The Shepherd of Hermas

Hermas

Hermas. The Apostolic Fathers with an English translation by Kirsopp Lake. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1913

This fast, said he, if the commandments of the Lord are kept, is very good. You shall therefore keep this fast, which you are going to observe in this way:

First of all, keep from every

evil word, and from every evil desire and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you keep these things, this fist shall be perfect for you.

And you shall do thus: After completing what has been written, in that day on which you fast you shall taste nothing except bread and water, and you shall reckon the price of the expense for that day which you are going to keep, of the foods which you would have eaten, and you shall give it to a widow or an orphan or to some one destitute, and you shall thus be humble-minded that through your humility he who receives it may fill his soul and pray to the Lord for you.

If then you thus fulfil the fast as I commanded you, your sacrifice shall be acceptable to God, and this fast shall be written down to your credit, and the service which is thus done is good and joyful and acceptable to the Lord.

You shall therefore keep these things thus with your children and all your house, and if you keep them you shall be blessed, and all who hear them and keep them shall be blessed and shall obtain from the Lord whatever they ask.