CHAPTER I. — God, the Creator and Redeemer of the human race, who wills us to walk along the paths of justice unto the promises of eternal life, because there were to be temptations which would oppose us on the journey of the virtues with insidious encounters, has instructed us, beloved, with many safeguards by which we might crush the snares of the devil: among which He has conferred this most salutary one upon His servants, that against all the wiles of the enemy they should arm themselves with the fortitude of continence and with works of piety. For he who from the beginning implanted in the first men the appetite for the forbidden food (Gen.
iii, 5), and who through the enticement of eating infused into the ill-credulous the venom of all concupiscences, ceases not to renew the same frauds, and, in the nature which he knows to have been vitiated by his own seeds, seeks out the germ of his own sowing, that, to overthrow the pursuits of virtue, he may kindle the desire of pleasure. Since his own penalty is the Christian's advancement, nor can he in any way harm the souls of those who know, with the Lord's aid, how to reign in their own flesh. By a reasonable moderation, therefore, and a holy purpose, the rebellious desires must be bridled, nor must it be permitted that bodily concupiscences struggle against chaste and spiritual longings.
Let the inner man recognize himself to be the ruler of his outer man, so that the mind, governed by divine dominion, may compel the earthly substance into the obedience of good will. For neither is there wanting to us, for the preserving of this order, the aid of the most merciful King, who has formed us by the plan of a most salutary observance, prescribing for us, through the recurrences of the seasons, certain fasting days in which by the chastisement of bodies the virtue of souls might be strengthened. CHAPTER II. — Now the gift of this remedy, beloved, has been appointed also in this month which is the seventh, which it becomes us to undertake with ready alacrity;
so that, besides that abstinence by which each one exercises himself particularly and privately according to the measure of his own ability, this which is enjoined upon all together may be more spiritedly celebrated. For in every contest of the Christian struggle, the usefulness of continence avails very much, so much so that certain spirits of the most savage demons, who are put to flight by no commands of exorcists from the bodies they possess, are driven out by the sole power of fastings and prayers, the Lord saying: 'This kind of demons is not cast out save by fasting and prayer' (Matt. xvii, 20; Mark ix, 28). Grateful, therefore, to God and terrible to the devil is the prayer of him who fasts, nor is it hidden how much it acquires for its own salvation, which affords so much for another's. CHAPTER III.
— In this observance indeed, beloved, although all of us together ought to be devout, yet if there are any to whose will some infirmity offers resistance, let them redeem the labour which is beyond the strength of their bodies by the expenditures of their means. For many are the works of piety which may deservedly commend the very necessity of eating with a fuller commendation, if by the zeal of kindness they acquire the purification of those who fast. For since those who omit nothing of the humiliation of fasting sweat under barren fatigue, unless they sanctify themselves by the disbursement of alms so far as they can, it is fitting that the giving of those whose strength for abstaining is less should be more abundant for the sustenance of the poor.
What, therefore, anyone does not deny to himself in his own infirmity, let him willingly expend upon another's need, and let him make his own necessity common with the needy. The infirm man who breaks his fast is not blamed, from whom the hungry poor man receives food; nor is he polluted by taking food, who is cleansed by imparting alms, the Lord saying: 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean unto you' (Luke xi, 41). CHAPTER IV. — In which work, beloved, even those who abstain from the delight of banquets ought to procure for themselves the fruits of mercy, that what they have sown more abundantly they may reap more copiously. For never does this crop deceive the husbandman, nor has the cultivation of piety an uncertain hope of its work.
Whatever is scattered in this manner by the sower's hand, no heat scorches, no torrent sweeps away, no hail lays low. The expenditures of piety are always safe; nor do they only remain entire, but are even increased in measure and changed in quality. From earthly things heavenly things come forth; from small things great things are begotten; and the temporal gift passes into an eternal reward. Whosoever, therefore, lovest riches, whosoever desirest that what thou possessest be multiplied, be kindled unto these gains, sigh after these increases of thy goods, of which no thief snatches anything, no moth corrupts anything, no rust consumes anything (Matt. vi, 19). Do not despair of the interest, do not distrust the receiver. Understand who it is that says: 'What ye did unto one of these, ye did unto me' (Matt. xxv, 40);
and with the perspicacious eyes of faith recognize securely with whom thou dost place thy wealth. Let him not doubt of receiving back, to whom Christ is debtor. Let not liberality be anxious, nor the fast sad: for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. ix, 7), who is faithful in His words, and abundantly repays what was liberally given—things which our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns unto the ages of ages, has bestowed to be graciously given. Amen.