Fasting or Abstinence?

[ToniToni]

My niece is 17 at the moment and would like to try fasting daily to compliment her prayers for success and help during her exams, but seeing as she is currently in an exam period, I’m not sure if this is the best option for her as she is in school full time and is usually working til late. Would suggesting absinence from meat be a better option?? Thank you.

 

[Cristiano]

I think that she might be confused about the purposes of fasting. Maybe she should study more about fasting, about the appropriate use of penances, and their morality. I think that she needs to talk to a spiritual director, even some saints had spiritual directors that helped them to avoid going overboard with penances. penances have to follow the same standard of every other moral behavior. It has to be done with the right intent, the act as to be right, and it has to be done in the right circumstances.

 

[ToniToni]

Yes that is true and I have suggested that she fast after her exams as this is when she will be able to spend more time on reflection, prayer and the spiritual gain of the fast. Even though she will have finished her exams I guess as well as reflecting upon herself and her life, she can still pray for a good set of results??

 

[Cristiano]

Yes that is true and I have suggested that she fast after her exams as this is when she will be able to spend more time on reflection, prayer and the spiritual gain of the fast. Even though she will have finished her exams I guess as well as reflecting upon herself and her life, she can still pray for a good set of results??

God wants us to pray, he wants us to learn to ask for what is good for us. Nothing wrong to pray for good grades when we do our best with our studies.

 

[LilyM]

Fasting is the worst possible thing to do when studying - it’s a time when you need to keep your energy and strength up so that your brain function is at it’s best.

Abstinence from some luxury food (when I was going through finals it was chocolate) might be good - no-one needs a junky diet anyway. But in moderation - someone used to having coffee or whatever every single day shouldn’t go completely cold turkey at such a stressful time, just cut back a little.