Anyone fasting for Lent?

[puzzleannie]

I think fasting for forty days would probably land me in the hospital. My doctors tell me I’m too thin and I’ve been trying for years to put on weight. Should I attempt the fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday? What are the Church’s rules for people who have problems with being under-weight? (I’m a catechumen … this is my first Lent.)

people with health problems (including pregnancy) which precluded fasting were never bound by this discipline, and in fact there are cases of spritual directors and relgious superiors reprimanding people for abusing their bodies by fasting too strictly. For you as for me and others like us, adhering to the medical diet we have been prescribed constitutes our fasting discipline. the key is doing so in the proper spirit of fasting. No if you have health issues with food you should not engage in any practice that runs counter to your doctor’s advice. It is however a very rare person that cannot eat two light meals and one regular meal for two days out of the year, or who cannot go without meat of warm-blooded animals for a day or so.

to inject in what was said above, the general classical spiritual direction has always been that the subject should adhere to the normal disciplines of the Church and not presume to add to them or multiply mortifications without the advice of his superior or director or confessor. Normal disciplines include pentitential practices which used to be mandated and are now voluntary.

 

[RosalieM]

I did give up TV in the year 1985. My POSSLQ and I seperated after 10 years, and she walked off with all the furniture, including my Brother’s TV set which I had borrowed.:sad_yes:

Being very short of money, I did not buy a replacment that year.:twocents:

By the time I had the money, I had found other things to do with my time. Hence, no TV since August 1985. :yup:

I do have other things to do with my time and spend too much time watching the tube. Some traumas happened and the TV became similar to drinking too much or taking drugs. It became a harmless addiction, except for the effect on eyes and the waste of time.
I should add a TV fast to Lent; at least cutting down on the time spent in front of the screen. Hopefully, it will last and I’ll have more time to be productive. Sounds right. Thanks for bringing this to mind. I can only vaguely remember life without television. I think it was more qualitative…
God bless you.

 

[Student09]

It is however a very rare person that cannot eat two light meals and one regular meal for two days out of the year, or who cannot go without meat of warm-blooded animals for a day or so.
.

I guess it depends on what counts as a light meal or regular meal. My normal inclination is not to eat very much (and I generally don’t eat meat). Is there anything that gives more specific guidelines? Or could someone give an example of what they consider to be “light” or “regular”? Thanks.

 

[JesusInMe]

i dont know what to do about fasting… i have gotten into the habit of complaining to my friend every day about what is bad or wrong in my life… i think i should stop doing that and just listen to her… i also should spend time with people more… i am becoming more and more of a recluse… learn to put everything in its place… start a routine of prayer everyday…
should make a list and start doing all this… watching way too much tv everyday.

thank you for this thread… got me thinking about a lot of things…

 

[Kathrin]

There is also the possibility of, instead of abstaining from something, to ADD something for Lent, isn’t there?

Kathrin

 

[BVM_1221]

There is also the possibility of, instead of abstaining from something, to ADD something for Lent, isn’t there?

Kathrin

Of course. More prayer, perhaps. Or one hour of silent adoration if your Church has Eucherist Exposition. Or alms. Go over your finances and see if you can squeeze a little extra out of the budget, for the charity of your choice. (Mine is AA). Something extra that you are not doing now.