Tuesday, March 11, 2008

True fasting by St. John Chrysostom

Do you fast? Let me see proof of it by your works.
If you see someone who is poor, take pity on that person.
If you see a friend being honored, do not be envious.
Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eyes,
and the feet, and the hands and all the members of our bodies.


Let the hands fast by being free of avarice.
Let the feet fast by ceasing to run after sin.
Let the eyes fast by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful.
Let the ears fast by not listening to evil talk and gossip.
Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticizm.
For what is it if we abstain from birds and fishes
but bite and devour our brothers and sisters?
~St. John Chrysostom

2 comments:

Marie said...

Oh I like this. AMEN! Now this is REAL fasting, going without food's we like is easy..This takes effort.

Thanks for sharing it with us Dymphna:)

peace to you:)

Marie xooxo

Staying in Balance said...

You're welcome, Marie! :)

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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