Fasting

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anu

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Hi

Iam planning to do fasting. Can anyone please guide me how fasting should be done.

Thanks in advance
Anu
 
Depends on what you understand when using the term “fasting”.

Abstaining from meat, alcohol or sweets or anything else that would be a sacrifice four you?
Only eating bread and drinking water?
Only eating fruits/legumes and nothing else?
A fast on fruit- and legume-juice?
Fast on water only?
Fast from anything that you particularly like? (i.e. internet, hanging around at the mall)
 
Legume juice? Blecch!

My main advice would be in regard to the fasting-from-food. If you’re intending to fast severely (be very restrictive as to types of food or fast for more than a day or so a week) you might want to get your health checked out beforehand. It can be damaging for some.

And do desist and see a doctor if you develop any symptoms - headache, dizziness, weakness and so on - while fasting.
 
don’t undertake anything more than the standard penitential practices prescribed by the Church without permission from your confessor or spiritual director.
standard fast, as during weekdays of Lent, is one full meal, and two lesser meals, which taken together do not equal a full meal, and nothing but water, and clear liquids between meals.

other traditional fasts include bread and water, usually on Friday, sometimes on Wednesday. or of course abstinence from meat, or from luxury foods.

anyone with a medical contra-indication (diabetes, pregnancy etc) must have a doctor’s permission, but if you are already following a strict diet that in itself may be offered as a fast, with the appropriate pray and acts of charity which should alway accompany fasting.

The Eastern Churches and Orthodoxy have their own, much more restrictive fasting, which is discussed in detail on their forum.

fasting, pray and alms-giving or acts of charity go together. the purpose of penitential practices is to cure attactions of the senses toward sin, and to foster humility and obedience, and to join spiritualy in the sufferings of Christ.
 
LilyM said:
Legume juice? Blecch!

My main advice would be in regard to the fasting-from-food. If you’re intending to fast severely (be very restrictive as to types of food or fast for more than a day or so a week) you might want to get your health checked out beforehand. It can be damaging for some.

And do desist and see a doctor if you develop any symptoms - headache, dizziness, weakness and so on - while fasting.
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This is excellent advice. How long do you plan to fast? There is a wonderful little book by Queenship Publishing called “Saved and Freed through Fasting” May God reward you and your efforts.🙂
 
anu said:
Hi

Iam planning to do fasting. Can anyone please guide me how fasting should be done.

Thanks in advance
Anu
Click to expand...
I will be glad to give you my OPINIONS. Just remember that my opinions have not been endorsed by my cats.

Background: I am 62 years old, and in formation with the CFP

penitents.org

OK, I am 62 years old and not REQUIRED to fast. But I have chosen to do so with the following in mind.

I talked it over with my Physician. She knows my health better then I do. She gave me the rules to be followed. But the #1 rule is from the CFP Constitutions…

“The amount of food eaten of fast days will be particular to the individual penitent who should feel hungry but not debilitated, drowsey, or ill. The penitent should consult a spiritual director, confesor, or, if needed, a physician regarding the amount of food to be eaten.”

In other words, our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Temple is not be permanently damaged. Over-fasting is most likely the result of spiritual pride, not penance. (opinion)

The CFP allows us milk, juices, and other beverages between meals. We are to be content with two meals a day, dinner and supper. No solid food between meals. The church requirements for fasting are one moderate meal, and two smaller snacks (collations) not adding up to the one moderate meal.

Oh, and no fastring or abstinance on Sundays and Solemnities. But abstinance on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Put this altogether and I have my fasting guidelines. (Not yours or anybody elses.) One quart of non-fat milk after getting up. Dinner with meat or fish. Supper without meat or fish. To be done six days a week, meaning I am more or less on a penitential fast all year.

Results?
  1. Dropped to 170 pounds and have stayed there.
  2. I am hungry much of the time, but have found out that this is no big deal. Being hungry is not the same as being malnourished.
  3. I am, admittedly with GREAT difficulty at times, slowly slowly bending my will to God, and learning how to eat to live, rather then live to eat.
  4. I have probably never felt so good physically, mentally, emotionaly, and spiritually.
Again, just my opinions, YMWV
 
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