Fasting and Abstinence: The law of abstinence (i.e. not eating meat) binds all Catholics who are 14 years old and older. The law of fasting (i.e. reducing what we eat) binds Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 years old.
The days of fasting and abstinence are: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The day of abstinence only is: All Fridays of the year (with some exceptions).
Disobeying these laws can result in a person committing a sin. Either mortal or venial.
I will not go into details here; suffice it to say that most people will die with a venial (minor) sin on their conscience and following a stay in Purgatory they will enter Heaven eventually. Those with a mortal sin are destined to go down without a parachute.
Now here is my take on this. It might not be in total agreement with my Church and no doubt I could stand corrected.
Fasting goes back many years. Jesus fasted in the desert and no doubt people in the Old Testament fasted too.
I believe that fasting, or abstinence, should be a sacrifice made to God. A way of saying "thank you" for what God and Jesus did for us, and still do. We should do it as an act of love, and act of reverence and respect. It should not be done out of fear that we will otherwise have sinned. It should not be done as a means to avoid punishment. Or as a way to gain favours from God.
God cannot be bought with a bar of chocolate.
By abstaining from eating chocolates, or anything else during Lent, we will not gain any points and gold star in God's Record Book.
God does not need anything from us. He will not be found wanting if we stop fasting, abstaining, lighting candles or placing flowers in church. There is nothing we can do to gain favours from God or be in His good books.
He loves us and His invitation to love Him back and obey Him is open to everyone.
It is we who reject that invitation by standing in defiance of God, turning our backs on Him and denying His very existence.
Our entry into Heaven does not rely on not eating chocolates during Lent or meat on Fridays.
Perhaps the Catholic Church needs to clarify this point and review their policy of seeking submission by implying that disobedience of their laws results in sin.
"God does not judge Christians because they sinned, but because they do not repent.”
St. Niphon of Constantia
Goodness! Me! Victor..You certainly
ReplyDeletebrought back some memories..Of course
being raised a strict Sicilian Catholic,
as a child, mia Mama she followed the
strict ways of the Catholic church...!
I went to church 2~3 times a week,
confession on a Saturday, church three
times on a Sunday..You! See..Mia Mama
wanted me to become a priest..Goodness!
Just think l could have been Pope by now?
'A Pink Pope'..?
Although l don't live my life to the strict
rules of the Catholic church, because some
things l don't approve of or like any more...
But! I believe in God..and the ways of the
lord..I speak to him in my own way, and for
ALL the things he's chosen and helped me..
I thank him..!
Not that l'm tempting him..but..don't you
think God may just like a small piece of
say..Galaxy milk chocolate..? :).
Our Lord loves us all and wishes that we love Him too and obey His Commandments. So sad to see so many people these days not believing in God.
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Willie.
Yes! And there referred to as atheists...
DeleteAll l can say to them is...
"You'll get the shock of your lives when
you die"..
And..We must never forget...
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will..enter into the Kingdom of Heaven"..!
...I remember my Catholic friends back in the '50s had to eat fish of Fridays, but today fish is an expensive meal. Tradition is fine, but it seems strange to me today.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your observation, Tom. People often think/believe that Catholics have to eat fish on Fridays. This is not so. Many years ago the Church asked people not to eat meat on Fridays, (abstinence), as a sacrifice, This is because meat was so expensive and a luxury. So to give up a luxury was seen as a sacrifice. So people ate fish instead which was cheaper. Eventually, the tradition became that Catholics eat fish on Friday. This is not essential or compulsory. There is nothing essential or compulsory which Catholics should or should not eat. Only to abstain from meat on Fridays. Catholics are free to eat what they want.
DeleteI hope this explains things a little. Please don't hesitate top write in if you have any other questions. Thank you, Tom.
God bless.
Thanks for the reminder as I wrestle with how I will best celebrate the Lenten season.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy.
DeleteGod bless.
Let us not forget Lent begins...
ReplyDeleteWednesday, 2 March and ends on
Thursday, 14 April.......!
However, Lent is traditionally considered
40 days long, even though the time between
Ash Wednesday and Easter is actually 47 days.
This is because Sundays are not considered part
of Lent...!
Thank you Willie.
DeleteGod bless.
This is beautiful, Victor -
ReplyDeleteI believe that fasting, or abstinence, should be a sacrifice made to God. A way of saying "thank you" for what God and Jesus did for us, and still do. We should do it as an act of love, and act of reverence and respect.'
Thank you Linda.
DeleteGod bless you.
You nailed the subject of Lent beautifully. I agree with you on all points. Thank you, Victor for your timely post. Blessings to you, my friend.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see you here again, Nells. Thank you.
DeleteGod bless always.
In a word, I think this interpretation is wonderful! I will be attending Ash Wednesday services tomorrow evening and look forward to sharing this post with Pastor Janet at some point.
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, Mevely. Thank you for sharing this post with your Pastor.
DeleteGod bless you and yours always.
Growing up we always ate fish on Fridays. Everyone I knew did too. I remember eating meat once on a Friday and was afraid of what would happen.== if someone found out. that is not a good way to live as a kid full of fear.
ReplyDeleteI agree Bill. The Catholic Church tended to teach Christianity through fear. To some extent, they still do. I am sure that is not the way Jesus would want His shepherds to behave.
DeleteGod bless you and your family.
Neither fasting nor abstinence will earn us any points in God's book, and all we do should be done because we love Him, not because we fear Him. May the Lenten season find us ready and willing to repent and submit our wills to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Victor!
That is correct, Martha. We should love and respect God, not fear Him. Wishing you a blessed Lent season.
DeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteNo, it certainly is not a period for collecting your 'bonus' points for heaven.
For reaching that destination we have to LIVE accordingly and not talk about fasting and/or 'demonstrate' it in the eyes of others.
It is the silent sacrifices made that will count.
Hugs,
Mariette
Well said, Mariette. I agree.
DeleteWishing you a blessed Lent season. God bless always.
💞
DeleteYou have made many excellent points. We love because He first loved us. What we do to love Him back is only because He first loved us. It all comes back to Him.
ReplyDeleteAmen Mimi. What you said needs to be understood more by people.
DeleteGod bless.
So does God love non Catholics less because we don't fast or abstain? That doesn't seem fair.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you understood what I said, River. God loves everyone equally and according to their needs.
DeleteGod bless.