Fasting and Answered Prayers

[SFJ]

Hello,
I was hoping I could get some insight regarding fasting. As Roman Catholics I realize we are only obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Is there any connection to fasting and answered prayers? If someone is dealing with a very difficult situation and they’ve prayed and believed and trusted in the Lord but are looking for something more they can do, is fasting effective?

 

[veritatisstella]

Fasting as a form of penance can be very good and effective when offered up for the intentions you are praying for. It’s not a guarantee for results of course. God works in His own ways and for His own reasons sometimes does not answer prayers or may take much longer than we would like to answer them. Also, there are some situations when fasting might not be good, especially if it might interfere with your health or other duties. I’d recommend asking the advice of your confessor before proceeding with it, especially if you plan to undertake it for an extended period of time.

 

[Dina]

I’ve often wondered the same thing. I can’t say I have personal experience with it. I always try and seem to fail in my sacrifice or fast. However one of the visionaries from Medjorgia wrote in her book about this, and yes fasting seems to be effective and something she would do often.

 

[Vico]

…

Yes, fasting counters passions. It is temperance.

Catechism

2737 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."26 If we ask with a divided heart, we are “adulterers”;27 God cannot answer us, for he desires our well-being, our life. "Or do you suppose that it is in vain that the scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us?’"28 That our God is “jealous” for us is the sign of how true his love is. If we enter into the desire of his Spirit, we shall be heard.

Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer.29
God wills that our desire should be exercised in prayer, that we may be able to receive what he is prepared to give.30

 

[SFJ]

Thank you all for your replies!