Illness, fasting, and sin

[Secant]

It’s the day before Ash Wednesday and again my husband and I are having the yearly argument. When the church states that Ash Wednesday is a day of fast, except for those outside of the age limits, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with medical conditions, what medical conditions are exempt from fasting? My husband and I both agree that to not fast is a sin, but we disagree on the medical conditions (and our pastor is not helpful, he just says if it’s hazardous for your health, don’t fast).

Specifically, if you get a migraine headache (one that includes the pain and the ocular effects, as well as photo and phono phobias) every time you fast, is that considered hazardous enough to not be sinful to avoid fasting? Is a migraine a serious enough condition?

*Please note that I am not asking for medical advice, but advice on avoiding sin. *

 

[Cone]

I would think that if fasting triggers migraines, you’d be exempt.

 

[nodito]

I think if it interferes with our other obligations, such as work or childcare, this would constitute a valid medical reason to temper the fast. If it merely means turning in for the night a little early, I think said person should consider doing the fast anyway.

Fasts are supposed to be uncomfortable but not painful.

 

[fencersmother]

Perhaps you could consider an abbreviated food fast (no dessert, only eat food for nourishment, not for taste; eat foods you don’t care for), then add a specific other type of fast/sacrifice.

These suggestions are some which my priest has recommended:
Daily Mass with at least ten decades of the Rosary
Walk to church
No TV/Movies/Internet/Radio/fiction reading
Weekly prayer for at least an hour before Planned Parenthood
A half-hour twice a day of prayer for priests and vocations (no distractions!)
Write a letter a day or a week to a person you don’t see or contact, to a person from whom you are estranged, to a person who is a shut in, to a person suffering the loss of a loved one, to a soldier away from home.
Donate $X each day or week to Catholic Charities, Wounded Warrior project, your favorite monastery, etc.

Of course, most people can abstain with little difficulty.

 

[FrenzyJen]

If a migraine could cause you to become irritable, then fasting in that instance would be a near-occasion of sin, as you may become mean to those around you.

 

[Isca]

I understand your dilemma, and sympathise. I am going to do my very best to observe the fast tomorrow (I’m 56), but I generally keep to a pretty restricted low-fat diet anyway, for weight control. If I don’t eat something every couple of hours (little snacks), I feel shaky and unwell.

I do some voluntary work at the parish house on a Wednesday morning and so I have to get going early, which won’t help! I think if I asked our kind priest he would say ‘don’t worry’, but in any case, I’ll do what I can.

 

[Secant]

Thanks. This comes up every year. Last year I was expecting my daughter, so there was no debate, but the year before my husband lied and gave me a Jolly Rancher saying it was my medicine. It was about the same size and shape so I couldn’t tell the difference until I actually ate it (with my ocular migraines, it isn’t as if I can see that far). I had always been told as a child that the only conditions that counted as excuses were diabetes, hypoglycemia, and those on chemo.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

It’s the day before Ash Wednesday and again my husband and I are having the yearly argument. When the church states that Ash Wednesday is a day of fast, except for those outside of the age limits, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with medical conditions, what medical conditions are exempt from fasting? My husband and I both agree that to not fast is a sin, but we disagree on the medical conditions (and our pastor is not helpful, he just says if it’s hazardous for your health, don’t fast).

Specifically, if you get a migraine headache (one that includes the pain and the ocular effects, as well as photo and phono phobias) every time you fast, is that considered hazardous enough to not be sinful to avoid fasting? Is a migraine a serious enough condition?

*Please note that I am not asking for medical advice, but advice on avoiding sin. *

Fasting does not have to pertain strictly to food intake. You can fast from other things just like another poster here has stated. If you believe it is a sin not to fast, but have medical problems when you fast from food, then choose another type of fast.

Some examples… Go to church and pray for an hour, give up listening to your favorite music, wake up extra early and pray for a few hours or read Holy Scripture, stand for a time instead of sitting, give someone a your seat on the train or bus, make a monetary contribution to a catholic charity… it can be anything as long as it pertains to giving up something that will cause you to have to learn (safely) what it means to be without that gift for a while. Pray about it and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to what would be a good fast for you. Ask God about it in prayer.

Fasting is supposed to bring about two things- practice at denying your flesh, and also learning to be content with what you have and being thankful to God for those gifts that we so tend to take for granted. Its supposed to strengthen your soul, and your resolve towards doing God’s will. It should help bring you closer to God. Its not supposed to mean doing bodily harm to yourself- or others. It is supposed to call your attention to God.

Your priest already gave you an answer- you don't have to fast.   If you feel you want to do something for God anyway, that's okay too.   Just make sure its not something that will aggravate your medical condition.

Best wishes to you.

 

[1ke]

Thanks. This comes up every year. Last year I was expecting my daughter, so there was no debate, but the year before my husband lied and gave me a Jolly Rancher saying it was my medicine. It was about the same size and shape so I couldn’t tell the difference until I actually ate it (with my ocular migraines, it isn’t as if I can see that far).

