Fasting 010: Saint Basil the Great on the measure of fasting

For if it were good to exhaust the body and to lie around as a breathing corpse, then of course, God would have created us as such from the beginning.

For most people, it is difficult to determine the proper measure of fasting. The mind is very good at rationalizing all of the reasons why one should indulge in an extra meal, a piece of dessert, or a larger portion. Work, school, children, spouses - anything and anyone can be used as an excuse to not observe a fast very strictly. But few people have ever explored and tested for themselves what would happen if they did observe the fast. Would their work not get done if they skip breakfast? Would their children not be cared for if they forego dessert? Would their spouse be offended if they do not take seconds? Are the excuses real, or does the mind create phantoms in response to the slightest feeling of hunger or discomfort?

The following piece of advice comes from a work titled Ascetic Rules for those who strive in coenobium and in hermitage. This work is attributed to Saint Basil the Great, but it is far from certain that he in fact is the author. Whoever the true author may be, the advice contained in this specific selection may be helpful for those interested in fasting.