PURPOSE OF ASCETICAL
PRACTICES
The purpose of all monastic
ascetical practices is the attainment of virtues, the first of which is
humility. And the purpose of virtues is to enable the Christian soul
to attain total and uninterrupted dedication to prayer, "Pray without
ceasing."
The virtues enable
the soul to attain calmness of mind and a never-ending purity of
soul.
This is the reason
for tireless and unshaking practice of both physical work and contrition of
heart essential in monastic asceticism. The ascetical practices and
the virtues make sense only if directed towards the attainment of the crown
of prayer.
This endless,
unstirring calm of prayer can neither be achieved nor consummated without
these virtues. And these virtues are the prerequisite foundation of
prayer and cannot be effected without it. On the other hand, these
virtues can only be attained by a life of repentance...which is the
monastic life.
St. John Cassian
(09-01-02)
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