Their Shoes

They refuse shoes, as forbidden by the command of the gospel. But if bodily weakness, or the morning cold in winter, or the scorching heat of midday compels them, they simply protect their feet with sandals. They explain that the use of sandals, and the Lord’s permission of them, mean this: if, while we are still in this world, we cannot be completely set free from care and concern for the flesh, nor altogether released from it, we should at least provide for the needs of the body with as little fuss and as slight an entanglement as possible. And as for the feet of our soul, which ought to be ready for our spiritual race and always prepared to preach the peace of the gospel, we ought not to let them be entangled in the deadly cares of this world. With these feet we run after the fragrance of Christ’s ointments. Of them David says, “I ran in thirst,” and Jeremiah, “But I am not troubled, following you.” We must not fill our thoughts with things that serve, not the needs of nature, but unnecessary and harmful pleasures. And we will fulfill this if, as the apostle advises, we “make no provision for the flesh with its cravings.” [a]

But although they make use of these sandals lawfully enough, as permitted by the Lord’s command, they never let them stay on their feet when they come forward to celebrate or to receive the holy mysteries. For they think they ought to keep, even to the letter, what was said to Moses and to Joshua the son of Nun: “Untie the strap of your shoe, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”