Lenten Sources: New Sermon - On the Fast of Lent

[Shin]

The full sermon is available here.

Here is an excerpt:

I proceed, however, on the supposition that I am speaking to men who are neither rebellious nor obedient; who acknowledge the obligation of fasting, but who will not fast; who do not openly exclaim with the impious, I will not obey, but who, with the men invited to the marriage feast (Luke, xiv. 19), find some plea or other to excuse their disobedience.

In order to distinguish truth from falsehood in a subject of this importance, it is necessary to state, that since the law of fasting is made and received, it is impossibility alone that can justify the infringement of it: by impossibility I mean a difficulty founded on evident and considerable danger: for the Church established the law with the intent not to destroy in this world, but to save in the next.

This being the truth, let us now examine your excuses. You say, in the first place, with great assurance and boldness, that you are dispensed with fasting for sufficient reasons; that your conscience does not reproach you on that head; and that, if you had nothing but the transgression of this precept to answer for before God, you could present yourself at his tribunal without fear: or, in other words, that you have naturally a weak constitution, that you are not able to undergo the severities of fasting, and that the little health you enjoy is entirely owing to care and precaution.

If it be true that your weakness is such as you describe it to be, I will ask whence did it originate?

Was it not from this over solicitude and care to preserve it?

Was it not brought on by that soft voluptuous life which you have led? Was it not occasioned by habits of indolence, and by constantly indulging your sensual appetite in all its caprices?

Were you, however, to examine impartially into the state of your health, you perhaps would discover that the constant aversion you feel for self-denial and penance, has led you into an error on this subject; and that you imagine that your constitution is weak, because you never have had piety and resolution sufficient to induce you to try its strength.

If this be the case, as it probably is, can you pretend that the very reason which makes penance more necessary, is a sufficient plea for a dispensation? Your imaginary weakness is itself a crime, and ought to be expiated by extraordinary austerities, instead of exempting you from those which are common to all the faithful.

. . . My dear brethren, has the tenderness of your constitution ever deterred you from taking part in any worldly enjoyment? Ah! you can bear the fatigues of company and entertainments; you can overcharge yourselves with surfeiting and wine; you can submit to the painful consequences of high living and intemperance; you can keep irregular hours, and take other liberties which would be felt by the strongest constitution. It is fasting alone that you cannot endure; then only are you particularly solicitous for your health, when penance is required.

Is it for me only, says the Lord by his prophet, is it for me only that you refuse to suffer, house of Israel? You are indefatigable and strong in the ways of iniquity, but in my service you are weak and discouraged by the least difficulty. "Tell me if you have anything to justify yourselves" Isa., xliii. 26.

So it is, my beloved friends, and so it always has been: pleasures are never incommodious. The purchase of what you love is always cheap. The slavery of the world, of riches, and of iniquity is not painful, because you are worldly, ambitious, and sensual. But, if you could once divest yourselves of this spirit of the world, and imbibe the spirit of Christ, then your strength would not fail in his service; then you would be convinced that the law of fasting was not a cruel and destructive law; then you would acknowledge that the observance of your duties was not incompatible with the care of your health; then, with Daniel and the three children, you would experience that forbidden meats were not by any means necessary for the preservation of your strength and vigour.

Supposing, however, that fasting does weaken your corporal faculties, is it not just that you should stamp the painful seal of the cross on the body, which has been so often marked with the shameful characters of the beast? Is it not time that members which have served iniquity should at length be subservient to justice; aud that grace should be strengthened in your infirmity? The law of fasting was instituted for the express purpose of weakening the body, and if you experience sensations of languor and faintness, it is no more than was intended; you have reason to rejoice on that account, for your merit will be proportionate to your patient suffering. The end, therefore, proposed by the law can never be a proper reason for a dispensation.

You perhaps may say, that the Church has approved your reasons, and released you from the obligation of fasting by the ministry of your director.

