How can I fast on Wednesday?

[andyklein]

Since I am new to observing this tradition during Lent, I have a few questions about how I would go about it. I typically do not eat big meals. I usually have about 6 small meals every three hours or so worth about 400 calories each. That would make it difficult to do the traditional one normal sized meal or two smaller meals per day, which I hear is the standard for fast days in the Catholic Church, without endangering my health.

Any suggestions?

 

[1ke]

Since I am new to observing this tradition during Lent, I have a few questions about how I would go about it. I typically do not eat big meals. I usually have about 6 small meals every three hours or so worth about 400 calories each. That would make it difficult to do the traditional one normal sized meal or two smaller meals per day, which I hear is the standard for fast days in the Catholic Church, without endangering my health.

Any suggestions?

If you have these meals arranged this way due to a medical condition or under doctor’s orders, discuss this with your pastor as you may receive a dispensation from the fasting obligation.

If you have these meals arranged this way due to personal preference, then you change your scheme for the day to comply with fasting obligations.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

Unless your health is specifically linked to this eating pattern, you should abstain for the day. The point of the fasting is that it is a penance, and a reminder that self-sacrifice is necessary for a true Catholic life. As such, having a preferred eating patter does not negate your responsibility to observe the Ash Wednesday fast, or the subsequent Friday fasts during the Lenten season.

If it is for health reasons though, definitely talk to your priest about it; the Church doesn’t want to see your health suffer.

 

[firstmode]

Fasting with no food and very little calories for days at a time will not endanger a healthy person’s health.

It is common in my church for people to fast 5 to 21 days on just liquids (water, some juice, gatorade) and many many people of all ages perform these fasts. Try a 5 day fast sometime, just drink some Gatorade when you need some electrolights and calories. Sure, you will feel hunger, but unless you have some severe medical condition, your health will not be endangered.

I recently finished a 15 day fast where all I consumed was liquid. just months ago I recovered from major stomach surgery as well. I had no problems.

You can skip one or two meals in a day my friend, it is a very common practice performed by millions across the earth for over a thousand years. You could even perform a 40 day fast only on liquids as my pastor does every year, and he is in his mid 60’s!

 

[april32010]

i see that you will not be accepted into the Church until Easter Vigil,the fasting rules do not apply to you until then i believe

 

[stormcloud]

Unless your health is specifically linked to this eating pattern, you should abstain for the day.

While abstaining from food for the day is a good and holy thing to do, that isn’t what the Church requires. Fasting isn’t quite abstaining, The requirement would be for one meal and two “snacks”, but again, that doesn’t mean that one couldn’t abstain from food for the day. (Ive done it myself.)

 

[WildCatholic]

So then what counts as the smaller meals. For example, would a bowl of cereal count, or should I just eat a granola bar or an orange, or at best milk, or gatorade for the smaller meals

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Since I am new to observing this tradition during Lent, I have a few questions about how I would go about it. I typically do not eat big meals. I usually have about 6 small meals every three hours or so worth about 400 calories each. That would make it difficult to do the traditional one normal sized meal or two smaller meals per day, which I hear is the standard for fast days in the Catholic Church, without endangering my health.

Any suggestions?

As a nursing mother, I am “exempt” from this; however, I have willingly chosen to fast from TV on these days instead of fasting from food … And therefore I feel like I’m trying to be pleasing to God and join my brothers & sisters in Christ in sacrificing.

 

[ProdglArchitect]

While abstaining from food for the day is a good and holy thing to do, that isn’t what the Church requires. Fasting isn’t quite abstaining, The requirement would be for one meal and two “snacks”, but again, that doesn’t mean that one couldn’t abstain from food for the day. (Ive done it myself.)

I meant it as abstaining from his normal practices, sorry for the confusion. ^^

 

[thistle]

Since I am new to observing this tradition during Lent, I have a few questions about how I would go about it. I typically do not eat big meals. I usually have about 6 small meals every three hours or so worth about 400 calories each. That would make it difficult to do the traditional one normal sized meal or two smaller meals per day, which I hear is the standard for fast days in the Catholic Church, without endangering my health.

Any suggestions?

You are only required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and not on any other day of the year, not even during Lent.
Do not confuse fasting with abstaining.

 

[LilyM]

So then what counts as the smaller meals. For example, would a bowl of cereal count, or should I just eat a granola bar or an orange, or at best milk, or gatorade for the smaller meals

The rules are one moderate meal (which I would say is a meal a little smaller than you normally eat) and up to two smaller meals which together are less than the moderate meal.

So if your moderate meal was a bowl of cereal, a piece of toast and a banana, you can have up to the equivalent of a bowl of cereal, a piece of toast and half a banana spread over the other two meals.

What types of food you choose are entirely up to you as long as you avoid meat.

If you feel OK having just a glass of milk instead of a meal, then you can.

 

[mayogirl25]

As a minimal obligation in observing Lent it is prescribed that you abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays during Lent and Good Friday. Those persons 18 years and older up to 59 are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in a nutshell. Hope this helps.