Types of Fasts

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St_Aloysius

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I need some help. What kind of partial fast can I do?

I want to pick up a practice I lost a while back of fasting on Fridays (I’ve decided to go by the Jewish system of days and fast from sunset Thursday to sunset Friday.)

My friend’s church did a “Daniel’s Fast” (no meats, sweets, or dairy) for a month or so, and I was impressed to be honest. What other kind of partial fast can one do?
 
I don’t eat much meat ever, so fasting has never been a problem for me.

Why not pick a certain food or drink that you are VERY fond of and abstain from it for a certain length of time. A friend of mine did that with tea - she loves tea and it was a real penance for her to give it up.
 
St_Aloysius said:
I need some help. What kind of partial fast can I do?

I want to pick up a practice I lost a while back of fasting on Fridays (I’ve decided to go by the Jewish system of days and fast from sunset Thursday to sunset Friday.)

?
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I would just stick with the ordinary prayer and penitential practices endorsed by 2000 years of Christian spirituality. If you want to follow the practices of another religion, I can’t advise you.
 
St_Aloysius,

Did you have an intention for which the fast will be offered? There might be several motives, but to fast just to ‘feel holy’ is not one of them.
  • For specific urgent situations to deliver oneself or others from evil
  • To gain help for souls in purgatory
  • To discipline our appetite which is always prone to pleasure from the sense of taste
The early Christians fasted Wednesday and Friday as a discipline. In the unity of the Body of Christ, this may have been the source of many conversions to Christ in the new “Way” from Judaism and paganism … another good motive.
 
One penance that is really good is to mortify your imagination. don’t let your mind wander off into whirlwinds of fantasy.👍
 
I had my grandchildren for dinner yesterday.(Friday) and none of them will yet eat fish (too little) and I didn’t have all the ingredients to make my mac and cheese so we had meat. But I abstained the first part of the day, and also would not allow myself any sweets (I love them dearly) nor eat between meals (I love to snack as well) I guess it was a sort of “mini fast.” But lent is coming:) and I have been contemplating on Fridays and maybe Wednesdays going on a bread fast. I have read that the “Ezekiel” bread is recommended. Anyone know where to buy something like this? There are recipes online that are readily available, but I really don’t want to try making it.:confused: Anyone have any suggestions for that as well?
 
Did you have an intention for which the fast will be offered? There might be several motives, but to fast just to ‘feel holy’ is not one of them
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Ha, ha. Well, “feeling holy” isn’t what I had in mind. I want to cultivate the Virtue of Temperance.

I see my life as being for others, to be honest. I want to pray and intercede for others and to help others whenever I can–but when constantly indulging in the things of this world, needless to say, it’s hard to live a life aimed at service. It’s hard to be Christ’s rep.

I have a tough time with moderation as it is…and something as simple as a regular fast I know would help me immensely: it would permeate all aspects of my life slowly but surely.

That’s my goal. Anyway:

Any more fasting suggestions? (I’m already a vegetarian, so “no meat” doesn’t cut it. lol)
 
A fast that I regularly observe… is connected to the “Sabbatine Privilege” (Brown Scapular Devotion).

One of the conditions given by Our Blessed Mother, to St. Simon Stock… in the practice of this devotion… was to observe the fasts of the Church (Ash Wednesday & Good Friday)… together with abstaining from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

I have recently discovered, through EWTN… that abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year… (not just Lent) is still recommended (but can be dispensed with, if another Work of Mercy is substituted). So, I’ve started to omit meat again on Fridays, too.

Hope this is of some help. God bless. 🙂
 
Teelynn said:
I and I have been contemplating on Fridays and maybe Wednesdays going on a bread fast. I have read that the “Ezekiel” bread is recommended. Anyone know where to buy something like this? ?
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try the freezer section of your chain grocery store, or natural foods store. it is bread made from sprouted grains and better than ordinary bread for a number of reasons.
 
Teelynn said:
I had my grandchildren for dinner yesterday.(Friday) and none of them will yet eat fish (too little) and I didn’t have all the ingredients to make my mac and cheese so we had meat. But I abstained the first part of the day, and also would not allow myself any sweets (I love them dearly) nor eat between meals (I love to snack as well) I guess it was a sort of “mini fast.” But lent is coming:) and I have been contemplating on Fridays and maybe Wednesdays going on a bread fast. I have read that the “Ezekiel” bread is recommended. Anyone know where to buy something like this? There are recipes online that are readily available, but I really don’t want to try making it.:confused: Anyone have any suggestions for that as well?
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You should be able to find Ezekiel bread in the freezer section and you should keep it in the fridge at home.

I prefer it toasted - it’s delicious toasted!!
 
Thanks so much Puzzleannie and Little Mary! I will look. I would almost be afraid to attempt to make it!:eek: Thanks for the info.
 
In the past, I’ve fasted from things that tempt me to sin or that help me grow past a spiritual weakness.

From

talking more than 2 min. on the telephone
reading novels
talking about myself
buying clothes or books
giving my opinion
yelling (I break this one alot–six kids 😉 )
surfing internet/message boards
complaining
nagging
sleeping (sticking to a certain bed/wake time)
eating foods I don’t care for like oatmeal :eek:

I am probably revealing more of myself that my vanity cares for. :o
 
I think a frequent examination of conscience and regular reception of the sacrament of penance will help us discern where God would have us fast, and that will not always mean fasting from food.

Jesus talks about cutting off our arm or plucking out our eye if they are an occasion of sin for us. I went to confession yesterday after prayer revealed one of my occasions of sin. When we make the Act of Contrition, we resolve to AVOID these. If we are truly sorry, we will do our best to keep that resolve and seek to adopt an opposite virtue.

I liked Leonie’s examples, for they show that she really has a grip on what true fasting means.
 
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