FASTING
When we fast, we voluntarily deny ourselves something that is good, in order to increase self-control, create space for God, and deepen our solidarity with others.
Traditionally, fasting has involved food. By fasting from food, we develop self-control (not simply eating every time we feel hungry), we experience the deeper spiritual hunger that we have for God, we realize our total dependence on God, we experience solidarity with the poor (who often cannot eat when they are hungry), and we also save time (buying, preparing, and eating the food) and money.
Examples: no fast food, give up Dunkin’ Donuts, no snacks between meals, give up a favorite food, abstain from meat on
an additional day beyond just Fridays, fast one day each week (one full meal, two smaller snacks, no eating between meals). Make a note of the money you save by your fasting.
Additionally, in our time, there are two other important areas where we can fast: technology and purchasing. We are so exposed to technology that often we lose the capacity to quiet ourselves and be attentive to God and the needs of others in our lives. The lack of silence has a very serious effect on us spiritually. Further, technology consumes a lot of our time, often more than we are aware of.
Examples: give up TV (or some amount of TV time), give up Facebook (or limit your time to 30 minutes a day), turn your
phone off when you are with family and friends and give your full attention to them, only use the internet as needed for
work. Reflect on the ways that the time saved in this way can give you extra opportunities for prayer or service to others.
Finally, we can benefit greatly by fasting from buying new things for a period of time. Our culture pushes a consumerist mentality upon us day after day. We buy and buy and buy, often without reflecting on what we really need and often without being mindful of those who go without. Furthermore, we tend not to be grateful for the things we already have; we are always on to the next thing that we need to buy.
Examples: choose one area (or more than one) where you will make no new purchases – electronics, clothing, shoes.
Fasting flows into our prayer and almsgiving. As we experience physical hunger, we can come to know our deeper spiritual hunger and dependence upon God, which deepens and focuses our prayer. Also, the time saved preparing and eating food or watching TV, going online, or texting, can be given to prayer. And, as we come to experience solidarity with the poor, we are drawn to pray for them and ask God to send His blessings upon them.
Regarding almsgiving, in addition to the prayers we offer for the poor and needy, we can give the money saved on food and buying new things to the poor. This helps to keep our fasting from becoming a mere personal challenge (“Look what I gave up for Lent! I bet I did more than you!”). In this way, we come to understand that it is not sacrifice in itself that is valuable, but the love with which the sacrifice is made. The Church teaches this regarding Jesus’ death on the cross: “It is love ‘to the end’ that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction” (CCC 616). Likewise, by giving what we save to those in need, our fasting is an act of love.
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When we fast, we voluntarily deny ourselves something that is good, in order to increase self-control, create space for God, and deepen our solidarity with others.
Traditionally, fasting has involved food. By fasting from food, we develop self-control (not simply eating every time we feel hungry), we experience the deeper spiritual hunger that we have for God, we realize our total dependence on God, we experience solidarity with the poor (who often cannot eat when they are hungry), and we also save time (buying, preparing, and eating the food) and money.
Examples: no fast food, give up Dunkin’ Donuts, no snacks between meals, give up a favorite food, abstain from meat on
an additional day beyond just Fridays, fast one day each week (one full meal, two smaller snacks, no eating between meals). Make a note of the money you save by your fasting.
Additionally, in our time, there are two other important areas where we can fast: technology and purchasing. We are so exposed to technology that often we lose the capacity to quiet ourselves and be attentive to God and the needs of others in our lives. The lack of silence has a very serious effect on us spiritually. Further, technology consumes a lot of our time, often more than we are aware of.
Examples: give up TV (or some amount of TV time), give up Facebook (or limit your time to 30 minutes a day), turn your
phone off when you are with family and friends and give your full attention to them, only use the internet as needed for
work. Reflect on the ways that the time saved in this way can give you extra opportunities for prayer or service to others.
Finally, we can benefit greatly by fasting from buying new things for a period of time. Our culture pushes a consumerist mentality upon us day after day. We buy and buy and buy, often without reflecting on what we really need and often without being mindful of those who go without. Furthermore, we tend not to be grateful for the things we already have; we are always on to the next thing that we need to buy.
Examples: choose one area (or more than one) where you will make no new purchases – electronics, clothing, shoes.
Fasting flows into our prayer and almsgiving. As we experience physical hunger, we can come to know our deeper spiritual hunger and dependence upon God, which deepens and focuses our prayer. Also, the time saved preparing and eating food or watching TV, going online, or texting, can be given to prayer. And, as we come to experience solidarity with the poor, we are drawn to pray for them and ask God to send His blessings upon them.
Regarding almsgiving, in addition to the prayers we offer for the poor and needy, we can give the money saved on food and buying new things to the poor. This helps to keep our fasting from becoming a mere personal challenge (“Look what I gave up for Lent! I bet I did more than you!”). In this way, we come to understand that it is not sacrifice in itself that is valuable, but the love with which the sacrifice is made. The Church teaches this regarding Jesus’ death on the cross: “It is love ‘to the end’ that confers on Christ's sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction” (CCC 616). Likewise, by giving what we save to those in need, our fasting is an act of love.
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The Lenten Disciplines | |
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Additional Resources
All-in-one resource for Lent: Marcel LeJeune, of Aggie Catholics Blog, has compiled an amazing resource for Lent. He discusses the history and meaning of Lent, offers many suggestions for living the season fully, and has links to dozens of articles, videos, and other resources.
Daily Lenten Reflections from Fr. Robert Barron: Fr. Barron, writer and host of the Catholicism Series, has a free email service this lent. If you sign up, he will send a reflection to your email each day of the Lenten season.
Best Lent Ever: Matthew Kelly, internationally-renowned Catholic speaker and writer, is offering a free service (similar to Fr. Barron's). By signing up, you will receive videos and other inspirations for each week of Lent.
All-in-one resource for Lent: Marcel LeJeune, of Aggie Catholics Blog, has compiled an amazing resource for Lent. He discusses the history and meaning of Lent, offers many suggestions for living the season fully, and has links to dozens of articles, videos, and other resources.
Daily Lenten Reflections from Fr. Robert Barron: Fr. Barron, writer and host of the Catholicism Series, has a free email service this lent. If you sign up, he will send a reflection to your email each day of the Lenten season.
Best Lent Ever: Matthew Kelly, internationally-renowned Catholic speaker and writer, is offering a free service (similar to Fr. Barron's). By signing up, you will receive videos and other inspirations for each week of Lent.