They used to say concerning Abba Macarius, the Egyptian, that if it happened that he ate with the brethren, he would make an agreement with himself that if there was wine on the table and he drank one cup of it, he would drink no water for a whole day.

Now the brethren, wishing him to be refreshed, used to give him wine, and the old man took it joyfully so that he might torment the body.

And when his disciple saw this thing, he said unto the brethren, “I entreat you, for our Lord’s sake, not to give him wine to drink, for if he drinketh it he will go to his cell and afflict himself because thereof.”

And when the brethren knew this, they did not give him any more wine to drink.

Paradisus Patrum