Fasting, what good is it?:
Why is fasting something we should do? How do we know it does any good for anything? Well, Jesus did it and He told us to do so also. If that doesn’t do it for you, then nothing else written below will likely convince you either; but read on anyway, and pray for some understanding of it. It is Jesus Who asks us to fast and His Church is reminding us to do what He tells us. He said it; so do it.
Jesus didn’t say that it would be nice if you chose to fast. He said, “When you fast…” (Mat 6:16) He expected that everyone would do it. Fasting is a workout for your soul. It strengthens it and provides you freedom. You will become disciplined and learn to only feed your soul with good things. Only through fasting and prayer were demons able to be driven out (Mark 9:27-29). From very early times, men have fasted. Jews during Jesus’ time fasted Tuesday and Thursday. Christians moved those days to Wednesday (the day Judas betrayed Jesus) and Friday (the day of Jesus’ crucifixion). We know from reading the Church fathers and the Didache (the teaching of the Apostles given to the earliest catechumens for instruction of the faith) that early Christians fasted on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays, beginning in apostolic times. We are still asked to fast out of love on Fridays, as Catholics have done for two thousand years.
Sadly, many Christians think of Friday fasting as a thing of the past, or only something done during lent. The Friday fast was not something Catholics dropped. The pain of sin for not abstaining from meat on Fridays was removed because, in today’s society, that was not much of a mortification. Rather, the bishops have encouraged us to choose our own way of fasting, our own mortification, on every Friday.
From the Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, A Statement Issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
November 18, 1966
- Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.
Fasting helps break the ties that bind us, leading us to perfection.
“It seems that God is calling you to great perfection. And I perceive it by this, that He takes away from you every tie that might hinder it in you.” --Saint Catherine of Siena
Fasting disciplines ourselves to give up something, to be able to let go of a material object, or even let go of an immaterial flattery. Fasting is a way to make sure that we don’t have any attachments (which are in a sense, false gods) to anything but God. We need to know that we are dependent upon God alone, not any thing, not any praise, not any well running cars. As long as we can’t give up something, as long as we can’t freely give away something if someone needed it, we are not fit for the kingdom of God (See Luke 9:57-62). Fasting disciplines our souls so that we may be ready and willing to forego something when necessary.
“A fat belly never breeds fine thoughts.” --Saint Jerome
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth--only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.” --C.S. Lewis
Fasting is the tool to fight selfishness and the desire to have an easy life, which we are not meant to have.
Tobit 12:8
Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving and righteousness.
Pope John Paul II:
“Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (Mt 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannot be driven out except in this way (Mt 17:20 and Mk 9:29). Let us therefore discover anew the humility and courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceipt: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil practices and laws which are hostile to life.”
When we are praying with fasting, the Holy Spirit come to us to instruct and guide us:
Acts 13:2-3
And as they were ministering to the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. Then, they, fasting and praying, and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.
Any undertaking, any mission, if we want it to be directed by God, should begin with fasting. Before you make any big decisions--your job, your children’s education, your marriage sacrament, anything, begin with fasting as the apostles did.
Acts 14:22
And when they had ordained to them priests in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, In whom they believed.
The Council of Trent was opened up with a rule of fasting for all clergy partaking in the Council. From Session # 2, 1.2:
“Furthermore, it exhorts that they fast at least every Friday in memory of the passion of the Lord and give alms to the poor.”
There are many ways we can fast. A great place to start is with our words.
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”
--Proverbs 10:19
“Conquering the tongue is better than fasting on bread and water.”--Saint John of the Cross
“The soul will not attain sanctity if it does not keep watch over its tongue.” --Saint Faustina
“Words that do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.” --Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Think about your conversations and consider if you are with God or against Him. There is no in between. You may think there is but there isn’t.
We can give up small pleasures, our time, a fun activity, expensive clothes, starting small and, eventually, working towards more difficult fasts, responding to whatever fasts we are called to do.
“How could I bear a crown of gold when the Lord bears a crown of thorns? And bears it for me!”
--Saint Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary
“Beauty when unadorned is adorned the most.” --Saint Jerome
You don’t need all the extra stuff that is for show, for pride.
Committing to follow Christ is committing to fasting. It is easy to forget that this is part of following Christ.
“Why not learn to enjoy the simple things; there are so many of them.” --Saint John Chrysostom
“As a moth gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man.” --Saint John Chrysostom
It is very hard to become envious of others when you have a habit of fasting, because when you are accustomed to going without, you soon realize how much you don’t need. You won’t be envious, not just of things, but also of other people’s friendships, their time, their ease of life, and so much more. It really gives you freedom.
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a stiving after wind.”
--Ecclesiastes, 4:6
“Woe to me if I should prove myself to be a half-hearted soldier in the service of my thorn-crowned Captain.”
--Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen
Fasting is fighting, fighting against evil, and the battle is over your soul and your family members’ souls. Be a strong man. Do this difficult task for your thorn-crowned Captain. Fasting is like having a MOAB bomb at your disposal. All you have to do to get one is do it. Demons are forced out by prayer and fasting. Give yourself and your family this weapon! Do it now, today, before the devil advances his work on you and you find yourself suddenly overtaken with family divisions.
“Arm yourself like a man against the devil’s assaults. Curb your appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh. Never be completely unoccupied, but read or write or pray or meditate or do something for the common good.” --From The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis
Consider returning to the fast of all Christians of the past, by fasting on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays, out of love for God, and as a sacrifice for our sins, especially for the sins of others. If you struggle and find it difficult, remember to start slowly, also fasting from other things in your life, and work towards this goal. You didn’t learn to read overnight. Work to develop this weapon over time. Your prayers and fasting will help to deliver souls from temptation.
