As we all know, the church doesn't fast wednesdays on fridays on such holy days but is it wrong to fast for personal reasons? I always thought it wasn't but I heard this lecture about how these days must be of rejoicing, et cetera..the speaker never said however, that it was wrong to fast for personal reasons..
Comments
If you want to fast for a special reason always consult your confession father, before you do because there are ppl who think they are supermen and women and over fast without a special reason. So as a point go to ur confession father and he will advise you.
Shenouda.
"Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast."
so as we see, when Christ is present with us, we are to rejoice... and he is present with us in these days, because we should be reliving these days... plus you already have about 200 days to fast, gat ya'ny 'ala el khamaseen, wa tosomhom... da talkeek.... you want to be different... and you are doing it for pride... it will not profit you... and that is why no priest will allow you to do such action... be obedient and you will be blessed, with a great blessing... plus you have the apostles fast to fast... be happy during the khamaseen.. And God will bless...
Sorry if I sounded harsh… I was really advising myself… because I use to always think to do that…
fasting could be done through out the year... as I mentioned before, there are 200+ days we fast during the year... and if these are not enough... then after the permission of your father of confession, fast... but not on feast... which is what the fifty days are... its a feast that goes on for fifty days.
Since we are on the topic of fasting.. you know what they did to a person who fasted (without food or water) on a Sunday... that person would be excommunicated... so imagine that... so fasting is not at anytime...
Also to show you how it could bring pride...
"Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
sleepy
Shenouda
anyways i don't think u sould fast or do matanyat at all, but u could alwayss check w/ ur priest
Mina
batikha-basketball :)
i dont know... the 50 days are supposed to be a time of happiness and rejoicing because Jesus is still presents with us. I mean like, if its something reeeeeaaalllly important then consult your FOC.....
Of course they're supposed to be, but at the same time, your FOC knows best for you, so you CAN fast anytime during the year as long as your FOC knows about it, and approves it.
sleepy
sleepy