Asceticism has been practiced by Christians since the early days of the Church. Many early Christian ascetics withdrew from society to live a life of prayer, fasting, and self-denial in order to grow closer to God. Some notable figures in the history of Christian asceticism include Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Simeon Stylites, and Saint Benedict of Nursia. The practice of asceticism is based on teachings found in the Bible, such as Jesus’ own example of fasting and self-denial in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11) and the apostle Paul’s exhortations to discipline the body and strive for spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Leave a Reply