Catholics or Orthodox Only: Can You Advise On Making a Four Day Fast?

[joymercy]

Do you know how to fast for four days and what to pray or study during this time?

Anyone ever do this amount of fasting?

EDIT TO ADD:

I have my priests permission to do this for medical reasons.

I am asking YOU what you have ever experienced before with this kind of fasting, and what kinds of help did it provide for you spititually?

 

[prodromos]

Do you know how to fast for four days and what to pray or study during this time?

Anyone ever do this amount of fasting?

Is there a purpose for this fast or is it just for the sake of fasting?

I would suggest you discuss this with your priest.

 

[joymercy]

My priest recommends reading St John Climacus or rather, St John of the Ladder.

Wow, I never heard of him before and I just did a google and he seems really amazing!

I am now going to have to try and find anything to read about him and his writings as I have nothing at home right now, and I need to start fasting tomorrow.

Anyone know of his works online in pdf or voice?

 

[RileyG]

I have not. I have had issues with my blood sugars because of not eating in the morning.

Will you fast on water and bread?

 

[joymercy]

I have not. I have had issues with my blood sugars because of not eating in the morning.

Will you fast on water and bread?

No bread or solids, just beverages like water, coffee, tea, soda, maybe protein drink, but no solids

I think its doable, and my priest has recommended that I read St John of Climacus or the Ladder during the next four days.

by any chance do you know of this work being available on audio books or online PDF?

Have you ever read it @RileyG? Or @fide or @boughtwithaprice ?

I think its about ascending the ladder to heaven, and achieving perfection in ones life

Maybe @AlexB23 could help.

 

[RileyG]

No bread or solids, just beverages like water, coffee, tea, soda, maybe protein drink, but no solids

I think its doable, and my priest has recommended that I read St John of Climacus or the Ladder during the next four days.

by any chance do you know of this work being available on audio books or online PDF?

Have you ever read it @RileyG?

I think its about ascending the ladder to heaven, and achieving perfection in ones life

Maybe @AlexB23 could help.

No. I have not read it. But I'm interested.

My To-Be-Read pile is very, very long.

I wish I had more time on my hands.

 

[Offline4Better.]

No bread or solids, just beverages like water, coffee, tea, soda, maybe protein drink, but no solids

I think its doable, and my priest has recommended that I read St John of Climacus or the Ladder during the next four days.

by any chance do you know of this work being available on audio books or online PDF?

Have you ever read it @RileyG? Or @fide or @boughtwithaprice ?

I think its about ascending the ladder to heaven, and achieving perfection in ones life

Maybe @AlexB23 could help.

Here you go, brother:

St. John Climacus - THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT - Translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore (Harper & Brothers, 1959):

https://www.prudencetrue.com/images/TheLadderofDivineAscent.pdf

 

[RileyG]

Wait! I own the book! I haven't read it yet!

Silly me! It's on my (very cluttered/full) nightstand

 

[joymercy]

St. John Climacus - THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT

Thanks Alex. My computer wont allow me to go to the website as it warns me its not a safe website.

I looked around and found this on youtube for now:

 

[prodromos]

No bread or solids, just beverages like water, coffee, tea, soda, maybe protein drink, but no solids

I think its doable, and my priest has recommended that I read St John of Climacus or the Ladder during the next four days.

by any chance do you know of this work being available on audio books or online PDF?

Have you ever read it @RileyG? Or @fide or @boughtwithaprice ?

I think its about ascending the ladder to heaven, and achieving perfection in ones life

Maybe @AlexB23 could help.

As long as you drink water, you will be fine, assuming you don't have any health issues. Interestingly enough, the human body can go 40 days without food before it causes harm, but it needs to be done with medical supervision. The 3rd day is the hardest, but after that the body's chemistry alters and cells enter a defense mode.

 

[joymercy]

As long as you drink water, you will be fine, assuming you don't have any health issues. Interestingly enough, the human body can go 40 days without food before it causes harm, but it needs to be done with medical supervision. The 3rd day is the hardest, but after that the body's chemistry alters and cells enter a defense mode.

Thank you. this looks interesting. I will watch it. Meanwhile, have you ever fasted and what was your experience on it?

Tonight I am burning an exorcised candle and have listened to the divine office evening prayer.....

will be pushing plenty of fluids and electrolytes

 

[joymercy]

I found out that the book is able to be read here:

The ladder of divine ascent : John, Climacus, Saint, active 6th century, author : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

i signed up for a free online account with Internet Archive. Everything seems fine at this site.

Pretty nice to read this on this free online reader as posted with the link above. Here is a screen shot:

 

[Offline4Better.]

Thanks Alex. My computer wont allow me to go to the website as it warns me its not a safe website.

I looked around and found this on youtube for now:

You are welcome. The website is safe, cos I double checked. But, for your safety, I recommend that you do what you feel is right.

 

[prodromos]

Meanwhile, have you ever fasted and what was your experience on it?

I haven't done such a fast except for the World Vision 40 hour Famine when I was a teenager. In the Orthodox Church we have regular fasting where we abstain from oil, alcohol, meat and dairy. Basically a little over half the year is spent in such fasting, which doesn't include fasting in preparation for Holy Communion. It is important that fasting goes hand in hand with prayer and almsgiving otherwise it is simply a diet.

 

[Solo81]

The Church used recommend fasting on bread and water on Wednesday and Friday. Our Lady asks the same from Medjugorje.

4 days is a long time to go without food.

I fast 1 day at a time and I need hot drinks or I get so cold that I have to go to bed to warm up.
Others get headaches when fasting but this can be solved by having a tiny pinch of salt and sugar in a glass of water.

 

[RileyG]

I haven't done such a fast except for the World Vision 40 hour Famine when I was a teenager. In the Orthodox Church we have regular fasting where we abstain from oil, alcohol, meat and dairy. Basically a little over half the year is spent in such fasting, which doesn't include fasting in preparation for Holy Communion. It is important that fasting goes hand in hand with prayer and almsgiving otherwise it is simply a diet.

I love how some Protestants complain about how dumb it is how Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday during Lent...they literally know nothing about the Orthodox Church.

The EO looks us look weak. lol

 

[Michie]

I love how some Protestants complain about how dumb it is how Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday during Lent...they literally know nothing about the Orthodox Church.

The EO looks us look weak. lol

That’s for sure!

 

[joymercy]

Hey, just realized today on my first day of fasting, that there is a youtube channel where a priest named Father Abernathy, goes over each and every chapter of the text, The Divine Ascent, and makes it more understandable to a beginner like me.

Here is just one of the chapters for an example:

 

[joymercy]

@prodromos @RileyG anyone else, got some specific prayers for me to be praying right now during fasting?

 

[RileyG]

@prodromos @RileyG anyone else, got some specific prayers for me to be praying right now during fasting?

Divine Mercy Chaplet? The Rosary? Maybe even the Liturgy of the Hours.