On Fasting

Fasting does not consist solely in eating infrequently, but in eating little; not in eating only once, but in not eating much. That faster is foolish who waits for the appointed hour, yet at the time of the meal surrenders himself entirely—both body and mind—to insatiable eating.

With regard to food, one must also observe this: not to discriminate between tasty and unpalatable dishes. Such behavior is fitting for animals and is unworthy of praise in a rational person. We abstain from pleasing food in order to subdue the warring members of the flesh and to give freedom to the workings of the spirit.

True fasting consists not merely in afflicting the flesh, but also in giving to the hungry that portion of bread which you yourself would have wished to eat: “Blessed are those who hunger… for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6).

Our Ordainer of contests and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, before entering upon the work of redeeming the human race, strengthened himself through prolonged fasting. And all ascetics, when they began to serve the Lord, armed themselves with fasting and entered upon the way of the cross only while engaged in the ascetic effort of fasting. They measured their progress in asceticism by their progress in fasting.

Holy people did not take up strict fasting all at once, but became gradually and little by little capable of being satisfied with the most meager food. Venerable Dorotheus, training his disciple Dositheus in fasting, gradually reduced his ration a little at a time, so that from four pounds he finally brought the measure of his daily food down to eight lots of bread.

For all that, the holy fasters, to the astonishment of others, knew no weakness, but were always alert, strong, and ready for work. Illness among them was rare, and their lives were extraordinarily long.

In proportion as the flesh of the one who fasts becomes lean and light, the spiritual life advances toward perfection and reveals itself in wondrous manifestations. Then the spirit performs its actions as though in a bodiless body. The external senses seem to be closed, and the mind, detached from the earth, is lifted up to heaven and is wholly immersed in contemplation of the spiritual world.

However, not everyone will be able to impose on himself a strict rule of abstinence in all things, or to deprive himself of everything that may serve to ease infirmities. “Let the one who is able to receive this, receive it” (Matt. 19:12).

Not everyone will be able to take upon himself a strict rule of abstinence in all things, or the deprivation of everything that may serve to ease infirmities.

As for food, one must eat each day only as much as is needed for the body to be strengthened and serve as a friend and helper to the soul in the accomplishment of virtue—otherwise it may happen that with the weakening of the body the soul too will grow feeble. On Fridays and Wednesdays, and especially during the four fasting seasons, eat after the example of the fathers only once a day—and the Angel of the Lord will draw near to you.