Weak in Body, Pure in Heart

Weakness of body is no obstacle to purity of heart, if only as much food is taken as the bodily weakness requires, and not as much as pleasure asks for. It is easier to find men who abstain altogether from the richer foods than men who make moderate use of what is allowed for our needs; and easier to find men who deny themselves everything out of love of self-control than men who take food on the plea of weakness and keep to the right measure of what is enough. For bodily weakness has its own glory of self-restraint, when, though food is allowed to the failing body, a man deprives himself of his nourishment even though he needs it, and takes only as much food as the strict judgment of moderation decides is enough for the needs of life, not what the craving appetite asks for. The more delicate foods, just as they help bodily health, need not destroy the purity of chastity if they are taken in moderation. For whatever strength is gained by eating them is used up in the toil and wear of care. So, just as no state of life can be deprived of the virtue of abstinence, so the crown of perfection is denied to none.