How to fast?

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cathlikrn

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What is considered fasting? Are there different ways to fast?
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, when we “fast” we are told to eat 2 small meals, 1 regular meal and avoid eating between meals. Is this how we are to fast or are there different variations?
thanks for your thoughts…
 
In general, fasting means not eating. You can practice the Ash Weds/Good Friday fast any day of the year. And, yes, there are many ways to fast. You could fast from midnight to noon, or you could fast by skipping a meal. Be sure to add prayer and almsgiving to your fasting (Tobit 12:8).

Also note what St Francis de Sales says about fasting …

To treat of fasting and of what is required to fast well, we must, at the start, understand that of itself fasting is not a virtue. The good and the bad, as well as Christians and pagans, observe it. The ancient philosophers observed it and recommended it. They were not virtuous for that reason, nor did they practice virtue in fasting. Oh, no, fasting is a virtue only when it is accompanied by conditions which render it pleasing to God. Thus it happens that it profits some and not others, because it is not undertaken by all in the same manner. link

This is a great topic to discuss with your priest or spiritual director.
 
Splagchnizomai said:
In general, fasting means not eating. You can practice the Ash Weds/Good Friday fast any day of the year. And, yes, there are many ways to fast. You could fast from midnight to noon, or you could fast by skipping a meal. Be sure to add prayer and almsgiving to your fasting (Tobit 12:8).

Also note what St Francis de Sales says about fasting …

To treat of fasting and of what is required to fast well, we must, at the start, understand that of itself fasting is not a virtue. The good and the bad, as well as Christians and pagans, observe it. The ancient philosophers observed it and recommended it. They were not virtuous for that reason, nor did they practice virtue in fasting. Oh, no, fasting is a virtue only when it is accompanied by conditions which render it pleasing to God. Thus it happens that it profits some and not others, because it is not undertaken by all in the same manner. link

This is a great topic to discuss with your priest or spiritual director.
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thanks for your answer and also for the link, both were very helpful!
 
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