fasting

[XVII]

just some odd questions...but

while fasting, not eating any foods while in prayer

such drinks as milk, apple juice, orange juice, even pop...

how would that work with fasting?

 

[greymooncrest]

I guess it would depend upon the purpose of the fast, and how long you intend on fasting.

A Total Fast - No Food or Drink - for a few days, but no longer than 72 hrs
Fasting with Drink - Usually Water, but maybe a squeeze of Lemon for the vitamins to preserve strength.
A Fast to Deny Self - can be anything, that you take regularly, but deny yourself for the duration - Food, Habits, Media (music, TV, etc..), Activities (speaking, sex, etc..)

Fasting is good for the Soul, it opens you to Spiritual things, but the manner is usually dictated by the Spirit.

At least this has been my experience.

 

[Svt4Him]

Usually all fasts are to deny self. If I was to stop eating liver, I wouldn't really be denying myself, and it kind of loses something.

 

[XVII]

i am fasting for more knowledge and insight as to what God wants me to do with the ministry...prayer...a lot of it...so would drinks like apple juice, orange juice, milk, etc., be ok? also...what about gum chewing?

 

[Svt4Him]

i am fasting for more knowledge and insight as to what God wants me to do with the ministry...prayer...a lot of it...so would drinks like apple juice, orange juice, milk, etc., be ok? also...what about gum chewing?

Please, as you usually get bad breath. Well, not you specifically, just when you're fasting.

 

[Photini]

Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works.
If you see a poor man, take pity on him.
If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him.
Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies.
Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice.
Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin.
Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful.
Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip.
Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism.
For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers?
May HE who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility, have mercy on us and save us

One of my favorite thoughts on fasting...from St. John Chrysostom.

During the stricter fasts in the Orthodox Church, we generally abstain from all meat, dairy, alcohol and oil.

 

[Lizquests]

I like that quote that you got Photini. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[cindylou]

Fasting as explained by the Catholic Church: for ages 14-60 One average size meal per day including a drink. (We should feel hungry but not starve ourselves)
Abstaining would be to not eat a particular food such as red meat or potatoes.
Fasting and Abstenance would be one meal a day without meat.
This is often done in preparation for something. We usually F and A on Ash Wednesday and Lent and simply Abstain on Fridays. Most usually pray a lot more or read more scripture.
HOpe that helps

 

[Oblio]

Ascetic: Reflections on the Way of Self-Sacrifice (with thnks to Photini for posting this on OBOB)

The Orthodox Church has been fasting since our Lord comanded such. A synopsis of how and when we fast can be found in Fasting & Fast-Free Seasons of the Church
though I must warn you, we are in a feast season right now to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord in the Flesh and will not fast until the eve of the Theophany (Baptism of Christ)

 

[aanjt]

I'm Episcopalian, and before Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, my priest reminds us:

Remember, Ash Wednesday/Good Friday is a fast day [complete fast]. This is a day of obligation. Drinking water is okay. If you are pregnant, nursing or taking medication that requires food intake, please do not observe the fast. Young children do not need to fast.

Most people I work with are Roman Catholics, so they do get to eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If they ask me to go with them to lunch, I decline. If they ask what I am eating, I say nothing. If they ask why, I remind them that we [my parish, at least] does a complete fast. I know that my priest does not say it is an obligation but encourage to also give something up for Lent. He does say that during Lent, people do fast on the 2 days and give something up for Lent and give up meat on Wednesdays and Fridays but that there are those who only do the fast, or a fast and one of the other 2, but not all three. I try and keep all three. I do fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, though.

Yours in Christ,
Jen

 

[geocajun]

Catholics observe an obligatory Fast and Abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting in the Catholic Church means that one can eat only 1 meal.
Abstinence means that we do not eat meat.

Jen, the Catholics you work with may not realize this obligation, but what I stated above is authentic Catholic teaching.

Below are the Canon laws on the subject:

Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Can. 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

 

[aanjt]

Catholics observe an obligatory Fast and Abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting in the Catholic Church means that one can eat only 1 meal.
Abstinence means that we do not eat meat.

Jen, the Catholics you work with may not realize this obligation, but what I stated above is authentic Catholic teaching.

[/i]

Or, it could be that lunch is their 1 meal for the day. I know that the Roman Catholics at my work do not eat meat, except for fish, on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent.

Yours in Christ,
Jen

 

[geocajun]

True, that could be it

 

[cindylou]

When I worked outside the home, I generally at my 1 meal at lunchtime. Most Catholics do this during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We are not required to "eat nothing", but one average size meal. Even though it is no longer obligatory on Friday's outside of Lent, my family and I still abstain from meat on Fridays....usually we have fish or vegetarian pizza.

 

[geocajun]

When I worked outside the home, I generally at my 1 meal at lunchtime. Most Catholics do this during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We are not required to "eat nothing", but one average size meal. Even though it is no longer obligatory on Friday's outside of Lent, my family and I still abstain from meat on Fridays....usually we have fish or vegetarian pizza.

Cindy, same here, I abstain from meat every Friday. Usually cheese pizza for me

 

[XVII]

...would there be any non-liturgical viewpoints and beliefs upon fasting now?