VLX 96: What Defiles a Person

Mt 15:10-20
-"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a man."—Mt 15:11
-"And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body."—Jam 3:2
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-"O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen."—St. Ephrem the Syrian
-"Abbot Hyperichius said: 'It is better to eat meat and drink wine, than by detraction to devour the flesh of your brother.'"—Wisdom of the Desert Fathers
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“A: Carnivores, who eat meat. These are in the lowest degree of fasting, even if they sometimes restrain themselves from food. They are never able to advance in prayer....B: Lacto-vegetarians, who never eat meat, but only milk, cheese, eggs and all kinds of boiled...vegetables. These are in the second degree of fasting, which is kept by Monks in coenobitic Monasteries and, very rarely, by laymen....C: Vegetarians, who eat only vegetables and boiled or raw legumes. This arrangement forms the third degree of fasting, and the most zealous monks of the common life keep it....D: Fruit-Eaters, who eat bread and uncooked fruits ONCE A DAY, without otherwise ever tasting food. He who attains this degree of fasting is able to master his body and thoughts without difficulty and CAN ADVANCE RAPIDLY ON THE PATH OF PRAYER....E: Cereal-Eaters, comprise the fifth degree of fasting. To this degree belong monks – especially hesycasts and desert-dwellers – who eat ONCE A DAY only black bread, cereals, and soaked grains of wheat, corn, millet, lentils, beans, peas, etc....F: Dry Food, is the sixth degree of monastic fasting, which is usually attainted only by the most zealous desert dwellers. Those who live in this harsh asceticism eat only dried bread soaked in water, with salt or a little vinegar, ONCE A DAY and by measure. This is how the hesycasts of the Nile valley lived....“G: Divine Food or manna, is the last and highest degree of monastic fasting, which is attained by very few ascetics after prolonged asceticism, being strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. These are satisfied with the Most Pure Mysteries alone, that is, with the Body and Blood of Christ, which they receive only once or twice a week, without tasting anything else but water only. After difficult temptations and asceticism, and by the Grace of God, I have come to be satisfied with the Most Pure Mysteries alone, and no longer feel hunger, or have need of bread or vegetables."