Fasting
Going hungry on purpose: the ancient discipline that empties the body to open the soul
Fasting is abstinence from food as an ascetic and penitential discipline. The early church structured it into regular weekly fasts and the great fast of Lent preceding Pascha, with the Didache already prescribing set fast days. Far from a private austerity, it became a shared rhythm of Christian life, joining the body's hunger to prayer and repentance. It prepares believers, especially in the weeks before Easter, to share in Christ's passion and resurrection.
How it traveled
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Canons of the Councils of Ancyra, Gangra, Neocæsarea, Antioch and Laodicea, which Canons were Accepted and Received by the Ecumenical Synods— · 360applies
- Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His LifeAlexandria · 373applies
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386applies
- Selections from the Letters of St. AmbroseMilan · 397explains
- Concerning VirginsMilan · 397applies
- The Homilies on the Statues to the People of AntiochConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407redefines
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- Homilies on Second CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407applies
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- Against JovinianusBethlehem · 420explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430applies
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Our Lord’s Sermon on the MountHippo Regius · 430applies
- The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal FaultsMarseille · 435explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIVMarseille · 435explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-XMarseille · 435applies
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274applies
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New EnglandNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness · Augustine of Hippo
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His Life · Athanasius of Alexandria
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount · Augustine of Hippo
Selections from the Letters of St. Ambrose · Ambrose of Milan
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 Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch · John Chrysostom
The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch · John Chrysostom
The Homilies on the Statues to the People of Antioch · John Chrysostom
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great
The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Leo the Great