Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Luke 18:12

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

It becomes us not only to shun evil, but also to do good; and so after having said, I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, he adds something by way of contrast, I fast twice in a week. They called the week the Sabbath, (Sabbatho) from the last day of rest. The Pharisees fasted upon the second and fifth day. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

So it was pride that laid bare to his wily enemies the citadel of his heart, which prayer and fasting had in vain kept closed. Of no use are all the other fortifications, as long as there is one place which the enemy has left defenceless.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Bede

I fast twice on the Sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess. The prophet Ezekiel writes about the heavenly creatures shown to him. And the whole body full of eyes, around those four. For the bodies of the creatures are described as full of eyes because the actions of the saints are circumspect from every part, desirably providing for the good, cautiously avoiding the evil. But we often, while attending to other matters, neglect others. And where we neglect, there undoubtedly we do not have an eye. …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Third, as to the vainglorious commendation of himself, he adds: I fast twice on the Sabbath, I give tithes of all that I possess, as if to say: I keep perfect justice, both toward myself and toward God, because I mortify the flesh by fasting twice on the Sabbath, that is, in the week; and I keep piety toward God by rendering tithes and alms. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 18 ↗