To this your own conscience will reply, that a dispensation obtained contrary to the intention and spirit of the Church is void, and that the obligation is still in force: that is to say, that the dispensation which is granted without a sufficient cause, is not a dispensation in the sight of God. This is the doctrine of the saints. If, therefore, your reasons are not candidly and truly of that nature as to require a relaxation in your favour, you impose upon your pastors, and you are transgressors every time that you avail yourselves of this fraudulent and unjust dispensation.

[Shin]

This stern sermon I think is very helpful to many people, I know it is to myself.

How easy it is to skip fasting if it gives you a headache, if you feel weak, if throughout the day you are tired. You become too delicate.. you become a fainting lily..

And you might be willing to overcome that for something else.. but for fasting?

I know this from my own experience, and I also know that, it can be overcome, and that in fact much of it is in fact because of self-indulgence of that weakness.. that is we make too much of it, we treat it too seriously, and we allow the devil to give us this temptation that we cannot do it, and we willingly indulge that black hearted desire because we see it as the way out: if fasting is too difficult, why then, we are not obliged to fast!

Now, I know at the same time, with low blood sugar, people naturally become more easily cranky.. with diabetics.. of course it becomes very difficult.. medical conditions can truly stop a person from sterner fasting.. that is, from completely giving up food for several days in a row, or eating only a very tiny amount, or, even sometimes liquid only fasts..

If you have the spirit for it though, if you think you -can- overcome the irritation, bear with the faintness, and aren't operating heavy machinery or such.. -overcome it-.. Do it.. Do the big fasts.. do the stricter fasts.. do the sterner fasts.. you will reap a great harvest that people who cannot, often never do because what is substituted is insufficient.. Fasting is something special.. and nothing can completely substitute for it.

Possible medical complications from fasting when none are known.. as if it were something incredibly dangerous.. are overrated. But if they truly exist..

There is a kind of fast -everyone- can do.. That medical conditions cannot get in the way of..

And that is the simple rule of never eating your fill, never eating until you are satisified.. always leaving your plate before your stomach has been filled, and before your desire has stopped to eat.. rather than after you are full and the desire is stopped because your stomach is bulging, and you're concerned about indigestion -- well that would likely be a sin.. you should stop far sooner than that normally even when not fasting..

If you're going to fast.. don't overly indulge in something else to make up for the lack of food.. indulge more in God.. to make up for the lack.


'I shall speak first about control of the stomach, the opposite to gluttony, and about how to fast and what and how much to eat. I shall say nothing on my own account, but only what I have received from the Holy Fathers. They have not given us only a single rule for fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has the same strength; age, illness or delicacy of body create differences. But they have given us all a single goal: to avoid over-eating and the filling of our bellies. . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.'

St. John Cassian

[Shin]

'When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.'

St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney

 

[Shin]

Now for a part II..

The sermon above was very much stick and very little carrot, so I want to write a little about the good side, the benefits of fasting. The joys, the pleasures, the happiness of fasting.

What? You never heard of such a thing?

Well you actually have to think about it for a second. But it's necessary to do so, because if all you think about your fasting is how miserable it is, then you'll be one of those 'sad faced' fasters advised against. And it is very true that sorrow can break a fast..

Why? Because we fast for penitence and sorrow certainly, but we also fast for joyous reasons too, for our union with Christ. And if we fast for sorrowful reasons and do not think of the joyous reasons, well then we run a great danger -- we become miserable, and we break the fast to eat the food that makes us happy.

And what is wrong with that? "The food that makes us happy."

The whole Christian life revolves around freedom from the passions. This is why fasting is so essential! What? You didn't know this?

Freedom from the passions? What's that?

It's a beautiful thing, a spiritual thing -- It's freedom! It means in fact, that you are no longer a slave. What? You did not know you were a slave?