There need not be an argument over this, certainly not annually! The Church does not give any list of medical conditions because it is your prudential judgment. If you are sick, then do not fast. If fasting makes you sick, do not fast.

I had always been told as a child that the only conditions that counted as excuses were diabetes, hypoglycemia, and those on chemo.

Well I do not know who told you this but it is completely inaccurate to say that those three things are the ONLY conditions that excuse one from fasting. Not true at all.

Perhaps you misunderstood.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

I understand your dilemma, and sympathise. I am going to do my very best to observe the fast tomorrow (I’m 56), but I generally keep to a pretty restricted low-fat diet anyway, for weight control. If I don’t eat something every couple of hours (little snacks), I feel shaky and unwell.

I do some voluntary work at the parish house on a Wednesday morning and so I have to get going early, which won’t help! I think if I asked our kind priest he would say ‘don’t worry’, but in any case, I’ll do what I can.

^ This is me as well. I have medical problems. I hated not fasting, until I found other ways. I still don’t like it because I am not doing what others are doing and so I feel left out in a way… I don’t like special treatment, and sometimes not fasting due to medical problems feels like just that. I don’t feel I should be exempt, and I don’t want to be. Just doesn’t feel right.

I forgot to add, that if your fasting causes you to get ill and not being able to do your daily duties in life so that others have to pitch in for you, then its gone too far. I don’t think ones personal fasting should ever cause anyone else extra work or take us away from our duty and state in life. IF that occurs, then its not a good thing. Fasting should be responsible.

 

[thistle]

It’s the day before Ash Wednesday and again my husband and I are having the yearly argument. When the church states that Ash Wednesday is a day of fast, except for those outside of the age limits, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with medical conditions, what medical conditions are exempt from fasting? My husband and I both agree that to not fast is a sin, but we disagree on the medical conditions (and our pastor is not helpful, he just says if it’s hazardous for your health, don’t fast).

Specifically, if you get a migraine headache (one that includes the pain and the ocular effects, as well as photo and phono phobias) every time you fast, is that considered hazardous enough to not be sinful to avoid fasting? Is a migraine a serious enough condition?

*Please note that I am not asking for medical advice, but advice on avoiding sin. *

I really think common sense is called for. The Church does not and will not have a list of medical complaints that let you off fasting.

 

[sallybutler]

An Ash Wednesday Fast does not mean abstain from all food. Hope this helps for Good Friday and next year.

This is from EWTN ( ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm )

Fasting The law of fasting requires a Catholic from the 18th Birthday [Canon 97] to the 59th Birthday * to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Such fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The fast is broken by eating between meals and by drinks which could be considered food (milk shakes, but not milk). Alcoholic beverages do not break the fast; however, they seem contrary to the spirit of doing penance.*

 

[Lorelei12]

It’s the day before Ash Wednesday and again my husband and I are having the yearly argument. When the church states that Ash Wednesday is a day of fast, except for those outside of the age limits, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with medical conditions, what medical conditions are exempt from fasting? My husband and I both agree that to not fast is a sin, but we disagree on the medical conditions (and our pastor is not helpful, he just says if it’s hazardous for your health, don’t fast).

Specifically, if you get a migraine headache (one that includes the pain and the ocular effects, as well as photo and phono phobias) every time you fast, is that considered hazardous enough to not be sinful to avoid fasting? Is a migraine a serious enough condition?

*Please note that I am not asking for medical advice, but advice on avoiding sin. *

As someone who suffers from frequent severe migraines myself, I would absolutely consider it a serious enough condition to avoid fasting. Fasting is not one of my triggers, but if it were I would certainly not be fasting. Migraine is a debilitating neurological condition, and there is no sense in potentially being knocked out for a day or more, confined to bed in a dark room with stabbing pain. Especially if you have a job and/or children to care for. If a health condition is bad enough that the consequences of not eating seriously affect your responsibilities, rather than causing a bit of hunger, I think that’s a bad enough health condition.

 

[on_the_hill]

I don’t think it’s a sin if you don’t fast.

The fasting is a sign that you’re being appropriately mindful of the significance of Lent. But I don’t think it’s a sin if you don’t do it.

Is it?

 

[sallybutler]

As someone who suffers from frequent severe migraines myself, I would absolutely consider it a serious enough condition to avoid fasting. Fasting is not one of my triggers, but if it were I would certainly not be fasting. Migraine is a debilitating neurological condition, and there is no sense in potentially being knocked out for a day or more, confined to bed in a dark room with stabbing pain. Especially if you have a job and/or children to care for. If a health condition is bad enough that the consequences of not eating seriously affect your responsibilities, rather than causing a bit of hunger, I think that’s a bad enough health condition.

Thank goodness lack of food isn’t one of my triggers either (bright lights, chocolate, dry air, lots of others).

However, lack of food will cause me to faint. As a result, I was not required to keep the fast from midnight until Communion back when that was the rule. I didn’t have to eat a full meal, but I did need something (toast w/jelly was usually enough). I suspect the priest got tired of me fainting in church