CASSIANUS, otherwise called JOANNES MASSILIENSIS and JOANNES EREM I'M, early theological writer and zealous advocate of the monastic system: b. about 360, probably in Provence; d. Marseilles about 435. It is cer tain however, that he traveled extensively in the East, spent a few years in Bethlehem, traveled to Egypt and seems to have visited the hermits in the desert. He was deeply attached to Saint Chrysostom and when the latter, through the intrigues of his opponents, was re moved from the episcopal chair, Cassianus was sent with Germanus to Rome to present a memorial from the clergy who adhered to Chrysostom. Here he became personally ac quainted with Pelagius. About 415 he went to Marseilles, where he continued a course of rest less activity as a presbyter till his death. He founded a monastery and a convent on the principles laid down by him in his works 'De Institutis Ccenobiortun) and (Collationes Patrum Sceticorum) (that is, of the Fathers in the Desert of Sketis)). The views advanced in these works, and still more the strong leaning which he showed to the dog mas of Pclagius, involved him in a controversy with Augustine. He ultimately modified his
opinions so far as to adopt the system to which theologians have given the name of Semi pelagianism, holding that man, since the fall, is not absolutely incapable of good, but, on the contrary, both derives from nature the seeds of virtue, and is able of himself to commence their primary development, though he requires the aid of divine grace to bring them to maturity. These views found great favor with the monks of France, and long maintained their ground in opposition to the efforts of Augustine and his friend Prosper of Aquitania. At the desire of Leo, then Pope, he wrote against Nestorius his We incarnation Domini) in seven volumes. The best edition of the works of Cassia nus is that of Frankfort (1722, fol.). They are found in the English translation by E. C. S. Gibson in volume IX of and Post-Nicene Fathers' (2d series, London and New York 1884). Consult Harnack, A., 'His tory of Dogma' (Vol. V, pp. 246ff., 253ff.) ; Moeller, W., 'History of the Christian Church' (Vol. 1, pp. 368-70).