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Life of Fasting

Life of Fasting. + Spiritual Understanding of Fasting + IMPORTANCE of Fasting + Why do I fast? + How do I fast? + Consecrate a Fast + Drills while fasting. Life of Fasting. Spiritual Understanding of Fasting + Specific Definition:

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Life of Fasting

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  1. Life of Fasting + Spiritual Understanding of Fasting + IMPORTANCE of Fasting + Why do I fast? + How do I fast? + Consecrate a Fast + Drills while fasting

  2. Life of Fasting Spiritual Understanding of Fasting + Specific Definition: abstaining from food for a period of time, followed by eating food free from animal product + General Meaning: asceticism and overcoming the desires of the flesh (Subduing the body)

  3. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life Fasting, the earliest commandment. Prophets and Apostles fasted. The whole population fasted. Nations fasted. Fasting precedes every grace. Fasting precedes Church sacraments. Through fasting, God intervenes. Joy of fasting - a way of life. Fasting and martyrdom.

  4. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life Fasting, the earliest commandment: God commanded our ancestor Adam to refrain from eating a certain fruit from a certain tree (Gen 2:16,17) but allowed him to eat from the rest.

  5. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life, cont. +Prophets and Apostles fasted: Prophets: David, Daniel, Ezekiel, Nehamiah, Ezra, Anna Apostles: St. Peter, St. Paul, All the Apostles

  6. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Whole population and nation fast: There are many examples in the Holy Bible of collective fasts in which all the faithful participated, together and with one spirit, presenting a unified fast to God, the same fast for the whole church.

  7. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Fasting precedes every grace we receive and every service we offer: Through fasting, we prepare ourselves to receive every blessing that God offers us, e.g. Priesthood Fasting also precedes every major feast or service

  8. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Fasting precedes Church sacraments The faithful have a period of fast before receiving almost every sacrament

  9. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Through fasting, God intervenes: Fasting is a time to let God know of our every problem. It is a period for the contrite heart to lament and for God to hear.

  10. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Joy of fasting - a way of life Those who are spiritual rejoice so much at fasting that general fasts are not sufficient for them. Thus, they urge their fathers of confession to allow them to add their own additional fasts.

  11. Life of Fasting Importance of Fasting for Spiritual Life,cont. + Fasting and martyrdom: It is natural that he, who cannot abstain from food, would find it difficult to offer his life.

  12. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST? + Fasting is the first step on the spiritual road + Fasting is a strong bridle for the body + Much food stirs up desires + Fasting paves the way to virtues and gifts + Fasting rectifies the body and trains the senses + Fasting gives us will power

  13. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Fasting is the first step on the spiritual road: Mar Isaac the Syrian explains, “When our Lord began His ministry in the world, He started from this point. After He had been baptized, He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights. All those who want to follow His steps have to start their struggle by fasting like Him.”

  14. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Fasting is a strong bridle for the body: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Galatians 5:17)

  15. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Much food stirs up desires: It is known that man’s energy is greatly related to the quality and quantity of the food he eats.  The concept of fasting is based on that fact.

  16. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Fasting paves the way to virtues and gifts: Jesus warns us saying, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and cares of this life.” (Luke 21:34)

  17. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Fasting rectifies the body and trains the senses: Fasting is considered a period for rectifying the body by training its revolting senses with spiritual exercises.

  18. Life of Fasting WHY DO I FAST?, cont. + Fasting gives us will power: Adam sinned because his will had weakened when confronted with outside temptations. Fastingis one of the best means for strengthening the human will power.

  19. Life of Fasting HOW DO I FAST? + By controlling oneself + Humility + Fasting and the “Period of Abstinence” + Moderation in fasting + Fasting and the kind of food + Fasting does not weaken the body + Fasting and spiritual exercises + Prayer to accompany fasting + Fasting and giving alms + Fasting and marital relations

  20. Life of Fasting Consecrate a Fast! (Joel 1:14) What is the meaning of the word ' Consecrate '? What is the aim of my fast? False and rejected fasts. What is the relationship between God and my fast?

  21. Life of Fasting DRILLS WHILE FASTING Drills pertaining to fasting. Drills pertaining to repentance. Seclusion and silence drills. Resisting lost time drills. Penitence and self-abasement drills. Memorisation drills. Prayer drills. Other spiritual media drills. Drills in certain virtues

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