May 3, 1998
Grapes
and Asceticism
Today's story is from the life of St. Macarius. The lives of
the ancient Desert Fathers are filled with examples of great men and women who fasted,
practiced feats of asceticism, and rejected all worldly things. The following story,
though, demonstrates how these practices were manifested in even small ways and how they
served to teach others then -- and now -- by their example.
BEGIN: Another time he (St. Macarius) was sent some fresh grapes. He desired to eat them,
but showing self-control, he sent them to a certain brother who was ill and who was
himself fond of grapes. When the brother received them he was delighted, but wishing to
conceal his self-mastery, he sent them to another brother, pretending that he had no
appetite for any food. When the next brother received the grapes, he did the same in turn,
although he too had a great desire to eat them.
When at length the grapes had been passed round a large number of the brethren without any
of them deciding to eat them, the last one to receive them sent them again to Macarius,
thinking that he was giving him a rich gift. Macarius recognized them and after inquiring
closely into what had happened, marveled, giving thanks to the Lord for such self-control
among the brethren. And in the end not even he partook of the grapes. END
from "The Lives of the Desert Fathers," trans. by Norman Russell,
(Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1980), p. 109
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