I Don't Need To Be "Saved"...

I'm Doing Just Fine, Thank You...

On Long Periods Of Fasting And Abstinence

Orthodox Ascesis 101

( You may wish to turn up the volume on your computer ).

My Original Sin

More information of this topic can be found here.

The Holy Prophet Daniel Encouraging Those Who Are Afraid That Fasting Might Prove Dangerous To Their Health

Daniel 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 8 ¶But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Of course, it is not the meats and wine (and women) that God created which are defiled, but our own inordinate craving and compulsion towards them. (Genesis 1:25; Acts 10:9-16; Romans 14:20-21; Philippians 3:19; Titus 1:15).

The "F" Word

Fasting.

Protestants As The Real Ascetics !

It seems we were gravely mistaken and severely misguided in our distorted interpretation of their refusal to fast:
May God forgive us all ! Their sincere intentions were apparently holy and pure all along:

127. “It is not pleasure they love, for they stuff themselves with it. What they love is the punishment they inflict on their bodies through excessive pleasure”.

Anthony de Mello, Awakening: Conversations With The Masters

In reality, it is we Orthodox and Catholics that should be simply ashamed of ourselves, taking the easy way out, by shamelessly indulging the sinful lusts and appetites of our stomach with all those light, delightful, and easily-digestible foods, instead of suffering together with Christ on our own spiritual Golgotha for all our heinous sins and hideous offences, by stoically enduring with sheer grace and utter dignity such a martyric self-flagellation as that to which our Evangelical brethren willingly and joyfully subject themselves... As it is written in Scripture, though they came after us, we are unworthy even of unloosing their shoe-latchets (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27). May God have mercy on us all, for only His grace can save us now: but Protestants shall be saved by their own works of righteousness, for they truly and rightfully were deemed worthy to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven by their own merits and glorious efforts ! (Matthew 11:12).

No Milk-Products For The Next Six Weeks

Though Temptation May Be Strong, We Must Overcome

Two Whole Months Of Complete Sexual Abstinence Starting Tomorrow

Happy Advent, Everyone !

And if you think that this is hard, just wait till you see what Christ has in store for us for all eternity...

Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God ? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time ?