The 33 Chapters on Gospel Asceticism of @MossyMonk86

It is said that, besides residing in the bowels of the internet (where they hiddenly craft cathedrals for the metaverse), @MossyMonk86 spends their days in the wild and rugged wood, imparting arcane liturgical knowledge to the Sesquac, that they may impart this knowledge to the strange tribes of the future, long after civilizational collapse.

1. The root and heart of Christian asceticism is the asceticism of Christ.

2. The asceticism of Christ is an asceticism of delight, for “the Son of Man came eating and drinking,” as it is written. (Matthew 11:19)

3. Christian asceticism is a longing absence, for it is written, “when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then will they fast.” (Luke 5:35)

4. Christian asceticism is a riotous presence, for those places our Lord has promised to meet us are never far away.

5. The asceticism of Christ is an asceticism of hidden abundance, for he tells us, “I have bread to eat that you know not of.” (John 4:32)

6. Christian asceticism is theophagic, for the Lord himself tells us, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life within you.” (John 6:53)

7. The asceticism of Christ is an involuntary asceticism, for it was “the Spirit [who] drove him into the wilderness,” as the Gospel plainly teaches. (Mark 1:12)

8. Christian asceticism is an asceticism of rest, for the word spoken to our deepest roots is, “Abide in me.” (John 15:4) and again, Christ calls out, “Come to me, all who are weary and are heavy laden.” (Matthew 11:28)

9. The asceticism of Christ is an asceticism of joy, for it was for the joy set before him that Christ endured the Cross, despising its shame.” (Hebrews 12:12)

10. Christian asceticism is an asceticism of attention, for it is written, “Watch: for you do not know the hour that the Master is coming.” (Matthew 24:42, 25:13) We watch for our joy: Christ himself.

11. Christian asceticism is an impossible labor borne on wings of delight, for “with joy” did the man who stumbled across its hidden treasure rush to sell all that he had to obtain it. (Matthew 13:44)

12. Happy is she who treasures these things in her heart, and finds her belly filled with all the good treasure of God. (Luke 2:19)

13. Happy is she who brings forth out of her storehouses treasures sumptuous and extravagant. (Matthew 13:52)

14. As moth to the flame, as the people to their redemption, as the bride crying out for the bridegroom, and as the childbearing woman who knows the time of her delivery is near, so is the soul who is watchful for Christ.

15. Christian asceticism is theocidal, for it is written, “They shall look upon the one whom they have pierced.” (John 19:37)

16. Christ is both and simultaneously more sober than Saturn, and more glad than Jove.

17. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the end of wisdom is the Cross of Christ. (Prov 9:10, 1Cor 1:18)

18. Many believe that, having bathed in the milk of the Gospel, the Christian soul must then be confirmed by chewing the meat of right principles for Christian living, and thence grow strong and virtuous through works. Idiots.

19. Though the blood of Christ cleanses us from our sins, and heals all our iniquities, it is by virtue, and not by sin, that he is nailed to the Cross. We have been cleansed from our sins, by the blood of Christ. It is therefore our virtues that would nail him to the cross now.

20. Though we tell the stories ever so jubilantly, and keep the feasts ever so diligently, still the voice that calls out to remind us of our redemption alights on our ears as “unfamiliar”. (Psalm 81:5)

21. Our fasts as well as our feasts are always on the knife’s edge of being a stench and an abomination to the Lord.

22. The Gospel is the end of discipleship, and the treasure of the faith once delivered to the saints.

23. I know a saint who cried out against heaven, “Oh turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, before I go my way and am no more.” (Psalm 39:13)

24. I know a saint who cried out against heaven, “Like a moth, you eat away all that is dear to us.” (Psalm 39:11)

25. In ancient times, our Fathers laid out the boundaries of our practice with unspeakable joy, and established the times and the seasons from the forge of ecstasy. So transfixed were they to celebrate the mysteries of our salvation that they often forgot even to sleep or to eat. Many have been led astray by imitating their example without understanding their heart.

26. If you desire to teach spirituality, embrace and study the distant and the obscure. For if you say, “I learned it from a 12 C Georgian manuscript,” who can contradict you?

27. When we study the ancient ways, we lash our minds to the footsteps of the Fathers, but their wanderings and their journey both remain hidden to us.

28. When we fast according to the seasons, we lash our bodies to the turning wheel of the year, and by our strictness, we grope to unlock that door of joy through which the ancient ones passed freely.

29. Happy is the man who knows his righteousness to be filthy rags.

30. Happy is the man who comes to the Table, not presuming, but assured.

31. Happy is the man whose jowls are dripping with the blood of God.

32. Happy is the man whose liberty extends even to evacuating his bowels upon holy things. (Though, others rarely appreciate the stench.)

33. The crown of Christian asceticism is to love God, and do what you will, as an august Father once said. Do what you will: and indeed, do whatever the hell you want.

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