The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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men, but that all its excellency is derived from the consecration of a
soul to God, and her attention to please him, without which this state
avails nothing.
After he was ordained deacon at Antioch, he composed his book To a Young
Widow, (t. 1, p. 337,) a lady who had lost her husband Tarasius,
candidate for the prefectship of the city. He draws motives to comfort
her from the spiritual advantages of holy widowhood, and the happiness
to which her husband was called. His second book To the Widow, (t. 1, p.
349,) is a dissuasive from second marriages, when they are contracted
upon worldly motives.
His six incomparable books on the Priesthood, he composed to excuse
himself to his friend Basil, who complained that he had been betrayed by
him into the episcopal charge; for Chrysostom persuaded him they had
time yet to conceal themselves; yet secretly absconded himself and left
the other to be chosen. Basil, when he met him afterwards, was not able
to speak for some time but by a flood of tears; and at length broke
through them only to give vent to his grief in bitter complaints against
the treachery of his friend. This work is wrote in a dialogue between
the two friends. St. Chrysostom, in the first book, alleges (t. 1, p.
362) that he could not deprive the church of a pastor so well qualified
to serve it as Basil was; nor undertake himself a charge for which he
had not the essential talents, and in which he should involve others and
himself in ruin. In the second book he justifies his own action in not
hindering the promotion of his friend to the episcopacy, by observing
that to undertake the charge of souls is the greatest proof we can give
of our love for Christ, which He declared by putting the question thrice
to St. Peter whether he loved him, before he committed to him the care
of his flock. John xxi. 15. If we think it an argument of our love for a
friend to take care of his servants or cattle, much more will God
recompense faithful pastors, who feed those dear souls to save which God
died. The pastoral charge is certainly the first of all others in merit
and dignity. The saint therefore thinks he should have prevaricated if
he had deprived the church of a minister capable of serving it. But in
order to justify his own flight, he adds that the dangers and
difficulties of this state are proportioned to its pre-eminence and
advantages. For what can be more difficult and dangerous than the charge
of immortal souls, and of applying to them remedies, which, to take
effect, depend upon their own co-operation and consent, and must be
always proportioned to their dispositions and character, which must be
sounded, as well as to their wounds? Remissness leaves a wound half
cured: and a suitable penance often exasperates and makes it wider.
Herein the greatest sagacity and prudence are necessary: Nor is the
difficulty less in bringing back to the church members which are
separated from it. Basil replied to this discourse of St. Chrysostom: