Fasting on Wednesday and Friday

micatholic · #1 Jan 19, '09, 5:08 am

Does anyone else follow the practice of bread and water fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent?

PhilotheaZ · #2 Jan 19, '09, 3:57 pm

I have heard of the practice of fasting on Wednesday and Friday.

Wednesday and Friday have a long tradition as days of fast, particularly in monastic communities.

micatholic · #3 Jan 19, '09, 6:09 pm

Yikes. Please change my question to Wednesday and Friday as bread and water fasting. Does anyone else?

**puzzleannie** · #4 Jan 19, '09, 6:22 pm

no I follow the traditional fasting practices of the Church in penitential days and seasons. In any case following a diabetes diet already imposes a severe penance

Sr Sally · #5 Jan 19, '09, 6:22 pm

No, I don't fast that way. With a young family and a job, it would not be practical for me. Most folks in the past how did fast this way were in a religious community who all fasted or in another situation where others did not depend on them for regular meals.

If you feel called to fast like this I would suggest you ask your priest. We are not called to take on extra-ordinary penances without spiritual direction. Certainly, it would be harmful to skip desserts, snacks, even meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, but to go without regular meals is not an ordinary penance.

thistle · #6 Jan 22, '09, 4:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by micatholic

Yikes. Please change my question to Wednesday and Friday as bread and water fasting. Does anyone else?

Fasting (not abstinence which is different) is required on only 2 days a year and these are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. That is the teaching of the Church. We should be obedient to the Church and not some unapproved apparition.
Voluntary fasting can be done anytime.

Majobe · #7 Jan 22, '09, 10:08 pm

Praised be Jesus Christ,

Wow

I thought it was common practice within the church not to eat meat on Wednesdays and Fridays.I am so suprised that it was not approved by the Bishops and all.

At our house we do it though we are not that strict about it but it is like that at home.Especially just after ash Wednesday we follow that diet to the T.

Thanks for helping me .

thistle · #8 Jan 23, '09, 4:16 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majobe

Praised be Jesus Christ,

Wow

I thought it was common practice within the church not to eat meat on Wednesdays and Fridays.I am so suprised that it was not approved by the Bishops and all.

At our house we do it though we are not that strict about it but it is like that at home.Especially just after ash Wednesday we follow that diet to the T.

Thanks for helping me .

Remember not eating meat is not fasting. That is abstinence. Fasting and abstinence are different.

Abstinance:
Fridays during Lent you must abstain from eating meat. Other Fridays during the year are days of penance. You may choose not to eat meat or choose some other form of penance but you must do some act of penance.

Fasting:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Majobe · #9 Jan 23, '09, 4:35 am

THANK YOU!!

I LOVE THIS FORUM.

Q:What are acts of penance?

God bless.

thistle · #10 Jan 23, '09, 4:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majobe

THANK YOU!!

I LOVE THIS FORUM.

Q:What are acts of penance?

God bless.

CCC 1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

Majobe · #11 Jan 23, '09, 4:54 am

Thanks again,here in South Africa its 3pm and I am going home now.Its the weekend take care and God Bless.

Strategery · #12 Mar 2, '09, 6:27 am

I know a couple of people who do.

I've discussed it with my priest. Fasting is not required beyond Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

However, fasting as a spiritual discipline is encouraged. In my opinion, it's a lost spiritual discipline. It is clearly a practice of the ancient church and Christ discussed it with his disciples in terms of "when you fast", rather than "if you fast."

I've committed to fasting on Ash Wed and all Fridays throughout lent. I'm strongly considering doing it year round.

mahalia · #13 Mar 2, '09, 9:48 am

in my country the tradition of friday fast througout the year is very common, along with fast on tuesdays to honor saint anthony, who is a very popular saint here.
during Lent if you feel called to fast on wednesdays and fridays, why not? i know a few people who fast on bread and water the entire Lent, excluding sundays.