¹ I believe you are wondering, dearest brothers, why we have anticipated the celebration of the upcoming Sunday and, although today marks its beginning, we started observing its feast a full week earlier. This premature observance cannot be faulted. In fact, it is an expression of devotion to fulfil the law before knowing its formal stipulations, and to obey its commands even before being bound by them. For the former arises from love, while the latter stems from fear. The one is offered freely as a religious act, the other is demanded by obligation. In the former, a gift of reverence is presented; in the latter, a debt is repaid.

² Thus, we too have offered God a religious gift by extending our fasting. For a hastened feast cannot be blamed. In celebrations, devotion always precedes the solemnity with eager vows, and the anticipated joy of the coming festivity is welcomed in advance by a pious longing. Therefore, far from being improper, this practice was in fact prudent. Indeed, in uncertain matters, it is always safer to do more rather than less, since what is in excess can be reduced, but what is lacking cannot be extended. This is precisely what happened in this observance: by fasting more in preparation for Lent, we did not diminish the season itself—Lent still remains intact for us. However, had we fasted less, we would not have been able to restore the days and make up the number.

³ But perhaps some may argue that the fasting we have undertaken does not count toward the Lenten observance. Yet it will certainly benefit us. Even if it does not contribute to fulfilling the required days of Lent, it still contributes to our salvation. Even if it does not add to the number, it adds to our merit. For when has it ever failed to benefit anyone to pray, to read Scripture, or to fast? When has chastity, sobriety, or gentleness ever been without value?

⁴ Rather, I am more inclined to rebuke those who, although prepared to fast, neglect to do so as soon as they hear that the Lenten solemnities have begun. By acting in this way, they reveal that they are not fasting out of a genuine desire to live religiously, but only out of compulsion. I suppose they feared that, if they extended their fasting by five extra days, their flesh and body would grow weak, and they would become so frail and emaciated that they would be unable to endure the abstinence of the full forty days of Lent.

⁵ Let both the refreshed and the robust, the frail and the pale alike, hear this: today is the beginning of Lent. Let those who are strong hear, so that they may begin to fast, and let those who are already fasting not cease their abstinence. Let all hasten together into the ark of Christ. Indeed, let them hasten all the more, for having begun their abstinence later, they should enter more disciplined and purified. For in times of peril, the ark of the Lord sustains the fasting soul but cannot support the drunken one.

⁶ Therefore, as we have already said, we urge you, people of our time, to flee with all haste from the storms of this world and take refuge in the house of God—just as the righteous Noah urged the people of his time. He warned them and did not cease to proclaim the coming flood. Even though the voice of his preaching was not heeded, his works still spoke. Even if his tongue was silent, his actions declared the message. Though he did not shout with his voice, the sound of his axe resounded.

⁷ For while he was building such a massive structure, the very construction of the ark testified to its purpose—it showed why it was being made. The ark itself, by its form, proclaimed that it was meant to provide shelter in the face of new dangers. For any wise observer could discern that some great shipwreck was approaching when they saw a house being built not to stand on the ground but to float upon the flood. When they saw such a dwelling prepared—a dwelling that would neither set its foundation on solid ground nor be engulfed by the rushing waters—who, I ask, with any wisdom, would fail to recognize that a flood was coming?

⁸ When they saw a structure being made that would not simply enclose its inhabitants but carry them, that would not merely keep out the rains but shield them from the storms of destruction—who would not be moved to prepare? And yet, they remained unmoved by the sight of this refuge, which was not designed for comfortable habitation but for exile, signifying that its occupants would be strangers in the world, carried away from their former home.

⁹ Thus, through his actions, the holy Noah preached to the people. He proclaimed to them, in effect, that saying of the Lord from the Gospel: “If you do not believe me, believe the works themselves”.