Hi,
Why do we fast 55 days, when Our Lord Jesus Christ only fasted 40 days?
WHat's with this "preparation week"?
I agree, and totally submit myself to doing what my FoC has said during the mass "no one can have communion unless they are fasting"; but im just curious?
Thanks
Comments
Hi,
Why do we fast 55 days, when Our Lord Jesus Christ only fasted 40 days?
week preparation (07 Days)
the 40 days of Christ (40 Days)+
Lazarus Satruday (01 Days)+
Holy Week (07 Days)
----------
55 Days
it's a week that was put by the fathers of the church to prepare for lent (the 40 holy days). it's just that this is the most important fast and the holiest. most of the priest don't take it that serios. like they don't ask every single person. he would also just say that to not be convected on the last day and to let this matter out of his hand. so it would b all ur responsibilty instead of his. also the FoC have abig part in this. like how many days would u fast and matters like that.
I want to fast, and also abstain from enjoying food i like, but i just want to have protein shakes - i go to the gym often, and i need a certain amount of protein. Now, going to the gym is not vanity or something like that... not at all : As a young single man, its important to keep the body busy, and find things to keep you busy otherwise its unhealthy for you. Ask any man... they'll know what i mean.
If my FoC says "no" - i'd be really disappointed.
Im glad to stop eating meat, chocolates, milk products etc...
I can even do the protein shakes with Soya Milk; but its whey protein. SURELY he won't say no to that?? would he?
Can i make a deal with my FoC on the lent? Like a plea bargain.
I want to fast, and also abstain from enjoying food i like, but i just want to have protein shakes - i go to the gym often, and i need a certain amount of protein. Now, going to the gym is not vanity or something like that... not at all : As a young single man, its important to keep the body busy, and find things to keep you busy otherwise its unhealthy for you. Ask any man... they'll know what i mean.
If my FoC says "no" - i'd be really disappointed.
Im glad to stop eating meat, chocolates, milk products etc...
I can even do the protein shakes with Soya Milk; but its whey protein. SURELY he won't say no to that?? would he?
will when i said talk to your FoC, i was talking about the spiritual binifit of fasting. also vassilios i don't think this would be your fisrt fast. u have to understand that your body shouldn't control you by any chance. also there is tons of ways that you can eat and watch your health. actually our egy seyamee food is very healthy (sometimes fatening but what can u do, all egy food is fatning, lol).
a small story, there was this monk who hated to eat cheese. guess what he would do during the seyam, all he eat is cheese.
just kidding, keep up the discussion :P
We consult our FOC not as if he is some lawyer or judge who can grant us dispensation, but only to discern the will of God on the matter of whether our particular circumstance warrants a change in our individual fasting regulations.
Ultimately, fasting is a medicine for the sickness of sin (not a legal obligation for the guilty accused), and some particular people may require different doses of different strength. Nevertheless, you certainly don’t go to a doctor looking for an excuse not to take medicine, because you are under no obligation either to the doctor or the hospital to take that medicine. They prescribe it for your own benefit. You may consult a doctor only to consider whether the general dosage or requirements surrounding that particular medicine apply to your individual condition. I highly doubt this will warrant a change in your fasting regulations. One of the initial aims of the fast is to weaken the body to inspire a sense of dependence on God. When we are weak we lose our sense of autonomy and independence and are in turn more inclined to lean on the Power of God.
After a while however, one will find that the fast in fact energises the body, leaving it with a sense of wakefulness, lightness and freedom. Such qualities enhance one’s focus, concentration, alertness, and allow one more time in their day. As beneficial as these qualities are to the average student or professional, they are of particular benefit to the one seeking to develop their prayer life.
This is a time where you're supposed to be working out your spiritual muscles. If working on your physical muscles gets in the way, then it is something you are just going to have to put aside if you want to make the most of this Great Lent.
If I were you I would neither outright take my advice nor would I neglect it. I would take it to my FOC to consider (though he most probably knows all this in any event) even if it goes against what you personally seek. In the end, you want God's will, so you want to make sure that you discuss this properly with your FOC, raising all issues that may be worthy of consideration.
