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Fr Jonas Abib founder of the Cancao Nova community
in Brazil gives some practical tips on some of the different types of
fasting and its benefits.
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Practical
Tips on Fasting|
PASTAS PRESCRIBED BY THE CHURCH This way of fasting comes from the tradition of the Church and can be practised by everybody. This involves having breakfast, one main meal and a snack. The important thing in this fast is simply the discipline of not eating anything else apart from these three meals. The aim is to stop nibbling and thus unnecessary snacks such as sweets, chocolates, biscuits, coffee and soft drinks are avoided. For the most undisciplined of us, and that's the majority, this is already a true fast and a difficult one too, but we don't go hungry. Everyone can practice this, even sick people. FASTING WITH BREAD AND WATER This fast consists in eating bread when we are hungry and drinking water when we are thirsty but nothing else. We should avoid taking them together and I have found it good to eat a little bread from time to time during the day. The aim of this fast is to purify the senses and by doing it people often find that the bread will taste better than normal. I suggest eating wholemeal or organic bread as it is more nourishing but even an ordinary bread roll is sufficient to make a good fast without suffering undue hunger pangs. It is important to drink enough, as our bodies need it, so we must drink even when we don't feel like it. Once again this kind of fast acts as a deterrent to gluttony and helps us fight the vice of eating all day. FASTING WITH FLUIDS ONLY The third type of fasting is to only drink fluids. This gives a great variety of options which can keep the body well nourished. Drinking tea is recommended, particularly with a little sugar or honey, either hot or iced depending on the weather. Also recommended are fruit juices, vegetable juices and particularly coconut water which is a complete food containing all the necessary elements to keep the body well hydrated and nourished. In cold weather broth is a good way to fast because it is gives us the necessary calories for all activities even physical ones. This kind of liquid diet keeps our head clear and our mind open and well disposed to spiritual activities: not only to prayer and contemplation but it also becomes more receptive to study, reflection, reading, writing and to creative activities, both musical and poetic. I have found that every activity in every field in which we want to improve is favoured by fasting. FULL FAST In this fourth type of fast, we don't eat anything at all and only drink water. Our bodies need to be well hydrated to act and react in the spiritual field and we need to drink water several times a day when we are on a full fast. This is moreover something you should train for and should prepare for by fasting first with bread and water and then go onto to fluids only. Some people don't even drink water. This is possible but only for people who are well trained in fasting should attempt it. It is important to remember that this is not an endurance test and not to prove anything to anyone, either to ourselves or to God. The purpose of fasting is meeting with God and giving precedence to prayer and learning to be disciplined. It helps us to be open to the grace of contemplation, intercession and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is acceptable to stop a full fast at 4pm although some might continue to 5 pm or 8pm. The important thing is to be wise and not foolishly heroic. Fasting is not about proving anything to God or ourselves. FINAL TIPS I recommend that people who fast always have breakfast. Otherwise you would in fact be fasting from the night before. If you don't have breakfast too many people find they get headaches which can leave them ill-disposed for the rest of the day and make them irritable and impatient or hinder them in accomplishing their spiritual activities, especially prayer. This happens because the stomach acids become very active when a person doesn't eat for a long time, especially after a night's sleep. Having breakfast helps to avoid the gastric juices' hyperactivity and headaches. If you are not in the habit of eating breakfast, it is important to drink something hot. This helps the digestive system get ready for fasting. If you don't want to fast for the whole day, you can begin in the afternoon, but it is still good to begin with a glass of lukewarm water. FASTING AND MORTIFICATION Today sometimes people talk about giving up alcohol, sweets, TV etc as fasting. This is a good practice and has value but it is technically what is known as mortification and it is not the same as fasting, and shouldn't replace it. Fasting is a richness that we need to re-conquer. It is a strong sign of a community that has decided to convert and start a new life. It's never too late for anybody to start and will bring benefits to them as individuals and to the body of Christ.
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