Fasting...help me out

[Annabelle_Marie]

I am newly returning to the faith. Growing up I was never taught about fasting. This year was my first year of it during Lent (Ash Wed and Good Friday). But I am feeling called to do more.

What are the “rules” and what are the benefits? Any help and persective would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MagsM]

Well, I’m sure there are many who could quote the real rules, but here is what I do each week: I abstain from non-liquid foods on Wednesdays, and limit ‘meat’ on Fridays to fish.

I have also done 3 day fasts from non-liquids in either in obedience to a leading from the Holy Spirit, my own desire to be closer to God or trying to overcome an impasse.

 

[kamaan]

From fisheaters.com/fasting.html :

Fasting is the taking of only one full meal (which may include meat) and two smaller, meatless meals that don’t equal the large one meal. No eating between meals is allowed, but water, milk tea, cofee, and juices are OK. Meat is allowed at one meal (assuming abstience isn’t also expected on a given day). Traditionally, everyone over 21 years of age and under 59 years of age is bound to observe the law of fast; but the present Code of Canon Law sets the ages of 18 and 59 as the limits.

More information on fasting and abstinence is contained in the link.

 

[sungirl]

I am newly returning to the faith. Growing up I was never taught about fasting. This year was my first year of it during Lent (Ash Wed and Good Friday). But I am feeling called to do more.

What are the “rules” and what are the benefits? Any help and persective would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome back! I think fasting is a very helpful practice, so I can definitely encourage you to go for it. There are some good online articles that give the background (just Google) and there was a thread a few days ago that had a lot of helpful advice; I can’t do a link (because I’m using my phone) but it was in this forum and the title was ‘Fasting.’ Friday is the traditional and preferred day (and there’s a group here for people who fast on Friday), but you can add other days too. There are a lot of benefits. It’s a penance, it’s a sacrifice that can offered up for specific intentions, it’s a discipline that helps us subdue our will and our fleshly appetites, and it’s a prayer aid because it keeps us focused on God throughout the day and may free up time for extra prayer. The more I do it the more I see it helping me. I hope you find meaningful too!

 

[MagsM]

, it’s a discipline that helps us subdue our will and our fleshly appetites, and it’s a prayer aid because it keeps us focused on God throughout the day and may free up time for extra prayer. The more I do it the more I see it helping me. I hope you find meaningful too!

This is true for me as well! I find my thoughts are much more centered on God, right thoughts and actions. It is encouraging getting through a day without food in that it also gives me hope to forsake a bad habit. It also helps me really zero in on the voice of God and rid myself of distractions during times of fervent prayer. Other times I just do it as a discipline - He upholds me through it even if I’m not asking anything of Him. He is so awesome.

 

[LilyM]

From fisheaters.com/fasting.html :

More information on fasting and abstinence is contained in the link.

That is what’s required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, however that doesn’t mean that there are any ‘general’ rules about fasting, other than the fact that fasting means a reduction in food in general.

Rather than an avoidance of specific types of food such as meat, which is properly called abstinence)

Hence Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast AND abstinence, since we BOTH eat less in general AND avoid meat.