Asceticism
Fasting, vigil, and labor as a forge for the soul
Asceticism is disciplined self-denial, such as fasting, keeping vigil, and hard labor, undertaken to purify the soul and grow toward God. Anthony the Great and the Desert Fathers became its great exemplars, withdrawing to the wilderness to wrestle with their passions. Far from despising the body, this discipline aims to free the whole person from what enslaves it, ordering desire toward God.
How it traveled
- 1 CorinthiansEphesus · 67applies
- On Fasting.— · 220explains
- The Instructions of Commodianus.— · 220applies
- The First Epistle of the Blessed Clement, the Disciple of Peter the Apostle.— · 220explains
- On Patience.— · 220explains
- Ad Martyras.— · 220explains
- On Repentance.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- Aphrahat: Select DemonstrationsMosul · 345applies
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360applies
- Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene HymnsEdessa · 373applies
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- On VirginityNyssa · 395explains
- Concerning VirginsMilan · 397explains
- Selections from the Letters of St. AmbroseMilan · 397explains
- Concerning RepentanceMilan · 397explains
- On the Duties of the ClergyMilan · 397applies
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies on the Statues to the People of AntiochConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
Key passages(20)
The Letters of St. Jerome · Jerome
Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods · The Ecumenical Councils
The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV · John Cassian
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom · John Chrysostom
The Interior Life · Thomas à Kempis
The Letters of St. Jerome · Jerome
The Life of Paulus the First Hermit · Jerome
The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults · John Cassian
The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults · John Cassian
The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults · John Cassian