Eucharistic fast?

[Metanoia02]

In my effort to prepare for Lent I have been searching for a meaningful sacrafice to offer. I got a crazy notion about fasting from the Eucharist. It is what I value the most. Would it be wrong to not receive the Eucharist during Lent? I would still attend Mass of course and possible on a daily basis, but I would not receive the Eucharist during the celebration. Since we are compelled to receive at least once a year, why would it be wrong if I stopped during Lent?

Call me crazy, but I thought it would be a different way to spend the Lenten period.

 

[nyj]

You'd be willingly rejecting God's grace. I don't think that's a good idea.

 

[ukok]

i think i can understand the reasoning behind it, but wouldn't it be like rejecting Jesus' gift of Himself? (also, i'm hugely prejudiced against this idea as i pine for the Eucharist, and i can't imagine being in the position of being able to receive, and denying myself~ and ultimately Him~ perhaps i should hush now...)

 

[ps139]

I think it is an amazing thought to want to give the Eucharist up. But I agree with nyj - that is the one thing that we should never give up - it is the Lord. But I know you have such good intentions behind it.

 

[NDIrish]

I am going to try to completely fast on Fridays, instead of just giving up meat. If you ever saw me, you would know how difficult that is going to be...

 

[ukok]

I am going to try to completely fast on Fridays, instead of just giving up meat. If you ever saw me, you would know how difficult that is going to be...

me too, bro...i should go on an entire lenten fast, from food

 

[epiclesis]

why refrain from something if you have no reason to? the Eucharist is not something to "sacrifice" or "give up"... it's the BODY OF CHRIST... it's required to receive Holy Communion once a year, preferably Easter time... I guess it wouldn't be wrong... what do you think Jesus would think about you rejecting Him?

It's great you want to make a sacrifice and give something up.. but usually the intentions is to make a secular sacrifice or something to BRING you closer to God.

 

[Miss Shelby]

In my effort to prepare for Lent I have been searching for a meaningful sacrafice to offer. I got a crazy notion about fasting from the Eucharist. It is what I value the most. Would it be wrong to not receive the Eucharist during Lent? I would still attend Mass of course and possible on a daily basis, but I would not receive the Eucharist during the celebration. Since we are compelled to receive at least once a year, why would it be wrong if I stopped during Lent?

Call me crazy, but I thought it would be a different way to spend the Lenten period.

Well, on the one hand I would say you would be crazy to fast from the grace that you need to sustain you.

But on the other, you would get a pretty good picture of what people who are cut off from the Sacrament have to live through.

But if you don't have to, why would you?

Michelle

 

[Metanoia02]

I guess the purpose of not receiving would to bring greater focus to my sinfulness and deficiencies. I think it would be a purifying experience. Did not Christ who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness reject all power available to him. Though he was tempted to use his Divine faculities, he experienced His fast as a totally human way.

These just some free flowing thought I had, so cu tme some slack if I dont; make complete sense

 

[nyj]

I guess the purpose of not receiving would to bring greater focus to my sinfulness and deficiencies.

I don't think you can do that by denying yourself God's grace though. If anything, you should make the effort to receive the Eucharist more (which may involve rearranging work schedules, etc), not less. It's only by these graces that we can come to a better appreciation for all that he has done for us. If you want to place a focus on your sinfulness and deficiencies, try prostrating yourself before Jesus during Adoration.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I guess the purpose of not receiving would to bring greater focus to my sinfulness and deficiencies. I think it would be a purifying experience. Did not Christ who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness reject all power available to him. Though he was tempted to use his Divine faculities, he experienced His fast as a totally human way.

These just some free flowing thought I had, so cu tme some slack if I dont; make complete sense

Met,

I was cut off from the Sacrament for a time. It was horrible. Horrible. Because when I finally realized what it meant, I could not partake.

I do not think that you are not making sense. I would like it if someone could identify with that feeling of mine. Although it was hard for me to view it as a sacrifice, I tried. I remembered all of the years when I received in an unworthy manner, I prayed more, I reflected more.

I know where you are coming from. I was in the situation not by choice, but by bad choices I had made.

Don't know if that makes sense, but I hope it helps you some.

Michelle

 

[Metanoia02]

I was just doing some visualization of what it would be like to not recieve in my parish. Since everybody goes up regardless of thier spiritual state in my parish, I think it would almost be scadalous not to go up! It sure would create some interesting looks during coffee and donuts in the narthex after Mass.

Thanks for all your input.

 

[ukok]

Met, it is because of your love of the Lord that you desire to refrain from the greatest of all gifts...i understand that...really i do, but is there not a product, a habit, a desire, that you could refrain from that you could give up instead? I know i always focus on death ( it's true, forgive me!) but what if you were to become gravely ill (or worse) and were unable to receive the Eucharist again? Maybe that doesn't make sense...

