A Third Sunday of Lent Thought to Start the Week Off Right
We've spent a little time talking about fasting these recent Sundays as we entered and began moving through Lent. While we're called to give extra time and effort to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, you've likely noticed that, for some reason, fasting has gotten short shrift in recent decades. You rarely hear a priest or bishop talk about it; and if they do, it's not in the same serious spirit as we Catholics once exhibited.
While I've sensed a renewed interest in this venerable practice by some of us in the Latin Rite, our brethren in the Eastern Rites (and our separated brethren in the Orthodox Church) don't pull any punches. They continue to take fasting seriously. You can look up the specifics, but be prepared for a bit of a shock. You might find something approaching the intensity of the fasting discipline in our Latin Rite if you research the matter back in the 19th century, but it's likely none of us has attempted the kind of fast called for by our Eastern brethren.
Then again, even for our Eastern Rite and Orthodox brethren, there has always been the understanding that fasting consists of more than giving up this or that treat, denying ourselves normal meals, even abstaining altogether from food and drink. This from an Orthodox Christian website:
So where does that leave us? Well, we who have initiated - and ideally persisted in - some fasting discipline might widen our efforts. As should be clear, you don't need to go from deprivation of some food or drink to outright starvation. Besides, imposing something too severe on oneself can serve as a source of pride, and pretty much defeat the purpose of fasting in the first place. But if the spirit moves you, the above suggestions make your Lenten fasting richer. You'll be tempering both body and soul.
As for those of us who really haven't put much thought or effort into our Lenten fast, perhaps all this serves as a bit of encouragement to get on with it: There's still time. Don't think about what you haven't done; just do something now.
And whatever you're doing, or decide to do, we leave you with some solid practical advice about fasting and mortification from Fr. John F. Murphy:
While I've sensed a renewed interest in this venerable practice by some of us in the Latin Rite, our brethren in the Eastern Rites (and our separated brethren in the Orthodox Church) don't pull any punches. They continue to take fasting seriously. You can look up the specifics, but be prepared for a bit of a shock. You might find something approaching the intensity of the fasting discipline in our Latin Rite if you research the matter back in the 19th century, but it's likely none of us has attempted the kind of fast called for by our Eastern brethren.
Then again, even for our Eastern Rite and Orthodox brethren, there has always been the understanding that fasting consists of more than giving up this or that treat, denying ourselves normal meals, even abstaining altogether from food and drink. This from an Orthodox Christian website:
"Fasting is more than not eating food. Saint John Chrysostom teaches that it is more important to fast from sin. For example, besides controlling what goes into our mouths, we must control what comes out of our mouths as well. Are our words pleasing to God, or do we curse God or our brother?Here's a more specific suggestion about fasting from St. Francis de Sales regarding the importance of controlling our thoughts:
The other members of the body also need to fast: our eyes from seeing evil, our ears from hearing evil, our limbs from participating in anything that is not of God. Most important of all, we need to control our thoughts, for thoughts are the source of our actions, whether good or evil."
"...in respect to curiosity. What a deal of time is lost, to say nothing else, in this day by curiosity, about things which in no ways concern us. I am not speaking against interest in the news of the day altogether, for the course of the world must ever be interesting to a Christian from its bearing upon the fortunes of the Church, but I speak of vain curiosity, love of scandal, love of idle tales, curious prying into the private history of people, curiosity about trials and offences, and personal matters, nay often what is much worse than this, curiosity into sin. … Hence this is the way in which we are called upon, with this Lent we now begin, to mortify ourselves. Let us mortify our curiosity."As you can see, there's more to fasting during Lent than might meet the eye. So don't get hung up on just the food and drink part of it. Indeed, St. Francis de Sales comment about curiosity, written in the 16th century, could easily apply to so many of us today who are hooked into digital media and entertainment "news," don't you think?
So where does that leave us? Well, we who have initiated - and ideally persisted in - some fasting discipline might widen our efforts. As should be clear, you don't need to go from deprivation of some food or drink to outright starvation. Besides, imposing something too severe on oneself can serve as a source of pride, and pretty much defeat the purpose of fasting in the first place. But if the spirit moves you, the above suggestions make your Lenten fasting richer. You'll be tempering both body and soul.
As for those of us who really haven't put much thought or effort into our Lenten fast, perhaps all this serves as a bit of encouragement to get on with it: There's still time. Don't think about what you haven't done; just do something now.
And whatever you're doing, or decide to do, we leave you with some solid practical advice about fasting and mortification from Fr. John F. Murphy:
“…St. Thomas summarized the spiritual benefits of fasting in three statements. He reminds us that it subdues the desires of the flesh, it disposes the mind for the contemplation of spiritual truths and prayer, and it makes satisfaction for sin. These are the spiritual purposes of fasting…merely to reduce food consumption as such is a morally indifferent act. Circumstances and motives make it good or bad. If from vanity one drastically reduces his meals to the point of injuring his health, he is hardly practicing virtue. And even when we regulate our appetite wisely in regard to ourselves we must have a special regard for those with whom we live. It is not fair to lay down a menu for the whole household to suit our own penances, and it is certainly not virtue to push away the pudding only to be cantankerous until the next meal.”A blessed Lent to all!
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,
Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou Hast Redeemed the world.
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