When Dr. Eben Alexander was in a coma for seven days, he went through a dramatic near-death experience.
In his book Proof of Heaven, he explains how he believes our brains interact with our consciousnesses. Rather than the brain producing consciousness, he suggests the brain functions like a filter for our consciousness. As such, he says the brain is usually so busy with all our mundane tasks that it has little time to contemplate the spiritual dimension.
We are so caught up in the physical realm that we have little time or energy to concentrate on the spiritual.
Suddenly, I understood why the monastic tradition in every religion insists on asceticism. To concentrate on the spiritual, the monks and nuns strictly discipline their physical lives.
They narrow their lives down by staying in one place. They take vows of poverty so they are unconcerned about the accumulation of wealth. They take vows of obedience so they can be unworried about personal choices. They discipline their bodies through fasting so their minds can open up the realities of the spiritual realm.
This is the main reason why we are expected to fast: to discipline our physical appetites in order to concentrate on the spiritual realm.
Rather than being satiated and dull as the result of too much food and drink, fasting makes our senses sharper and we become more aware of the spiritual realm.
We fast during Lent, but every Friday in the year is also a day of fasting.
Why keep Friday as a fast day?
Through this self-denial, we identify with the death of the Lord. However, there are some other good reasons for keeping Friday as a fast day. We function best when we are observing a regular routine.
We keep Sundays special through the celebration of Mass and making it a special day of relaxation.
Keeping Friday as a fast day balances the feast day of Sunday. Within the cycle of the week, if we keep Friday as a fast day, something mysterious starts to happen. As Sunday is a special day, Friday becomes a serious day.
We remember the Lord’s death on Friday, and so Friday can become a day when we work through the darker side of our lives, a day when we allow the Holy Spirit to take us into the shadow areas and allow Christ’s healing light to do its work.
There are other notable benefits to fasting. The first is that, through fasting, we gain self-mastery. Limiting our intake of food means we are more self-controlled in other areas of our lives.
You can’t take fasting seriously and be enslaved to other addictions for long. Self-control in one area helps with self-control in other excessive behaviors.
Fasting also brings real physical benefits. Fasting one day a week detoxifies the body and helps it re-adjust.
A day on just water or pure fruit or vegetable juice cleanses and renews our whole system, and after just a few weeks, the body adapts. The hunger pangs on Fridays disappear, and, on that day, the body kicks into high gear — almost as if it is ready and enthusiastic about its weekly detox.
As part of this benefit, our appetites are cleansed. Food and drink taste better. Complex and rich foods do not appeal, and we appreciate simple and whole foods more.
The third practical benefit of fasting is that we re-assess our attachment to physical pleasures of all kinds. Not only does it help us control other addictive or excessive behaviors, but an amazing side effect is that it also changes our minds about other worldly aspects of our lives.
I’ve known people overcome extreme materialism and vanity by regular fasting. Others have overcome worries about money and status. Others have overcome self-image obsessions or sexual obsessions, while others have been able to take control of bad personal relationships, insecurities and fears.
Fasting combined with prayer is a powerful force in our lives because, through it, we combine physical discipline with spiritual discipline.
God made us to be physical-spiritual hybrids, and we combine the spiritual and the physical — as we do in the sacraments — and in prayer and fasting, it means we are operating at full capacity.
What’s the best way to fast? A full-day fast means nothing to eat from Thursday after supper until Friday evening. It is difficult to begin with a full-day fast. Better to break yourself in gradually. Start by skipping lunch on Friday; then, after a week or two, skip breakfast as well. Start at first on just bread and water.
After a few weeks of bread and water, shift to just water and fruit or vegetable juice or light broth. Then, eventually, fast on just water for that full day.
Remember, fasting is for those who are basically well and physically fit. People with eating disorders or physical or emotional conditions should only fast under supervision from their doctors.
Also, while fasting is healthy and good for you, it should be done in a balanced and thoughtful way. It’s not a bad idea to read up on the subject.
The New Life Fasting Guide by Helmutt Luetzner and The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting by Elmer Towns are good practical guides.
Put very simply, Jesus commands us to fast and pray. The saints take fasting seriously, and the Church commands us to make fasting part of our lives. Why not take up this discipline with a new intention?
The amazing thing you will discover is: Not only does it help you physically, mentally and spiritually, but, eventually, it will bring you added vigor and real spiritual joy.
Father Dwight Longenecker
is the parish priest of
Our Lady of the Rosary church in Greenville, South Carolina.
Connect to his popular blog, browse his many books and
be in touch with him at DwightLongenecker.com.
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I was taught by the RVM sisters in my youth that fasting is a prelude to charitable giving. Forego one snack on Friday and give the money saved to the common plate during the Sunday Mass, or give the money to a person in need. That stayed with me. Of course, we know that the giver and the recipient both benefit from this simple act of fasting cum loving.
I´m a little bit astonished, that the Reverend Father does not explain the ecclesiastical way of fasting. According to canon law and the established observance of the Church we fast from midnight to midnight and take just one full meal a day. The abstinence of certain things, especially meat, is another question. This said, I think Father´s thoughts are interesting and helpful.
With sincere greetings from Paderborn, Germany
Yours
Dominik
I enjoyed the article and found it motivating for those who intend to fast. I also agree with Dominik and would appreciate a sort of “practical guide to fasting” for beginners which can suggest how to “ease into” a fast. There is some attempt in the article (bread, water, fruits/vegetables…) but it is quite vague. I’m particularly interested in what typically comprises a meal and what could pass as collation. For example, it’s quite difficult to find very basic food while at work in the city. I usually end up taking a corn-based snack and a glass of cold tea for collation. Although it lacks complete nutrition, the favorable taste makes me doubt this is right. Thank you, Father.
This is great and encouraging! I am intending on doing a full day fast on Fridays…but since I am new to it, I will probably ease in with bread and water for breakfast, and maybe some fruit juice, or an actual piece of fruit for lunch….I will try to eat my first real meal of the day on Friday about 6pm. I know it will be very hard for me, but I’m actually very excited about it.
Agnes
http://agnes1990.blogspot.com/
As my hunger pains were growing just now, I needed this to keep going. Thanks.
I like to view fasting as a special time of offering up to Jesus tiny little whispers of love. It is a time to not think upon me but a time to think upon others-little children starving in Africa, babies being aborted, wounded priests, religious vocations… whatever is dear to your heart’s longing for healing or blessings upon the world or others.
The time of fasting flies by as I busily and silently conjure up new ways to thrust my little prayers up to heaven. A creative period of love as I grab each second of my physical discomfort uniting it to a particular second of Christ’s agony or suffering upon the cross and then thrusting it up to Heaven with a simple sigh of my heart. A day of fasting just flies by and I generally can’t wait until next Friday! (Like longing to see your beloved!) Waiting, I think, can also be a form of fasting!
Enjoy your fast like a feast!
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