My FoC on SUnday said :"IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR ANYONE TO HAVE HOLY COMMUNION IF THEY ARE NOT FASTING WITH THE CHURCH!"And believe me, he was dead serious!
But today i saw him after the early mass. I was a deacon even by the way, and i can tell u, i did pretty good in the alter and singing actually Iqbal!!
I didnt know the lent tune, but all of a sudden it came to me. The morning mass was so empty that abouna asked me to lead. HAHAH.. its great.
ANyway, i had a chat with him afterwards, and he said i could have protein shakes!!
SO THERE! (HA!) - what's impossible for Iqbal, is not impossible for the Lord (and me!).
And how did i get this to happen? (i hear u ask my dear Monsieur Iqbal!?)
Well.. i told him after the mass if he had a minute
Me:"Father, do u have a minute"
Foc :"Sure. wassup Vas?"
Me: "I hope i didnt mess up so much in the Church today" (knowing that i was pretty good for no practice, but not saying anything about it, and knowing that i saved the day for actually coming early at 5 AM to attend the morning mass"
FoC :"No no no no ya baba.. u were OK.."
Me: "Father, i have a small problem"
FoC: "Yes.. wassup?"
Me: "I'm so glad to give up meat, milk, dairy products to fast, but i have a small problem"
FoC :"Yeah...wassup man?"
Me: "I have major back-problems, the muscles in my lower back, if not exercised become weak, and its so painful when that happens, so need to go to the gym to exercise them often. However, weight training without the sufficient quantities of protein is bad."
FoC "OK.. so ?"
Me: "Well... Im happy to fast and abstain from everything according to the Church rules, but may I take whey protein to give me the protein i need; You can make it with milk; but i'll use water or soya milk instead - would that be OK?"
Foc :".......(( thinking )) .... "
Foc :" ....... ((thinking )))...."
Foc :"..... Hmm.. SUre! ok!"
Me :"AMEN! THanks dad! "
Its a good thing I didnt tell him about the delicious strawberry and chocolate flavour shakes... but that's beside the point. For many people , protein shakes are disgusting. I think whey is from milk or eggs... i don't know. I just need to eat around 1g of protein per pound of body weight, otherwise the muscles don't grow.
Iqbal - thanks for advice anyway! I always appreciate your answers.
Preparation for fasting. This is the way I see it (perhaps Iqbal can correct me).
You know you'll have 48 days of fasting. So, i think the preparation period is to help u prepare for that:
* Stock piling on lentils
* Stock piling on foule medamis
* Mahshy
* Ta3maya
Perhaps, during this week, you could try and find interesting recipies that are soley based on Soya Milk?
Perhaps just buy tons of soya milk anyway?? Why not?
I know what u mean: How does fasting for 7 days prepare me to fast for another 48 days?!
Also, try fasting for 1 week, and then if u can't cope, or u fall ill, speak to your FoC?! Perhaps he'll tell u to continue fasting, but on certain days, eat some fish if that's all u have available at work??
Im not sure, but its best to ask Iqbal.
Does anyone have any information as to the origins of these two practices, i.e. when they were introduced and under which form?
--------------------------------------------
He's a really nice priest; but he said that its best to fast properly during the preparation week! He was not happy when i mentioned that i was taking it "gradually".
However, he did mention indirectly that there are many products that are soya /Vegan products. So, he's into the idea of not killing yourself, but still abstaining from ALL animal related products.
Also, i asked him if we could sing Agios Otheos in the Friday meeting instead of "I want to Touch you, I want to Feel you" (nonsense songs we sang last week.
And guess what: (!!) He laughed... and said :" I hope so!!".
Man, he's TOO nice... i wish iqbal was in our Church, he'd have at least not hesitated in turning this stuff away! (I mean that as a complement Iqbal).
Furthermore, someone else told me those songs were really silly; it wasnt a way to pray to God telling Him:" I want to touch you, i want to see your face.... i want to hold u, ..."... LOL
We might as well start singing Abd Il Halim songs then in Church.