Fasting: The Rule of Benedict on Moderation in Food

Benedict of Nursia (d. 547) took a characteristically moderate approach to fasting and food. His Rule prescribes two cooked meals per day with a generous pound of bread and a measure of wine. He wrote: "We read that wine is by no means a drink for monks; but since the monks of our day cannot be persuaded of this, let us at least agree to drink sparingly." Benedict was a realist who preferred sustainable discipline to heroic excess.

Benedict also specified that the cellarer (kitchen manager) should be "like a father to the whole community" and that the cook should serve food with care and attention. Meals in the Benedictine tradition are not mere fueling but occasions for community, gratitude, and moderation.

Practical application: Practice Benedictine moderation at your next three meals. Eat enough but not too much. Set your fork down between bites. Give thanks before and after eating. Avoid eating while distracted by screens or work. Benedict teaches that the discipline of eating well -- gratefully, moderately, communally -- is more transformative than the occasional dramatic fast.