Fasting
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Fasting“Besides the ordinary effect of fasting in raising the mind, subduing the flesh, confirming goodness, and obtaining a heavenly reward, it is also a great matter to be able to control greediness, and to keep the sensual appetites and the whole body subject to the law of the Spirit; and although we may be able to do but little, the enemy nevertheless stands more in awe of those whom he knows can fast.”
- St. Francis De Sales -
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Fasting-- a word we often hear associated with Lent, but often without much elaboration. So what does it mean to fast? Why is it good for us to fast? And how can we practice fasting this Lent?
The most standard way to fast in Lent is by abstaining from food (one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal) and meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We also abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent. But there is so much more to fasting!
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Fasting is a gift given to us by the Church as a penitential practice of self denial. Often we associate fasting with giving up something that is bad for us, but really the most powerful form of fasting is to sacrifice or abstain from something good as a means of offering up our desires to the Lord.
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Fasting, at its root, is a spiritual exercise. When we fast our body feels weak. We come face to face with our humanity and are humbled. When we take away what our body wants, it quiets down. Our souls become stronger and prayer becomes more powerful. It is a transformative experience and a powerful spiritual weapon that helps order our flesh and passions. Our flesh itself is not bad, but left to reign free, we will destroy ourselves by drowning in passions such as lust, drunkenness, sexual addictions, and more. Fasting is a great way to practice self-control and make progress in our spiritual lives.
“For we fast for three purposes: to restrain the desires of the flesh; to raise the mind to contemplate sublime things; to make satisfaction for our sins. These are good and noble things, and so fasting is virtuous.”
— St. Thomas Aquinas
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Simply choose one or two things to fast from or 'give up' this Lent. Remember, it doesn't have to be something bad and it is most helpful to attach a fast to a prayer of some sort.
Some helpful examples:- Fast from music on your drive to work in order to incorporate more silence and prayer in your life
- Fast from snacking, and say a Hail Mary every time you want to eat
- Fast from media as a family in efforts to spend more time together (replace a movie night with a game night!)
- Fast from snoozing and offer your first decision of getting up to the Lord (Check out this article: The Heroic Minute)
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