Posted on 02/10/2007 5:05:11 AM PST by Kolokotronis
Lent: A Time to Fast From Media and Criticism Says President of Pontifical Liturgical Institute
Read Isaiah 58
"This is the fasting that I wish....."
Time sure flies when you're havin' fun...
I'm preparing for Great Fast even now, if only in terms of what I purchase at the grocery store. Lots of fish, obviousy. Does "dairy" include eggs? I can't eat bread, so if it does, it's going to mean fish, broccoli/carrots, etc. and more fish. Good thing I live in salmon country...
Suffice it to say that some of us might be called to do that "little bit extra" for the sake of our souls and for the needs of those who ask our prayers. 40 days is not insurmountable, and "fasting" in the religious sense, obviously, does NOT mean starving. It simply refers to forgoing certain treats and enjoyable things for a period of time for the sake of our souls. "Offer it up" will be observed with frequency and obedience, perhaps even with joy. Obviously. (a little pedantry there for any visitors here who might think we are all preparing to starve ourselves for the next month and a half.)
Ya but I'm not trying to be more Moses-like. I'm trying to be more Invincibly Ignorant like. :-)
I have considered adopting it, but I can't quite figure out how to get that to work with PT and marathon training. How do Catholic and Orthodox athletes do it?
"How do Catholic and Orthodox athletes do it?"
Lots of protein, which you can get from beans; lentils are great as are black beans and of course from fish. My oldest is a real jock, and he actually says he's in better shape during the fast than during the rest of the year.
No ... you are absolutely right. Long is fine ... there is just too much wisdom to absorb at one reading. I'm bookmarking it and will link to it on the Lenten threads.
Another reason for the decline in fasting among Orthodox is the argument, commonly advanced in our times, that the traditional rules are no longer possible today. These rules presuppose, so it is urged, a closely organized, non-pluralistic Christian society, following an agricultural way of life that is now increasingly a thing of the past. There is a measure of truth in this. But it needs also to be said that fasting, as traditionally practiced in the Church, has always been difficult and has always involved hardship. Many of our contemporaries are willing to fast for reasons of health or beauty, in order to lose weight; cannot we Christians do as much for the sake of the heavenly Kingdom? Why should the self-denial gladly accepted by previous generations of Orthodox prove such an intolerable burden to their successors today?
Excellent point!! "I'll fast (diet) for beauty's sake but not for God".
Another factor that has contributed significantly to the decline in fasting, is the 'boob tube'. 24 hours of relentless advertising, addressed to all the senses. How can someone in contemporary society approach fast and abstinence when they are being fed a constant stream of recipes, new food products, kitchen gadgets, and that doesn't even touch on restaurants looking to lure in new customers. Before tv, fasting was a community affair. To truly approach Lent with mind, soul and body, turn off the tv and devote that time to prayer or charitable works of mercy. These take us away from the sources of temptation and keep our minds focused on God.
Dairy includes eggs, unfortunately. But R, fast under the guidance of your spiritual father and in accrodance with your own physical situation. Making yourself ill is contrary to God's creation of us in His image.
Vegetables are good for you and as an Alaskan you know all about shellfish and fin fish. The net is filled with great recipes for the Fast.
Thanks, Kolo. It will narrow the choices, but won't be insurmountable. I had a feeling they were included, so I have begun to use up what eggs I had on hand so they wouldn't be taking up space in the fridge for the duration. Yes, salmon recipes are abundant, so I don't think I'm going to be starving.
"so I have begun to use up what eggs I had on hand so they wouldn't be taking up space in the fridge for the duration."
Pancake time!
I have considered adopting it, but I can't quite figure out how to get that to work with PT and marathon training
You can try several things. As in physical training, you should also pace yourself in spiritual training. Catholics give up meat on Fridays (this is not mandatory anymore, but still "suggested"). You could try something like this on days you don't train. Give up a particular food that you enjoy and eat something else that is more healthy.
And of course, food is not the only thing we can "fast" from. How about television? One could cut back on that as well. I find that the Lenten experience is a good means of developing one's willpower. If we can't give up meat one day a week, how are we going to resist the temptations that we come across all the time?
Regards
Pshaw! It's waffle time!
And then, just before we explode, Holy Mother Church says, "Hey, fatties, look at yourselves. Come on...Is that a Temple for your soul or an amusement park for Satan? Push yourselves away from the table, present yourself for ashes, grab your rosary, hit your knees,scatter alms, and let's rebuild your Temple and revivify your soul. Soon, Easter,the Feast of all Feasts, will be upon us and we must be ready..."
I have found that practicing the fasting and praying example given us by Christ has gone a long way towards breaking my cycles of repetitive sins.
I was under the impression that fasting did NOT mean the total abstinence from food. Doesn't it say in the Gospel that there was some man who fasted several times in one day?
I thought it may mean doing with less and skipping one or two meals.
"Before tv, fasting was a community affair. To truly approach Lent with mind, soul and body, turn off the tv and devote that time to prayer or charitable works of mercy. These take us away from the sources of temptation and keep our minds focused on God."
TV certainly doesn't make living a Christian life any easier, does it? Fasting, as I am sure you have found in your Maronite parish, is still a community affair for some of us. Last night we had our last parish supper with meat. At vespers tonight we begin "cheesfare" week, which is the first week of a partial fast for Great Lent...no meat. The real fast starts at vespers next Sunday. Everyone in the parish is talking about the upcoming fast, exchanging recipes, what we will serve at the parish suppers for fast food that the Catholics will eat (the Protestants generally stay away from the suppers during Great Lent...the word got out that there's no souvlakia, moussaka, pastichio or egg based desserts!). Today people were giving out urls for Lenten recipe sites on the web!
It is easier to do the fast in a community. For those of us "in the world", it would be very, very hard to do it alone. But as part of the Eucharistic community of The Church, a community in which we spend substantially more time during Great Lent than the rest of the year, its actually a time we all look forward to.
"I was under the impression that fasting did NOT mean the total abstinence from food"
When we speak of fasting, we mean abstaining from certain foods, not stopping eating totally, and pushing back from the table just a bit hungry still.
"I have found that practicing the fasting and praying example given us by Christ has gone a long way towards breaking my cycles of repetitive sins."
Repetitive sin is a sort of pride on the one hand and selfishness on the other. In both instances it comes from focusing on our own desires and pleasures rather than on Christ. It feeds on itself and grows larger and larger, more and more destructive. Prayer and fasting teach us to die a bit to the self so that our own selfish "fulfillment" fades somewhat, changing focus of the eye of the soul to Christ.
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