De iis qui in jejunio continenter vivunt

2. By the same author, on those who live continently in fasting, and on the diverse conduct of various prophets. Athletes, by training each day, both increase their skill and easily gain victory over their opponents; and runners, by daily practice of agility, render their limbs nimble and sharpen themselves for the swiftest expectation. In the same way, the fathers permit us to teach more continuously, so that through practice of speech we may acquire for ourselves quick facility in teaching. Come then, beloved, let us track Joseph, leaving behind the Egyptian sin, and stripped of hatred, run out to chastity. For even if Joseph had the covering of the flesh, did he not have a garment more splendid than the glory of chastity? The purity of chastity, binding the fathers together, set up adamantine pillars for the world, stretching prayers to heaven while tending the souls of men on earth. The blessed Moses, binding himself with chastity, became a pillar of salvation for the Hebrews in Egypt; he dashed the doorposts of the Egyptian firstborn to the ground, and blessed the light-bearing children of the Hebrews; and he stood as a pillar against Pharaoh and the magicians. And Joshua, son of Nun, having chastity as his consort, commanded the heavenly luminaries; for he halted the courses of the sun, fixed the boundaries of the moon, and lengthened the light of day. When did this happen? When, concerning the war over Gibeon, he said, "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon.

This one divided a river, saved a people, and turned the Hebrews back to the holy land; this one cast down walls and overthrew cities of the impious, saved Rahab, punished foreigners, and glorified his own people. Samson, the most valiant, while preserving continence, strangled a lion, and from the jawbone of an ass caused water to gush forth, and received the remedy for thirst from that source. Elijah the Thesbite, having dwelt with continence, became a life-giver to the poor widow; for a good blessing caused her oil to flow, and multiplied the handful of meal day by day. The same Elijah, through continence, possessed treasures of fire and water in the clouds; for he rained down heavenly fire upon the impious, and for the failing inhabited world he poured forth heavenly springs. Elisha, his disciple, possessing the same continence as his teacher, by prayer caused the ear of the child to sprout in the barren womb of the Shunammite; and since he needed to show wonders equal to his teacher, he raises one dead man; and after his death, the relics of his bones raise the dead. Daniel, the most wise, having girded himself with continence as with a two-edged sword, strangled the secret murdering wolves and kept the lamb of Helkias unharmed. For neither was her bright fleece cut by a foul kiss of incontinence, nor were her breasts defiled by the two-edged sword of sin. The blessed Habakkuk, snatched up by the Holy Spirit, conveyed the workers' lunch to the worker of continence, Daniel. For could not God have nourished this one also, just like Elijah, through ravens?

But so that he might not leave the one dwelling with beasts without comfort, he sends the fellow prophet to console his affliction. Consider, beloved, how Daniel was in the lions' den, having no stool, no bread, no table, no lamp, no bed, but standing crosswise in the midst of the two lions, he imitated the coming Christ. And the three most holy youths, having gathered self-control, wrestling with fire, overcame its surging flame by force. O virginity, having effortlessly blossomed forth Christ, the hope of the world! O wisdom of God, which neither deprived Mary of the glory of virginity, nor caused Christ, the boast of the world, to shine forth through her like light! O holy child of an unwed bride, source of incorruption, breath of immortality, luminary of the Church, standard of righteousness, fine pearl of merchants, and good crown of fears, sold at a high price and bought by the poor, purchased for three obols of faith, hope, and love, and dwelling in the heart of the humble; the mustard seed and the commander of angels; the unplanted vine of the all-beautiful Mary, and the unseen Word of the all-fruitful wisdom; the one who dissolved the grief of death on earth and prepared the brightness of the bridal chamber in heaven; the one who put on the greenness of our body and granted us the unfading breath of the flower. These are the teachings of your wisdom, these are the sweets of your fasting, these are the adornments of your self-control, these are the supports of your Church.

Thus you are accustomed to nourish your people, O Jesus, not as one absent, but as one present; for though you exist with the Father, you are not separated from us, and while dwelling with us, you do not depart from the Father. With water you washed our bodies, and with spirit you loosed our faults; with the salt of piety you seasoned the souls of your sheep, and you drew us up to the pasture of the angels; with a seal you strengthened our feet, and you raised up faith for us as a ladder from earth to heaven, and you set angels as our guides; you set tree against tree, and you placed side against side; you stretched out your hands into the air, and you entreated your Father on our behalf, and you awarded deep calm from a storm. Therefore by night and by day, both in silence and in speech, we send up glory to you, having in you the hopes of life, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.