...I was discussing St. John Vianney yesterday with the priest...and i learned from him that St. John would often barely eat, but only live on the Eucharist for large amounts of time...St. John received the grace, the spiritual food that would nurture his soul for the good of others....and as a result became a huge inspiration to many. What i'm trying to tell you is what you already know...you know better than i, what the Lord in the Eucharist can do for you, if you withdraw from Him, will this be God's will or your own?

Met, i do not want you to misunderstand the intention of this post..you know that i hold you in high regard and that i am aware that it is only your desire to walk more closely with the Lord, that leads you to consider refraining from the Eucharist.

 

[Metanoia02]

Met,

I was cut off from the Sacrament for a time. It was horrible. Horrible. Because when I finally realized what it meant, I could not partake.

I do not think that you are not making sense. I would like it if someone could identify with that feeling of mine. Although it was hard for me to view it as a sacrifice, I tried. I remembered all of the years when I received in an unworthy manner, I prayed more, I reflected more.

I know where you are coming from. I was in the situation not by choice, but by bad choices I had made.

Don't know if that makes sense, but I hope it helps you some.

Michelle

Michelle,

I do think I can identify with what you must have had to endure. I applaud you for faithfulness and perserverence while not receiveing. Since I went to confession a few weeks ago, I have been in a penetential mood lately. I can't wait to go back in two weeks. Wouldn't living off the grace that comes from the Sacrament of Reconciliation kind of be like running on back batteries?!

 

[Matrona]

Last year, I was cut off from the sacraments from the beginning of May to mid-July because of my parents. I couldn't even go to liturgy. I tried to distract myself from my grief, but it was like trying to fill a great hole in the ground by shoveling from a pile of dirt, only the dirt I've put in the hole keeps disappearing and reappearing back in the pile of dirt I'm shoveling from.

I praise God with my whole heart every time He vouchsafes for my unworthy soul to partake of His precious Body and Blood.

In short, I don't think it's a good idea. I'm sure Catholics are also encouraged to partake of the Eucharist as often as possible during Lent, and in my humble opinion that is rather wise.

 

[ej]

I agree with Michelle - that you'd be cutting yourself off from the grace which sustains you.

I can't help thinking of a cartoon character sawing a branch which he is sitting on... but that would be me, not necessarily you.

My faith is immature, and I often head in silly directions and make unwise choices. I need the Eucharist, to keep my soul sustained and my mind focussed on Christ. The times I have stayed in my pew, I've felt utterly lost.

I admire your thoughts on the matter. The greatest sacrifice is giving up that which we love and need the most.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Let me ask you this Metanoia02

Would you, during lent, fast from water? Wouldn't you die if you did that?

Woudl you fast from air? Wouldn't you die if you did that?


Then why would you fast from the life givine substance of the Eucharist?


This is something I think the enemy is enticing you with, and if after reading all these posts, your still interested in pursuing this course of action, seek religious counsel from your priest and only do it if you are directly under someone's spiritual supervision who has authority, and they say OK . . .

The purpose of Lent is not to be so focused on ourselves, our own sinfulness that we don't draw closer to God . .

The purpose of Lent is to draw CLOSER to God, not further away . .

You are not to be so focused on yourself that you reject God . ..

Yet if you stop partaking of Christ in the Eucharist, you would be doing just that . .


The purpose of a fast is to bring our bodies in subjection to our spirits . . we need to make our spirits stronger, not weaker during this time, and denying yourself the Eucharsit would be to deny your spirit the nourishment it needs . . and to make it weaker instead . . .

Peace in Him!

 

[faerieevaH]

I will try during lent to receive the Eucharist more, spend more time in adoration and prayer, and will withold myself from chocolate, crisps, all alcohol, and possibly all candy and cookies as well.
It sounds like trivial things, but being someone who loves to eat them, it's a very daily reminder.
I do not think I could.. sustain myself very well in Lent without Eucharist.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

More Adoration More Adoration

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[Benedicta00]

In my effort to prepare for Lent I have been searching for a meaningful sacrafice to offer. I got a crazy notion about fasting from the Eucharist. It is what I value the most. Would it be wrong to not receive the Eucharist during Lent? I would still attend Mass of course and possible on a daily basis, but I would not receive the Eucharist during the celebration. Since we are compelled to receive at least once a year, why would it be wrong if I stopped during Lent?

Call me crazy, but I thought it would be a different way to spend the Lenten period.

I had that notion once too and my pastor who, after daily mass asked why I didn’t receive said that it isn’t a good idea because the Eucharist is our strength and source of everything. We need Him.