Please tell me more about fasting

[Duke12VonFalkenburg]

Is fasting simply refusing to eat for a day? Is there more to it? How do you fast and why is fasting so important?

 

[TheLastSecondMan]

Fasting helps us to detach ourselves from material pleasures and focus on God.

 

[MNathaniel]

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[Vico]

Is fasting simply refusing to eat for a day? Is there more to it? How do you fast and why is fasting so important?

Fast and abstinence are to bridle the passions, and are penitential in nature. Fasting denotes abstinence from food, and as such is an act of temperance.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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.”

1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."72 Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."73 In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."74

To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).75

 

[drac16]

Fasting is a tremendous gift from God. When you fast, you are engaging in worship throughout the whole day because you are doing it for Him. It’s much easier to combat sexual temptation when I fast, so that alone makes it awesome. You can fast from almost anything; anger, watching TV, video games, coffee, tea, a meal, pop, etc. I believe that christians should fast, but in the New Testament, God never commanded us to fast, so I won’t be legalistic about it.

Don’t do it to try to get applause from men. Do it only if you are seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord.

 

[drac16]

Our Lord did say “when you fast,” not “if you fast.”
[/quote]

Yeah, but I don’t see that as a command. He is predicting that His people will fast, but He is not making us do it.

 

[lelinator]

As someone who I’m sure has fasted more than anyone else here…in my opinion, other than as a personal act of penance…I don’t think that fasting has any spiritual benefits at all that can’t be gained without it.

 

[Servant31]

Well Jesus did say that some evil spirits can only be removed by prayer and fasting.

 

[babochka]

One full meal plus two smaller meals that when added together don’t equal one full meal.
[/quote]

This is the minimum set by the Church, but one can go well beyond this and many do. This is what is permitted on prescribed days of fast. If one chooses to eat less, that is laudable.