Beloved of us, your faith does not need us to set forth the proofs of religion. For we exhort fasting, which is to those living rightly the increase of devotion, the wall of faith, the storming of depravity. We also urge that one must always abstain not only from foods, but from all vices. Be not lavish in feastings, nor arrogant in drunkenness: since it is written in Solomon, 'The body that is corrupted weighs down the soul' (Wisdom 9:15); and also the Apostle says, 'Make not provision for the flesh in your desires' (Romans 13:14).
Abstain yourselves therefore in these days from worldly cares and carnal desires. Let the body be chastened, that the soul may be healed. For hope is strengthened when the flesh is thinned by frugality, and it is the present life that is nourished by the food of delights, not the future; since luxury attends upon abundance of things. Put away from you envy and enmity, despising slanders and all the seeds of sins. Loose the snares of violent deeds; and let the deceitful devices of calumnies cease. Provide lodging for the needy and for those of the household of faith. Break up the unjust bonds of debt, that not only in body but also in spirit you may celebrate fasts pleasing to God. It also behoves us to hope for the fruits of our own fasting by the seed of alms. For it is written:
'As water extinguishes fire, so alms extinguish sin' (Sirach 3:33). We must also act so that we are overcome not by the zeal of avarice, but by the care of mercy. We ought to abstain from sumptuous provisions. Let us give temporal things to the poor, that by their prayers everlasting gifts may be furnished to us. For by the trade of a little bread and money, impunity for sins is conferred on us. It must also be known that, just as the Lord made many rich, so He made the poor: to the end that there might be the necessity of entreating the Lord, so that you who have suffered none of these things may fear lest perchance you should suffer them. Feed therefore, you who are healthy, the weak as an example of calamity in the flesh.
Feed therefore the poor man, O rich man, whose portion perhaps you received from the Lord our God, that you might feed him. Feed the hungry, that his portion taken from you may be given to another who gives liberally. Feed him who is dying of hunger: for whoever you are who by feeding could preserve a man, if you do not feed him, you have killed him. Let the desires even of silent beggars be anticipated; for we read: 'Blessed is he who understands concerning the needy and the poor; in the evil day the Lord will deliver him' (Psalm 41:1). Let us therefore give alms to the needy before they ask, lest through excessive necessity, by crying out, they seem to exact from us who delay. Let us offer them even some portion of the heavenly gifts conferred upon us, lest through sloth we render penal interest to our Creditor (Luke
16:2). Let us think of that rich man who, because of the crumbs of bread [denied to the poor man], begged a drop of water, and did not receive it. Let us recall that widow who, by putting two mites into the treasury (Luke 21:2), offered to the Lord the whole living that she had. Let us too give to our brethren even what is over and above our need. Nor should we perform the divine commands sadly, like the hypocrites; but let us give thanks to God, the Author of our liberality, and praying constantly let us provide to the needy the substance of temporal life, that we may obtain life eternal; our Lord Jesus Christ granting it, who lives and reigns unto the ages of ages. Amen. After that first and universal ruin of human transgression, from which through one man sin
entered into this world, and by sin death (Romans 5:12); no one would now escape the dominion of the devil, no one the chains of dire captivity; nor would reconciliation unto pardon, or return unto life, lie open to anyone; unless the coeternal and coequal Son of God the Father in all things should deign to be also the Son of man, and for all human redemption and salvation should be hung carnally upon the cross. For this was the cause of the redemption and salvation of the whole human race, that God Himself truly suffered in man, and truly died, and truly rose again from the dead, that to men truly believing in Him and dying in His will [or, abiding in His will]
He might open the gates of the heavenly kingdom, and redeem us from eternal night and punishment. For He endured many and diverse injuries for us, not because His own faults demanded it — He who never committed any sin — but only by our necessity, we who were fettered with such hard bonds, and rolled down into so deep an abyss of death, that unless through His immeasurable clemency, through His human passion and death, we could not be absolved; unless He Himself by His death should take from us eternal death; unless He Himself should break the powers of the devil, and lead us with Himself to the heavenly kingdom, and grant to us all a sweet and light path to the heavenly kingdom, for those willing to abide in His will.
Wherefore, most dear brethren, what must we do in return for such great benefits of God, but that we should die to the world and to its concupiscences? Mortifying in ourselves carnal desires in vigils, in fastings, in chastity, in the endurance of adversity, in perseverance in goodness, in prayers, let us continually commend ourselves to God by repenting, weeping over, and confessing our sins, and redeeming ourselves from eternal punishments by alms, that thus, supported by divine aid, we may there, whither our Lord God has led us back by His death, deserve to abide in eternal blessedness: our Lord Jesus Christ granting it, to whom is honour and glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.