of God.

Sermon 64.2

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 31  : Fathers of the Church : Sermons, Volume 1, p. 309-310. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1956.

(2) Remember, brethren, even if we have not been overtaken by serious sins, there are small offenses which (so much the worse!) we do not attend to or at least regard as of no consequence. If all these were added together, I cannot imagine what amount of good works would be enough to outweigh them. Let us consider the faults we have committed since we reached the age of reason: swearing, perjury, cursing, calumny, idle gossip, hatred, anger, envy, evil desires, gluttony, too much sleep, mean thoughts, concupiscence of the eyes, pleasure of the ears, afflicting the poor, visiting Christ in prison too late or reluctantly, neglect in receiving strangers, who are a wise man, reflect whether under these circumstances it is right to serve your sins and vices throughout your life, and then rise up to seek life when you are already half-dead.

Sermon 130.5

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 47 : Sermons, Volume 2 (81-186), p. 236. Washington, DC, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1964.

After those whom you receive are baptized, always correct them so that they may live chastely and soberly, love justice, avoid stealing, not bear false witness, shun deceitful weights and false measures as poison of the devil, disregard omens, refrain from swearing as well as perjury, observe chastity until marriage, and flee from lying and drunkenness as the pit of hell. All these truths and similar ones, brethren, you should very frequently teach the children who are born of you or whom you receive in Baptism. However, if you want to teach them well, then, with God's help, observe this yourself, for a man truly teaches well if he shows what he teaches not only in word but by his example.

Sermon 145.1 (Attributed to Augustine)

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Fathers of the Church, Volume 47 : Sermons, Volume 2 (81-186), p. 305-306. Washington, DC, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1964. 

The word of God is your friend as much as it can be; you yourself make it your opponent. Truly, it wishes well to you, but you, on the contrary, do the opposite. It commands, Do not steal-you steal; it orders, Do not commit adultery-you commit adultery; it says, Do not perpetrate deceit-and you do it. It forbids you to swear-you take a false oath; you do everything contrary to what it says, and thus you yourself make the word of God your enemy. And it is no wonder, when you are even an enemy to yourself for: 'The lover of violence he hates: 6 If, then, you hate your own soul by loving iniquity, do you wonder that you hate the word of God which wishes well to your soul?

Sermon 200.5 to Catecumens

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Sermons, Volume 3 [187-238], p. 61-62. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1972.   

Moreover, they should not utter lies with their lips according to what is written: "You destroy all who speak falsehood";12 and again: "A lying mouth slays the sou1."13 Not only from perjury, but even from oaths men should keep away because He does not lie who said: "A man who often swears heaps up obligations; the scourge will never be far from his house."

Sermon 236.4 To Monks

Source: Caesarius of Arles. Sermons, Volume 3 [187-238], p. 213. Baltimore, MD, USA: Catholic University of America Press, 1972.   

But the accomplishment of so holy and so excellent a perfection will depend upon a considerable effort of soul. For without effort, who can withdraw his tongue from slander, put an end to murmuring or idle conversations, reject impure thoughts with an exceedingly vigilant heart, refrain from cursing or swearing as from deadly poison, resist vanity, and repress wrath? Without great compunction of heart, who is there who has rejected and refused the seeking of honor or the desire for clerical office out of a love for true humility?