Well, if your passions control you, rather than you them, you are just that.. And that is what Christ came to free us from. Truly! Really! He came to free us from slavery of: the world, the flesh, and the devil. And the passions are 'the flesh'. The world and the devil get involved in inciting them, it is quite true. But generally it is the flesh which craves the food. But then again.. perhaps this is not true! Perhaps it is more often the devil which causes us to crave the food. Frankly, I think this is more likely the case. Why? Because I don't think that our bodies need the food as bad as we are convinced they do. I think that the miserableness, the yearning, the desire for food is more of the devil, who exagerrates the need and incites us to eat, and eat, and eat -- what cannot fill our souls.

And so, fasting frees us from this. And that is beautiful. And we gain all the benefits of freedom. And this basic freedom enables us to be free in so many other ways. . it is something we can always practice.. and always benefit from.

Yes, fasting is not just the lightheaded joy, that klutziness that makes you afraid you'll slice off your arm dicing vegetables, or knock your head against the wall trying to walk through the door. No the joys of fasting are far more than a free and easy way to become what drug users everywhere pay through the nose for..

It's the joy of relying on God.. because you know without His help, you could never fast.. it's too tough, so He is always there when you are, you feel quite sure of this. And so too, you are walking in His footsteps, the footsteps of Christ.. and making true measurable spiritual progress.. You can tell yourself, 'I fasted day after day! I did it!' and feel the triumph that comes of persevering with God. There but for the grace of God, you did not go..

With fasting can come clarity of mind.. prayer that you were not able to pray before. .

The desert monks fasted and entered into Communion with the Lord.

We are required to fast before the Eucharist.. throughout most of Christian history the required fast was much longer than it is now.. And people were capable of it! And so you are happily following in the footsteps of Christianity..

And well on the road to no longer be defeated by seconds, cabbages, desserts, and so forth. When man triumphs over his dinner rather than vice versa.. when a woman oversees the cooking rather than the cooking the woman... Everything is in its proper place.

And so all can be right with the world.

Lastly, there are many who talk about the health benefits of fasting.. cleansing of the system.. I do not know how much or not there is to this.. but you can feel pleased that fasting is not against your health of the body.. but in fact ultimately can serve it.. many people who are long lived.. ate very little rather than very much throughout their lives.  

[Consecrated one]

I have a life threatening illness and I still fast all day on every Friday of Lent.  I honestly don't see the big problem, even if it twinks with my meds.  It's only one day. I'm not going die.

I thought the readings were excellent, what I could understand of them! I think that the Saints routinely fasted, (not just during Lent) shows it's just part of the prayer and fasting Jesus was referring to.  It has always been a routine part of our Catholic heritage.

I find I feel lighter and a release of old garbage and sin.

God bless you, Shin, for trying to help people.
  
 With my brain, I have to just keep it simple, don't put any food in my face for a day, and offer up any discomfort in union with the sufferings of Christ on the Cross.  I actually have a hard time understanding fasting as a complicated thing, but then I can't understand anything complicated anymore!

There are times when I definitely feel out of my element here, but that's true for lots of things. I try to grasp what I can and appreciate your efforts on the parts that I can't

[Shin]

God bless you Vicky! I pray!

I'm moved to hear how you've managed. 

I share your feeling about it!

I think we overcomplicate it.. The more difficult things are the more we keep looking for less direct roads to deal with it.

I think at least for the beginning, preparation helps a lot with fasting. If you're not prepared for all the temptations, if you don't think ahead, and plan ahead so that you won't be put in a situation you will give in -- at least in the beginning, you will, before you know how to do it.

Because I know that family obligations, social occasions, and so forth can easily be the temptation that is irresistible for many. And then once broken, fasts are harder to pick up.

So I'm hoping that by starting these threads on Fasting before Lent enough, we can visualize.. plan out.. how to live it to our best ability, rather than just saying, 'OK, I'm going to do it,' [do say that] but not thinking about the habits that may get in the way of it sufficiently to break through them. 

If we fast boldly and joyously we can defeat the cabbages after all.