May Jesus Christ Be Praised

Fasting

- Contents
- 01) Seven Reasons Why Catholics Fast
  
  1) From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
  2) For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.
  
  3) Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
  
  4) Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.
  
  5) Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—for the reception of grace.
  
  6) Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
  
  7) Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.
  
  “If there is no element of asceticism in our lives, if we give free rein to the desires of the flesh (taking care of course to keep within the limits of what seems permissible to the world), we shall find it hard to train for the service of Christ. When the flesh is satisfied it is hard to pray with cheerfulness or to devote oneself to a life of service which calls for much self-renunciation.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- 2) Ten Reasons To Fast
  
  1. Fasting was practiced in the Old Testament as a way to prepare oneself to discern and do God’s will. For example Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments and Queen Esther faster before approaching her husband the king in order to save the Jewish people from Haman’s evil plot.
  2. We know that Jesus was led into the desert and inspired by the Holy Spirit to fast in preparation to overcome the temptations the devil was going to present him.
  
  3. Finally we know that fasting from food helps us to open ourselves to God. When we empty ourselves of the desire of material goods we find it easier to focus on God.
  
  4. The Bible tells us that fasting is an excellent way to demonstrate to God that we are truly sorry for our sins for example the people of Nineveh fasted when they heard Jonah preach.
  
  5. Jesus encouraged his disciples to fast but to do so in a way that others would not know they were fasting.
  
  6. Fasting when accompanied by others builds community. There is something unifying and special knowing that other people around the world with the same faith are performing the same task.
  
  7. The saints have demonstrated that fasting can be an aid to the spiritual life as it allows our minds and bodies to join together for a single purpose of opening oneself up for God.
  
  8. Fasting is a way of showing others that something more important is coming. We may fast before a big meal because we want to be able to eat all we can for example Thanksgiving dinner. In the same way we fast before Mass so that we can proclaim to people that the Eucharist is special.
  
  9. By denying ourselves in small pleasures it will allow us to deny ourselves larger pleasures so that we may remain faithful to the Lord’s commands.
  
  10. Fasting reminds us of our obligation to help the less fortunate.