In this episode we return to The Evergetinos (Volume II, p. 192, letter D) to examine how the Desert Fathers and Mothers understood and fought the passion of lust (fornication). The tradition insists that while ascetic practices (fasting, vigils, watchfulness) are real medicines, victory comes from the grace of God—received through humility and continuous prayer.

We revisit Abba Agathon’s counsel to a brother tormented by impure thoughts: “Humble yourself before God and He will give you rest.” We hear of Amma Sarah, beset for thirteen years, who refused to ask that the warfare be removed, insisting: “I have not conquered—you, O Christ, have.” Their witness reframes the fight: the opposite of vice is not mere virtue, but Christ living in us (deification).

We also explore discernment—how zeal without guidance can lead to harmful extremes. A struggler in a skete is pushed into excessive fasting until he grows ill; a visiting elder wisely moderates his rule, reminding him to care for the body as a “covering” so the long race can be run. We discuss the psychology of shame, the cycle of relapse, how episodic prayer fails, and why cultivating constancy in prayer (even beyond our “scheduled times”) matters. We touch on married chastity, formation of children, pitfalls of repressing rather than healing desire, and the need for balanced spiritual guidance.

Whether you’re a monk, married, or single, this candid look at spiritual warfare, fasting, watchfulness, and humble dependence on Christ offers practical, time-tested help for a modern world drenched in temptation.

#Chastity #Asceticism #Prayer #Grace #Patristics #OrthodoxSpirituality #CatholicSpirituality #JohnCassian #AbbaAgathon #AmmaSarah #Theosis #OvercomingLust #Watchfulness #Fasting #Discernment #PurityOfHeart

Chapters

00:00 – Intro & welcome back
01:47 – Evergetinos Vol. 2, p. 192 (letter D): focus of tonight’s text
03:00 – Why willpower alone fails; primacy of grace
04:40 – Shame, cycles, and despondency in the fight against lust
06:30 – From episodic prayer to constancy; expanding prayer beyond “set times”
08:10 – Amma Sarah: 13-year battle & “Christ conquers, not me”
10:35 – Deification: the opposite of vice is Christ within
13:05 – The skete struggler: envy of demons & intensifying assaults
15:45 – When extreme asceticism harms; discerning a measured rule
20:05 – Caring for the body as a “covering” (marathon, not sprint)
22:00 – “Unfair fight?” Seeing the invisible enemy & cultivating discernment
24:30 – Fasting pitfalls: “hangry,” headaches, and wise increments
28:45 – Purity vs repression; married chastity & not objectifying the other
33:10 – The role of guidance, elders, and formation of will by love
36:00 – Demonically-stirred images & guarding the imagination
40:05 – Gifts given through fidelity; helping souls at death
45:20 – Parents, children, and integral Christian formation
57:58 – The hyena’s den: testing God vs trusting grace
1:01:45 – Key takeaways & closing prayer

For more the audio only please visit https://philokalia.podbean.com/e/the-evergetinos-book-two-hypothesis-xxvi-part-iv/ & to support Fr, who does a lot of podcast here https://www.philokaliaministries.org/ please visit https://patron.podbean.com/fatherdavidabernethy & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest

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