The Evergetinos: Book Two - Hypothesis XXIII, Part I

We have continued to make our way through the final few hypotheses about fasting and eating in general. What is gradually coming to light is that our relationship with Christ and our identity in Him is to form and fashion every aspect of our lives. This includes what we might consider the most mundane aspects of our life or what we take for granted, such as eating and common meals. 

What becomes perfectly clear in this hypothesis, however, is that there is a specific decorum that emerged in the practice of the fathers. The way that they looked at food and the way that they ate their common meals was all shaped by their greater commitment to the life of prayer and silence. The ascetical life shaped their actions and supported their pursuit of the ultimate goal. Thus eating, the quality of the food, the mannerisms at table and amount of food that other monks ate and the general behavior during meals all became important matters and subject to proper formation. 

The ideal was not to form a Christian gentleman, but rather to form a heart that was watchful at all times of the day and that was very much aware of the power of our most basic appetites. We see restraint being taught; that is, slowing oneself down at meals and not being driven by the pressure of hunger or the allure of delicious food. It is Christ the Bread of Life that one is always seeking and so the way that we approach our meals should be a reflection of how we approach the Lord in the Holy Mysteries. Our mindset, our sense of gratitude, the solemnity of our attitudes and behaviors are all reflection of our understanding of the connection with the Paschal Mystery. When we think of our own formation we must have this broad scope so that we do not treat our ascetic practices as ends in themselves. All that we do must be offered to God or it is wasted.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:17:20 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 165, #A   00:44:06 Una: LOL about the comment about men eating. And then they throw their silverware in the trash? Obviously, I've never been in a men's monastery. But how can we who are living in the world apply these standards to everyday dinners with family?   00:46:49 Una: I'm thinking of Thanksgiving Dinner where people gobble gobble gobble and aren't focused on God at all. Last year I had a hard time getting them to listen to the Prayer of St. Francis before the meal. Very secular family. How I personally may maintain my recollection yet still be social   00:47:50 Una: I find I can "go out" of myself so easily and get lost in socializing and talking (I'm an extravert) and then have difficulty becoming recollected again   01:03:42 Una: Is it true that the early Irish monasticism came from Egypt?   01:10:13 Una: There's a new book on this subject: Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity   01:10:20 Una: by Connie Marshner   01:10:34 Una: Sophia Institute Press   01:11:49 Steve: Good story   01:11:59 Una: Connie Marshner is a Melkite Green Catholic in Virginia   01:21:26 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father!   01:21:48 Troy Amaro: Thank you Father.   01:22:30 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you, sorry I was so late, our clocks went back an hour yesterday and I forgot about the time difference   01:24:18 ANDREW ADAMS: Where does one find the substack? I’m not knowledgeable on the whole social media scene.   01:25:19 Adam Paige: Where does one find the substack? I’m not knowledgeable on the whole social media scene. https://substack.com/@frcharbelabernethy   01:25:44 ANDREW ADAMS: Replying to "Where does one find ..."   Thank you!   01:27:47 Bob Cihak, AZ: .. or https://frcharbelabernethy.substack.com/   01:28:16 Paul G.: Replying to ".. or https://frchar…" +1   01:29:21 Maureen Cunningham: Thank  you   01:32:17 Maureen Cunningham: Wow