The Key to True Fasting

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | February 22, 2012 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Anyone intending to fast more than just Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?

[Salvation]

WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .

Give up complaining. . . . . . . .focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments . . . think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . . . . trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement. . . . .be full of hope.
Give up bitterness. . . . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred. . . . . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . . .be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . .be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . . . . become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . . . . enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy. . . . . . . . . . . . pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . . . .control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . . . . hang in there!

[Salvation]

Catholic Ping!

[Salvation]

The Key to True Fasting
Fasting out of love [Catholic-Orthodox Caucus]
The Significance of Fasting in the Struggle against Fallen Spirits.
"What, then, is the reason for fasting?"
Ask Dr. Denton: It's Lent. Can You Explain the Effects of Fasting?
What is it to do fasting and abstinence? And, when do I do it? [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Blow the Trumpet! Call the Assembly! The Blessings of Fasting
Whatever happened to (Lenten) obligations? [Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving]Archbishop John Vlazny
Intro to Fast and Abstinence 101

The Best Kind of Fasting
Conversion Through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving [Lent]
Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Fast-Family observance Lenten season [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Lenten Fasting or Feasting? [Catholic Caucus]
THE TRUE NATURE OF FASTING (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)
The Three Practices of Lent: Praying, Fasting. Almsgiving
Lent: A Time to Fast >From Media and Criticism Says President of Pontifical Liturgical Institute
Give it up (making a Lenten sacrifice)
The Holy Season of Lent -- Fast and Abstinence
Lent and Fasting

[mamelukesabre]

I’ve gone 72 hours with only water a few times. I don’t do it for religion though. I do it to make my innards healthier. Giving your GI tract a break from food now and then seems to cure lots of issues. At least for me it seems to. It seems to make my joints feel better too. I have no idea why.

[Chickensoup]

At least for me it seems to. It seems to make my joints feel better too. I have no idea why.
_____________________

I have found that not eating concentrated carbs and not eating any of the nightshade family (tomato, potato, eggplant, all peppers, and many hot peppers) has really helped my joints:

[call meVeronica]

Bump

[Brian_Candy]

When I give up tomatoes for Lent all my aches and pains go away.

[Vince Ferrer]

I may. When I do, I usually just drink liquids. I will have hunger pangs for about two or three days, but then my body just stops complaining and goes along with it. After that, I can't really say it is a terrible sacrifice, I have more energy and feel better when fasting than when not.

Fasting is good for the body, whether for religious reasons or not. Much of what we eat is not strictly necessary, it is either a socialized habit or in some cases an actual addiction. Fasting past three days breaks a lot of this.

[Salvation]

Do you make your own juices then?

[Vince Ferrer]

Do you make your own juices then?

No, but I drink normal fruit juices from the grocery store, tea, and water.

[Vince Ferrer]

Fasting is not terribly difficult, except for the socialization. If you are in a family that has dinner together, has lunch together, etc, beaking the social requirement that you eat is harder than actually doing without the food. Normally when I am not fasting I eat lunch at 11:30 every work day. But if I think about it, do I get hungry and need food at 11:30 every day? No. My body is not telling me that I am hungry, my biological clock is telling me it is 11:30, and that is what I do at 11:30. Sometimes fasting to me is just deciding to wait until I actually, truly get hungry.

Also, if people find out that you are fasting, like friends, that is the only time I have to be persistent, because they will eventually start trying to feed me. That gets irritating, but I use it as an excercise in disipline.

[MistrX]

I am abstaining from alcohol for Lent.
Wish me luck!

[SuziQ]

I like those!!

[Biggirl]

Just being able to eat simple is a good start.

[Biggirl]

Having just read your posting, when it comes to the social events, for me, this coming Saturday, going to a baby shower in the early afternoon. Will have to do a limited fast this Saturday.

[csmusaret]

The one supplement I have found that really helps my arthritis pain is Boswellia. It took almost thirty days before I noticed a difference, but now I hardly ever take any pain pills.

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWH010/ItemDetail

[Biggirl]

Even what the Church presents is at least the bare basics for fasting.

[Gerish]

Great insight on fasting. Had to remind my daughter last night as she was looking for her “snack” about fasting. But, she says, “I’m hungry.” Told her to focus on the crucifix and look what Our Lord did for us. She did and the hunger soon subsided. Self-sacrifice is the key.

[Chickensoup]

Some tomatos are more complicated than others.