morostheos Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 We always talk about how fasting is a great way of praying, but where is the line between coming closer to God and harming yourself? What do you think of people who want to fast all of Lent? I think that in some cases that is fine, but for your average person, it could be very dangerous. Some of my friends that are biology majors have told me to not eat anything for 24 hours can cause permanent damage to your body. Opinions? Facts? Advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Whatever floats ones boat. One should probably not go to an all you can eat buffet before fasting. Like the Day before ASHE Wednesday people where pigging out, then trying to fast the next day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiritual_Arsonist Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 (edited) Fasting helps with countering temptation. It puts checks on our appetites. Fasting is good when we limit the amount of food. We should eat healthy so we get proper nutrition. Breakfast needs to be a good meal, since it is hard to get awake when we have no food When fasting, if you get headaches, then you need to step up your intake. This is when it gets dangerous. Keep in mind to drink a lot water so you do not get dehydrated. It will vary from person to person, so see what works for you, and if your expectation is too high, look for another penance. Edited March 2, 2004 by Spiritual_Arsonist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 St Pio.... the man litterally lived on the Eucharist. Doctors could not explain how he was able to keep his weight. I suggest getting this book: http://www.catholicstore.com/search/index....0/CFID/1713188/ The answer to your question all comes down to how much faith we have. St. Pio is a prime example. God Bless, Your Servant in Christ, ironmonk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Huether Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 St Pio.... the man litterally lived on the Eucharist. Doctors could not explain how he was able to keep his weight. I suggest getting this book: http://www.catholicstore.com/search/index....0/CFID/1713188/ The answer to your question all comes down to how much faith we have. St. Pio is a prime example. God Bless, Your Servant in Christ, ironmonk I ditto that. But with the addition that it also depends on what you are called to do. Padre Pio was called to bear the gift of suffering. Some might not be called to fast as rigorously, yet they might benefit more through prayer and contemplation. If you pray, and you are called to fast, then fast you will. If you offer your fast to God, He WILL accept it. If you are not called to fast, or your spirit is not so inclined in that direction, yet you offer your prayers, and other works of mercy, God will accept it also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 If you get sick from fasting, don't fast. Fasting is a means to an end, not the end itself. It is a mortification to make us hungry for God. It is not meant to put you in the hosptial. We must remember our bodies are also temples of the Holy Spirit, and should not be harmed. Great mortifications should not be undertaken without a spiritual director for guidance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Very wise words Cmom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkan_hanil Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 (edited) Don't be scrupulous (did I spell that right? -_-). Fastings is meant for spiritual boosting; supercharging your relationship with God. Replace that hunger with prayer by thinking of the sufferings of Jesus. If you fast and only think of your pain and the food you want instead of holiness, then you've just flushed your fasting time down the john. Keep your health in check, but do whatever is neccessary for your spiritual needs. Edited March 3, 2004 by nikkan_hanil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morostheos Posted March 3, 2004 Author Share Posted March 3, 2004 Thanks everyone for your opinions! I asked mostly because a friend of mine has decided to fast quite a bit during lent, and I'm a bit worried about their health from this, being college students who have a hard time staying healthy to begin with. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Ditto what everyone else has said. If you gte sick fasting, take it easy and stop. St Francis once noticed that his brothers were sluggish and looked sick. He asked them to pull up their robes, to discover that they were performing extreme mortification, like having chains and barbs under their robes. He put them under obedience to stop it. Even though St. Francis was one of the more extreme mortifyers, he knew where to draw the line. You should too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Thanks everyone for your opinions! I asked mostly because a friend of mine has decided to fast quite a bit during lent, and I'm a bit worried about their health from this, being college students who have a hard time staying healthy to begin with. I take it, then, that this is more than just fasting on Fridays? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_rev Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Whatever floats ones boat. One should probably not go to an all you can eat buffet before fasting. Like the Day before ASHE Wednesday people where pigging out, then trying to fast the next day. That would be me! And trust me that does not work!!!!! Fasting to much would be if you were to fast and it owuld harm your health, that would be going to far. I think fasting is great and I personally encourage it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aByzantineCatholic Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 FYI, Byzantine Christians fast from all meat and dairy products during the forty days of the Great Fast and during Great and Holy Week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
immaculata Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 I think the thing to keep in mind is that we're all called to serve God in different ways. Fasting may be a great way for one person to get closer to God, but it might not be as great for someone else. How are you giving glory to God by making yourself sick?? If you can't fast, that means you're being called to serve him some other way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morostheos Posted March 3, 2004 Author Share Posted March 3, 2004 Yeah, this would be more than fasting on Fridays. It's fasting every day as long as the sun is up, specifically. So I dunno, it's not fasting completely, but fasting when your body needs food the most and eating when it needs it the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now