This week we will be, once again, entering the Lenten season. The season of Lent is probably best known as the season of fasting or the season of “giving something up.” During Lent, the custom is to give something up as a sacrifice until Easter begins. In addition, Catholics do not eat meat on Fridays (some avoid it every day of lent) during Lent and fast from food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Our fasting should lead us to a deeper spiritual experience, a true encounter with God, an in depth understanding of ourselves and to be of help to the needy.

St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest Catholic theologians to ever live said that we fast for three reasons. 

“For we fast for three purposes: (1) to restrain the desires of the flesh; (2) to raise the mind to contemplate sublime things; (3) to make satisfaction for our sins. These are good and noble things, and so fasting is virtuous.”

— ST. THOMAS AQUINAS


St. Augustine, on the subject of fasting says,

“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.”

— ST. AUGUSTINE

Quenching the fires of lust, is a very good reason to fast and can do much good in our generations battle against pornography addiction, and sexual promiscuity.

In his Lenten message in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI said,

“Fasting represents an important ascetical practice, a spiritual arm to do battle against every possible disordered attachment to ourselves. Freely chosen detachment from the pleasure of food and other material goods helps the disciple of Christ to control the appetites of nature, weakened by original sin, whose negative effects impact the entire human person.”

— POPE BENEDICT XVI

In his apostolic constitution on penance, Painitemini, Pope Paul VI explains:

“This exercise of bodily mortification—far removed from any form of stoicism—does not imply a condemnation of the flesh which sons of God deign to assume. On the contrary, mortification aims at the “liberation” of man, who often finds himself, because of concupiscence, almost chained by his own senses. Through “corporal fasting” man regains strength and the “wound inflicted on the dignity of our nature by intemperance is cured by the medicine of a salutary abstinence.”


HOW TO FAST:

Here are some suggestions. Fasting should not put you out completely, it is more so a challenge and difficulty that allows you to focus more on God than yourself.

AVOIDING MEAT ON FRIDAY

Until recently, it has always been a practice in the Catholic Church to abstain from meat on Friday. Although this has been relaxed, many Catholics still observe the Friday fast. Start here. No meat this Friday.


GOING AN EXTRA MILE

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20)

Let’s kick it up a notch and choose a day of the week. May be Wednesday is a good day, because it is tradition in the Church to be a fasting day. (Ash Wednesday). Or a Friday is convenient.

Below are some different fasts you can try. 

  • Eat nothing but bread and water for 24 hours. 

  • Only eat dinner, skip breakfast and lunch. Water and drinks are fine.

  • Skip snacks in between meals. You don’t need that Cliff bar.

  • No sugary drinks, like soda, juices, gatorades. 

  • Skip dessert


OFFER IT UP AND FOCUS

Now that we have learned some ways we can fast, let’s look at how we can fast with a purpose. 

There may be a certain sin, demonic force, or trouble in our lives or our loved one’s lives that we are dealing with. Commit to fasting for a certain amount of time. You could choose 1 week. 1 month, 90 days….choose what you think fits best.

Fast during this time from something and offer this up to God as penance and suffering so that He may use this for good. 

In Mark chapter 9, Jesus teaches us that some demons are only cast out through prayer and fasting. Use this time to focus more on your prayer life, get in front of the blessed sacrament, and offer up your fasting to our Lord. He will reward you. 

I wish us all a fruitful, spirit-filled and meaningful Lenten season!