400 Capita de caritate

work by Maximus the Confessor

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The 400 Capita de caritate (Four Hundred Chapters on Charity) is a work by Saint Maximus the Confessor, a significant Byzantine theologian of the 7th century. This work offers counsel on Christian humanism, advocating for the integration of asceticism with daily life and active charity. Maximus's theological writings, including this one, influenced the theology and mysticism of the Middle Ages. He is known for his Christocentric theology and mysticism, emphasizing the divine nature, Trinitarian existence, and Christ's communication.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

St. Maximus the Confessor
In his 400 Capita de caritate (“Four Hundred Chapters on Charity”), Maximus counselled a Christian humanism, integrating asceticism with ordinary life and active charity.
Read More
In his 400 Capita de caritate (“Four Hundred Chapters on Charity”), Maximus counselled a Christian humanism, integrating asceticism with ordinary life and active charity.
Read More