Fasting

“Fasting is a medicine; but a medicine, though it be never so profitable, becomes frequently useless owing to the unskilfulness of him who employs it. For it is necessary to know, moreover, the time when it should be applied, and the requisite quantity of it; and the temperament of body that admits it; and the nature of the country, and the season of the year; and the corresponding diet; as well as various other particulars; any of which, if one overlooks, he will mar all the rest that have been named. Now if, when the body needs healing, such exactness is required on our part, much more ought we, when our care is about the soul, and we seek to heal the distempers of the mind, to look, and to search into every particular with the utmost accuracy.

...I have said these things, not that we may disparage fasting, but that we may honor fasting; for the honor of fasting consists not in abstinence from food, but in withdrawing from sinful practices; ...

Dost thou fast? Give me proof of it by thy works!

Is it said by what kind of works?

     If thou seest a poor man, take pity on him!

     If thou seest in enemy, be reconciled to him!

     If thou seest a friend gaining honor, envy him not!

     If thou seest a handsome woman, pass her by!

     For let not the mouth only fast, but also the eye, and the ear,
     and the feet, and the hands, and all the members of our bodies.

     Let the hands fast, by being pure from rapine and avarice.

     Let the feet fast, by ceasing from running to the unlawful spectacles.

     Let the eyes fast, being taught never to fix themselves rudely upon
     handsome countenances, or to busy themselves with strange
     beauties.”

~St. John Chrysostom