Fasting and Pilgrimages

[Splagchnizomai]

If one were on a pilgrimage on Good Friday, would one be bound by the fast?

 

[1ke]

Yes unles you meet the criteria set forth by the Church to be excused from the fast. Being on a pilgrimage isn’t, in and of itself, one of those.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Thanks!

 

[LilyM]

See, ‘travel’ used to be cited as something that exempted one from the rules of fast and abstinence. However, most modern travel is ridiculously easy and comfortable. I can’t imagine why, say, sitting in a car, bus, train or plane for a time (which is about as strenuous as most modern pilgrimages get) would be so exhausting that you wouldn’t be able to fast or go meatless.

Of course if you’re out camping in the wild doing physical outdoorsy-type things, or are diabetic, maybe you need not fast. And if through no fault of your own you drop half your supply of veggies down a crevasse while out back of beyond, then you might have to eat meat to get sufficient nutrition. Most of us, even those on pilgrimage, would be hard put to be truly justified in not fasting or abstaining on Good Friday.

 

[OraLabora]

See, ‘travel’ used to be cited as something that exempted one from the rules of fast and abstinence. However, most modern travel is ridiculously easy and comfortable. I can’t imagine why, say, sitting in a car, bus, train or plane for a time (which is about as strenuous as most modern pilgrimages get) would be so exhausting that you wouldn’t be able to fast or go meatless.

Of course if you’re out camping in the wild doing physical outdoorsy-type things, or are diabetic, maybe you need not fast. And if through no fault of your own you drop half your supply of veggies down a crevasse while out back of beyond, then you might have to eat meat to get sufficient nutrition. Most of us, even those on pilgrimage, would be hard put to be truly justified in not fasting or abstaining on Good Friday.

Except that in many cases a pilgrimage can involve a long walk. Think of Compostelle for example. I doubt that a day’s walking can be achieved without proper nourishment, unless one takes a break from the hike on that day, which is entirely possible.

In my case I am diabetic so I have to eat normal meals at regular hours for good control without resorting to medication; I control my blood sugar with diet and exercise. Fasting, as my doctor explained to me, slows down metabolism and can actually trigger a rise in blood sugar. So I no longer fast, but I do observe meatless Fridays including Good Friday, and try to get by with a little less on Good Friday.

 

[LilyM]

Except that in many cases a pilgrimage can involve a long walk. Think of Compostelle for example. I doubt that a day’s walking can be achieved without proper nourishment, unless one takes a break from the hike on that day, which is entirely possible.

In my case I am diabetic so I have to eat normal meals at regular hours for good control without resorting to medication; I control my blood sugar with diet and exercise. Fasting, as my doctor explained to me, slows down metabolism and can actually trigger a rise in blood sugar. So I no longer fast, but I do observe meatless Fridays including Good Friday, and try to get by with a little less on Good Friday.

Of course you’re right - and a long hiking pilgrimage such as Compostela would be exactly one of those ‘physical outdoorsy-type things’ I was talking of as an exception. I already mentioned diabetes too. My mother is diabetic so I know how important regular and proper meals are for them.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

Great discussion so far! Thanks for the insights!