Fasting

[utunumsint]

Hi Folks,

I was looking through the CCC for any hints and tips about fasting and I didn’t find much. See here:

2043 ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

So this passage states that fasting helps us do penance and ascesis (self discipline), and helps us acquire mastery over our instances and freedom of heart.

1430 Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.

So fasting should be an expression of conversion of the heart and interior conversion. I wonder, though, if fasting can also help one get further along in this effort of interior conversion? Just from a biological standpoint, if you are fasting, you have a much more stable blood sugar level. It is not as high or as low as you get when you binge on high carb foods. You also battle against legitimate urges such as hunger as opposed to illegitimate urges, such as greed, fornication, lust, and so on. Its like self defense training for these actual encounters with temptation.

1434 The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort at reconciliation with one’s neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one’s neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity “which covers a multitude of sins.”

So, if I understand this correctly, this is saying that fasting, prayers, and almsgiving can actually obtain forgiveness of sins, both for myself, but for others, and is even a work for the salvation of one’s neighbor? So, for example, if I fast for my son, I may be earning spiritual benefits for him?

Any comments would be appreciated. Also any books that provide a more comprehensive treatment of fasting as a spiritual practice would also be welcome!

God bless,
Ut

 

[thistle]

Hi Folks,

I was looking through the CCC for any hints and tips about fasting and I didn’t find much. See here:

So this passage states that fasting helps us do penance and ascesis (self discipline), and helps us acquire mastery over our instances and freedom of heart.

So fasting should be an expression of conversion of the heart and interior conversion. I wonder, though, if fasting can also help one get further along in this effort of interior conversion? Just from a biological standpoint, if you are fasting, you have a much more stable blood sugar level. It is not as high or as low as you get when you binge on high carb foods. You also battle against legitimate urges such as hunger as opposed to illegitimate urges, such as greed, fornication, lust, and so on. Its like self defense training for these actual encounters with temptation.

So, if I understand this correctly, this is saying that fasting, prayers, and almsgiving can actually obtain forgiveness of sins, both for myself, but for others, and is even a work for the salvation of one’s neighbor? So, for example, if I fast for my son, I may be earning spiritual benefits for him?

Any comments would be appreciated. Also any books that provide a more comprehensive treatment of fasting as a spiritual practice would also be welcome!

God bless,
Ut

The first tip is that you do not undertake fasting without talking to your doctor and then your priest.

 

[utunumsint]

I find that advice unreasonable. I mean it is recommended in the CCC! Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving! But only if you have a spiritual director? And only if you have a doctor’s permission? I mean, if you are a healthy adult, what is the problem? Why wouldn’t the church provide some guidance. In fact, it does for at least two days of the liturgical year.

God bless,
Ut

 

[po18guy]

I did fairly serious fasting years ago, but it is no longer medically prudent. Still, if used for the correct purpose, it can greatly assist along the spiritual journey. To fast is to sacrifice as well as to suffer. Love must be its motivation. Consciously and willfully joined to the fasting and suffering of Christ, its benefits may be offered for a particular intention - a form of prayer through self-mortification.

The Book of Tobit has much to say regarding the value of fasting, prayer and alms giving. Considered to be a “mini-Job” Tobit is one of my favorite Old Testament books.

 

[peter26]

The first tip is that you do not undertake fasting without talking to your doctor and then your priest.

Depends how much fasting you are going to do really! Medical advice should only be necessary if you have a health condition that may be affected by how much you eat or if you take it to an extreme. I find using the “Good Friday Fast” (one main meal and two smaller meals) on a regular basis to be useful and manageable.