The functions of attention in Saint Basil’s homily on the words “give heed to yourself”
On 378 Basil of Caesarea preached a homily known as “On the Words Give heed to Thyself, where he proposes a pastoral and moral reflection on the words of Deuteronomy 9, 15 Πρόσεχε σεαυτῶ, and he focused on the importance of attention to progress in virtue and avoid sin.
In this paper, after examine the central issues of the homily, I intend to prove that St. Basil, in his reflection on the precept “Give heed to yourself”, does not only discuss the moral sphere in order to the practice of the Christian virtues, but also refers to the psychological dominion, since he endows the attention with a therapeutic nature and, consequently, it must be useful and necessary not only for the spiritual health of the person but also for their health and psychological well-being.
