Reasons for fasting?

[JSSebastianoP]

I was thinking to post this in the “Catholic Living” Forum, but I decided that the underlying question was theological, so here goes:

So, I’m a person who is struggling with (and with GOD’S grace hopefully overcoming gluttony). As a consequence of that, I have put one some weight. Not a lot, I’m what you might call “heavy” “at risk of overweight” or “slightly overweight”. My health is relatively fine, so it’s not a health issue. But, I do, for perhaps vain reasons (such as wishing to be more pleasant-looking to the other sex), wish to shed some of that weight. So, that’s the context to the following question:

Is it moral to fast for the sole purpose (although I think it could help my faith experience) of losing weight?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Pax,

Sebastiano

 

[EmeraldWings]

there is nothing bad or immoral in fasting for the sake of losing weight, provided it’s done in a healthy manner, but with that as the sole intention, i think it might fall under “diet” rather than “fast”.
but in order to gain any merit from fasting, it would have to be done for the right intentions, such as doing it for the love of God(which should be our intention in all things), and along with that intention - for reparation for our sins and the sins of others, for the conversion of sinners or a sinner in particular, for helping you to focus more on the spiritual and grow in the virtues, etc, etc,
although if you have any good intentions along with the intention of losing weight, then it would still be meritorious and help you, but just not quite as much as it would if the intention was pure(pure meaning for the sole intention of pleasing God alone)
of course you’re only human and it’s normal to have those intentions as well, so really no worries, but you can still try and put your intention in the right place, which can be accomplished merely by praying and reading good Catholic books, especially books on the passion of Christ, and other meditation books for during lent, which you can find on these sites - www.tanbooks.com www.fraternitypublications.com

and for some free reading that i think will help you, check these out -
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=12961409
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=13047443
archive.org/stream/thecrownofsorrow00gooduoft#page/n7/mode/2up
archive.org/stream/passiondeathofje00ligu#page/n9/mode/2up
and this - www.audiosancto.org

alright i hope this helps, take care

 

[davidv]

I was thinking to post this in the “Catholic Living” Forum, but I decided that the underlying question was theological, so here goes:

So, I’m a person who is struggling with (and with GOD’S grace hopefully overcoming gluttony). As a consequence of that, I have put one some weight. Not a lot, I’m what you might call “heavy” “at risk of overweight” or “slightly overweight”. My health is relatively fine, so it’s not a health issue. But, I do, for perhaps vain reasons (such as wishing to be more pleasant-looking to the other sex), wish to shed some of that weight. So, that’s the context to the following question:

Is it moral to fast for the sole purpose (although I think it could help my faith experience) of losing weight?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Pax,

Sebastiano

I have not encountered any teaching of the Church that I could interpret as defining fasting for the purpose of weight loss as immoral. Doing it only for that purpose may eliminate its possible spiritual benefit, however.

 

[JSSebastianoP]

Thanks! I do think that in addition to just losing weight, it will help me to look at food in a different way, so I’ll see…

But thank you for the advice and the links!

Pax,

Sebastiano