Types of fasts

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Fast from anything. I’ve even fasted from inaction – for example, resolve to read at least one chapter a day of a gospel was a lenten “fast” for me once.

The trick is to exercise denial of something that helps you detach and know that your life and souls does not depend on it.

Alan
 
I think Alan has the right idea. You can fast from anything that tempts you to sin, such as gambling, shopping, bad language, gossip etc.

Or you can fast from something “you can’t live without” such as your daily martini or chocolate bar.

Or you can fast from something good that is pleasurable, which you give up in solidarity for those who have little or who don’t even have the basic daily needs (this is being poor in spirit).

You can fast by tithing - give 10 percent of your grocery bill to the food bank, or you clothing budget to purchase new clothing for a good charity.

Or you can fast from food in traditional ways - the Lenten fast is one regular meal a day, with the other two meals together being less than one full meal. Or you do a bread and water fast on Friday, the day of the Lord’s passion. Or you can abstain from meat or other luxury foods. We never fast on Sunday because “we do not fast while the Bridegroom is present.”

I would not undertake a fast from food or drink if you are pregnant, diabetic or have another medical condition, without your doctor’s permission. For such a person, obeying one’s medical diet can also be a fast if offered up to Jesus.
 
One time a friend and I fasted from conversation with each other. We had fallen into the habit of gossip. It was hard not to talk to my friend. We were trying to both break a habit and to make reparation for gossiping. We went from daily conversation to none for two weeks. We would pray together and then our prayer intentions got gossipy “pray for poor Luann who is cheating on her husband. Make sure she repents and doesn’t go that cruise with her boyfriend…”

I’ve also fasted from buying clothes. I buy them second hand, so money is not really a problem. I like to shop for stress relief.

I’ve fasted from nagging my hubby and yelling at the kids. That was hard. Once I tried to fast from offering opinions (before I got this forum, obviously). I should do that one again.
 
JMJ Theresa:
. We would pray together and then our prayer intentions got gossipy “pray for poor Luann who is cheating on her husband. Make sure she repents and doesn’t go that cruise with her boyfriend…”
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this is a great one. in former parish at daily Mass people were encouraged to speak up about intentions at the prayer of the faithful, and this type of prayer was common, even naming names. thankfully new priest put a stop to it, and we started just reading intentions from a book.
 
Fast on bread and water - Fridays. And as you get into it incl/ Mon and Wed - Over time. Check with your spirtual director / confessor though.

Obedience is greater than sacrifice.
 
In the Coptic Orthodox Church, when one says fasting, it is usual refering to obstaining from any animal/meat products. So that means no dairy and no meat–similar to a vegan diet.

Yet, as many of you have mentioned, you can fast from nearly anything that you think leaving out, would somehow be beneficial to your spiritual life and growth.

Of course the monks who lived in the desert were in a constant state of fasting living on bread and water alone.

God Bless,
Elizabeth
 
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