Disclaimer: I’m not a theologian, proceed at your own risk.
An astute reader of the Notes on Cassian noticed a wild claim of mine, that “being dead to the wold” means afterlife, when examining Cassian’s thoughts on divine contemplation and “seeing God”, in Conf. 1, Ch. XV. Let’s take a closer look.
I don’t think you can “see God”, no matter how “pure” or “dead to the world” you are. To be fair, Cassian only makes the converse claim: if, any carnal affections survive in you, then you cannot lastingly contemplate God. Am I going too far by assuming Cassian implied the reverse claim: you could lastingly contemplate God if only no carnal affections survive in you?
A parallel set of claims arises from his scriptural quote. Exodus states that if you see God, then you cannot live. Cassian elaborates: you cannot live to “this world and to earthly affection” (mundo huic affectibusque terrenis). The implied reverse statement in this case is, if you’re “dead to the world”, then you may be able to see God. Again, did Cassian intend this implication or am I reading into it too far?
There’s only two options, either he did mean it or he did not. If he did not mean it, then we could discuss whether carnal affections (carnalis affectus) prevent you from contemplating God “lastingly” (perpetuo), or from seeing God. Since I’m not at this point interested in studying perpetuity, i.e., eternity or afterlife, so let’s pass on to the other option: Cassian did mean the “reversed claim”: purify your heart and you’ll be able to see God now and forever.