fasting question

[LionHeart777]

I am fasting today for a penance I was prescribed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I ate a banana and a non-alcoholic malta beverage (malta) and a couple of tic tacs for my meal at breakfast. I had a half a piece of Lasagne at most for dinner. Does it matter when I ate my full meal? Also, am I allowed to have H20 whenever? Also, the Confessor told me to keep in mind that I was fasting for love of God, for discipline, and for penance. I forgot this for about the 1st half of the day then tried to bring it to mind more than once for the 2nd half. I tend towards scrupulosity (I believe.) Does it sound like I fulfilled my penance as long as I don’t eat until the time when I started eating today, when tomorrow comes? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[baltobetsy]

Water is fine any time. It does not matter at what time you have your full meal. When you remembered, you did bring the reasons for your fasting to mind. It sounds as if you have done well in fulfilling your penance. When you arise in the morning, it is over. Don’t worry about what time you began eating today.

It does sound as if you have some trouble with scruples. Here’s my most important advice for you: The next time you go to confession, tell the priest about your scruples and ask for his help. It is ideal to have only one confessor, so give some thought to choosing someone you can work with and trust. But then, don’t think about it so long you never do it!

Betsy

 

[ohioszo]

Next time, just do bread and water for penance, for a day. If you must have protein, fish or peanut butter. How’s that? Personally, I think that you rely a lot on sweets to get you through.

 

[PrayHarder]

Personally, I think you fasted. While bread and water is the ideal fast, as long as you made a sincere effort and really pushed yourself to not eat anymore than what was neccesary than you’re good.

What is a good fast for one person may not be a good fast for another. So you have to ask yourself, could you have still made it through the day on less?

 

[Edward_H]

One other thought.

Fasting can/should be thought of as praying with your body; it can be a conversation with God. “Don’t fast alone”, do it with God, for the love of God, as someone wise said above.

Talk with God, as you fast. “Lord, why did you make food taste so God? Can’t you smell that lasagne? Help me here and now, I am only a weak child who wants to please you.”

Fasting should draw us closer to unity with God.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am fasting today for a penance I was prescribed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I ate a banana and a non-alcoholic malta beverage (malta) and a couple of tic tacs for my meal at breakfast. I had a half a piece of Lasagne at most for dinner. Does it matter when I ate my full meal? Also, am I allowed to have H20 whenever? Also, the Confessor told me to keep in mind that I was fasting for love of God, for discipline, and for penance. I forgot this for about the 1st half of the day then tried to bring it to mind more than once for the 2nd half. I tend towards scrupulosity (I believe.) Does it sound like I fulfilled my penance as long as I don’t eat until the time when I started eating today, when tomorrow comes? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

since we don’t know what type of fast your confessor suggested, and we don’t want to know since it was during confession, we cannot answer intelligently. My advice, until you have the chance to ask the priest yourself, is to think about the spirit and purpose of your fast and not obsess about what you did eat. If you tend toward scrupulosity you should not be asking these questions of anyone except your priest, and random anonymous advice is not going to be helpful to you, and may be harmful.

 

[LionHeart777]

Thanks for all the responses…I left a message with the priest.