18 FASTING AND ABSTINENCE: NOURISHING THE SPIRITUAL HUNGER

❇️ WHAT IS IT?

FASTING AND ABSTINENCE are ancient Christian practices involving voluntary self-discipline in food consumption and abstaining from certain pleasures and likes.

These acts of penance aim to nurture spiritual growth, foster self-control, and cultivate a deeper connection with God.

🌀 HISTORY & IMPORTANCE

💡 Biblical Foundation: Fasting and abstinence find roots in the Bible.

Jesus, during His forty days in the desert, demonstrated the significance of fasting as a spiritual discipline (Matthew 4:1-11).
The Scriptures testify the importance of fasting and abstinence in various places and contexts

💡 Tradition of the Church: Early Christians adopted fasting and abstinence as a means of penance, seeking spiritual purification and closeness to God.

💡 Liturgical Seasons: The Church incorporates fasting and abstinence into Liturgical seasons especially Lent, emphasizing spiritual preparation and self-denial.

💡 Purpose and Intent: These practices are not merely about abstaining from food but are intentional acts of sacrifice, aligning the physical discipline with spiritual goals.

💡 Additional Aspects: Apart from food, fasting can also involve abstaining from entertainment, certain habits, or luxuries, fostering detachment and self-control.

💡 Cultivation of Virtues: Fasting extends beyond food, encompassing a fast from negative habits like gossip, anger, envy, and impatience. This holistic approach aids in cultivating virtues, fostering a spirit of humility and self-mastery.

💡 Prayer Intentions: Fasting gains deeper meaning when coupled with prayer intentions, offering the sacrifice for a specific purpose or person. We are called to be “intercessory warriors” along with our bodily disciplining.

📜 LEARN FROM SAINTS & CHURCH TEACHINGS

🔶 St. Augustine: “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.”

🔶 Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC): “The Church has specified certain forms of penance, both to ensure that the Catholic will do something, as required by Divine law, while making it easy for them to do so.” (CCC 2043)

🔶 Canon Law: “The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.” (Canon 1250)

🔶 Pope St. John Paul II: “Fasting is more than a physical exercise; it is a spiritual awakening.”

🔶 St. Teresa of Avila: “Our human nature often asks for more than what is needed. Fasting and abstinence help bring the body into subjection and reawaken the soul.”

🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

🔷 Spiritual Detox: Fasting and abstinence act as a spiritual detox, helping us to purify our hearts and minds from worldly distractions.

In a world that glorifies pleasure and luxury, fasting and abstinence becomes means to be a “sign of contradiction!”

🔷 Self-Discipline: These practices cultivate self-discipline, allowing us to exercise control over their desires and foster a deeper connection with God.

🔷 Identification with Christ: By voluntarily embracing self-denial, we identify with Christ’s sacrifice and His journey of self-emptying for the salvation of humanity.

🔷 Solidarity with the Needy: Through fasting, we express solidarity with those who suffer hunger, fostering empathy and generosity towards the less fortunate.

🔷 Preparation for Feast Days: Fasting before feasts enhances the joy of celebration, making the festivities spiritually significant by emphasizing the contrast between abstaining and indulging.

🔷 Cultivation of Virtues: Fasting from negative habits promotes the cultivation of virtues like patience, kindness, and humility, contributing to spiritual growth.

🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS

💠 Lenten Fasting: Embrace the Lenten season with intentional fasting and abstinence, in line with the Church’s call for spiritual renewal.

💠 Prayer and Reflection: Combine fasting with prayer and reflection, using the heightened spiritual sensitivity to draw closer to God.

💠 Supportive Community: Join a community that practices fasting, fostering a sense of communal solidarity in the spiritual journey.

Allow some financial proceeds of the sacrifice that we make, in charitably reaching out to the poor and needy

💠 Gradual Progress: Start with small, manageable fasts, gradually increasing the level of self-discipline as spiritual strength grows.

💠 Prayer Intentions: Offer your fasting and abstinence with specific prayer intentions, dedicating the sacrifice for the well-being of others or a particular cause.

💠 Virtue Development: Extend fasting to negative habits, consciously avoiding speaking ill of others, keeping away from lustful tendencies, etc and focusing on cultivating virtues instead.

💠 Educate Others: Share the spiritual benefits of fasting with fellow Catholics, encouraging a collective commitment to these practices for spiritual nourishment.

May Fasting and Abstinence be a source of spiritual nourishment, deepening our connection with God and fostering a spirit of self-discipline.

❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

• Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
  Bengaluru, India
  reflectioncapsules@gmail.com