Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Abstinence is essentially a keeping away, a refraining,entirely or in some degree, from anything. Specifically, as weemploy the term here, abstinence is a retrenchment in the use offood or drink. It may be a total abstaining from certain kinds offood or drink; it may be a partial abstaining from nutriment in thesense that it is observed at certain times or in certaincircumstances. When abstinence is ordinate, that is, in completeaccord with right reason, it is either a virtue (that is,an enduring good habit) or it is a virtuous act.
2. As a moral virtue, abstinence tends to good under aspecial aspect, and therefore is a special virtue.
"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens.
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart. "
St Philip Neri
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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