Catholic Customs and Practices #1

Fasting

Mr. Pablo Cuadra

Religion Class
 What is Fasting?
• A. Fasting is a spiritual
exercise. A form of self-denial.
• B. Fasting is an expression of
penance for one’s sins.
• C. Fasting is the outward
expression of the inner
conversion and contrition
experienced by the penitent.
• D. Fasting is a church
discipline.
• E. The practice of fasting is
rooted in the Old and New
Testament.
• F. Christ taught and
commanded his disciples to
fast.
 Fasting vs. Diet
• A diet is something one
does out of medical
reasons.
• For example: To lower
one’s cholesterol.
• Fasting on the other hand
is done for spiritual
reasons.
• Fasting is the denial of
one’s wants and desires
in order to free oneself to
God wholeheartedly.
 Jewish Tradition and Fasting
• For the Hebrews fasting was
more than just afflicting one’s
body.
• Fasting involves the afflicting
of one’s soul through the
denial of our wants and
desires.
• Fasting is an spiritual exercise
in which the body as well as
the soul have equal
participation.
• Fasting is an expression of
wholeheartedness. “Yet even
now," says the Lord, "return to
me with all your heart, with
fasting." (Joel 2:12).
 Fasting is an expression of
Penance and Interior Conversion
• When you seek me with all your heart,
I will be found by you" (Jeremiah
29:13,14).

• “Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and

to confirm the resolution that we are ready
to sacrifice anything - to sacrifice ourselves
- to attain what we seek for the kingdom of
God.” Andrew Murray.
.

• “The Ninevites believed God.

They declared a fast, and all of
them, from the greatest to the
least, put on sackcloth. When
God saw what they did and how
they turned from their evil ways,
he had compassion and did not
bring upon them the destruction
he had threatened. “ Jonah 3: 5,
10
 John Paul II’s
Message for Lent (2003)
• “Our age, regrettably, is particularly susceptible to the temptation
toward selfishness which always lurks within the human heart. In
society generally, and in the media, people are bombarded by
messages which more or less openly exalt the ephemeral and the
hedonistic. Concern for others is certainly shown whenever natural
disasters, war and other emergencies strike, but in general it is
difficult to build a culture of solidarity. The spirit of the world affects
our inner propensity to give ourselves unselfishly to others and
drives us to satisfy our own particular interests. The desire to
possess ever more is encouraged. Surely it is natural and right that
people, by using their own gifts and by their own labour, should work
to obtain what they need to live, but an excessive desire for
possessions prevents human beings from being open to their
Creator and to their brothers and sisters.”

Isaiah 58 “The True Spirit of Fasting”

 Question
• How is the Pope’s message for Lent
connected with the message of the
prophet Isaiah regarding True fast?
Catholic Customs and Practices
• What is Abstinence?

• In the Latin Church,

abstinence means refraining
from eating the meat from
mammals or fowl, and soup or
gravy made from them. Fish is
allowed, hence Fridays are
known as "Fish Fridays."
Traditionally, the laws of
abstinence apply to all aged 7
and over, but the new Code of
Canon Law applies it to all who
have completed their 14th
year.
 What is Partial Abstinence?
• Partial Abstinence
• Meat and soup or
gravy made from
meat may be eaten
once a day at the
principle meal.
 The discipline of Fasting
• Fasting is the taking of only one
full meal (which may include
meat) and two smaller, meatless
meals that don't equal the large
one meal. No eating between
meals is allowed, but water, milk
tea, coffee, and juices are OK.
• Meat is allowed at one meal
(assuming abstinence isn't also
expected on a given day).
• Traditionally, everyone over 21
years of age and under 59 years
of age is bound to observe the
law of fast; but the present Code
of Canon Law sets the ages of
18 and 59 as the limits.
 When to Fast?
• Before the Eucharist (Mass):
1983 Code: nothing but water
and medicines for 1 hour.
• Fridays: 1983 Code: To
abstain is the universal law.
*Check with your local Bishops
to learn what you are bound to
in your local diocese.
• Fridays of Lent: 1983 Code:
Abstain on Fridays, even if you
don't abstain on all other
Fridays.
• Good Friday: 1983 Code:
Abstain and Fast.
• Ash Wednesday: Day of
Abstinence and Fasting.
 Lenten Regulation for the
Archdiocese of Miami
• All the Fridays of Lent are days of
abstinence. Meat may not be
eaten. The law of abstinence
binds all Catholics fourteen years
of age and older. Ash Wednesday
& Good Friday are also days of
fast. All Catholics between the
ages of 21 and 59 years old are
bound to fast. On days of fast, one
full meal and two lesser meals are
allowed.
• Eating between meals is not
permitted.
 Who are excused from the
discipline of Fasting?
• The frail
• The sick
• Those advance in age
• Pregnant or Nursing mothers
• Manual laborers (i.e.
construction workers)
• The mentally ill
• Social factors (People in areas
where there is famine or lack
of food).
 Other ways to Fast
• Fasting from Cursing
• Fasting from Gossip
• Fasting from unnecessary
shopping
• Fasting from the need for
recognition.
• Fasting from rage,
apathy, prejudice
• Fasting from injustice,
taking advantage of
others
• Fasting from
complacency
 Jesus
• “Jesus answered, "It
is written: 'Man does
not live on bread
alone, but on every
word that comes from
the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4
 Prayer
• People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine
enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight;
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten;
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway. -- Mother Teresa

For more presentations please visit:

http://www.slideshare.net/pcuadra/slideshows