Feb 19, 2010: on Fasting - Daily Homily
(excerpts from Catholicism for Dummies)
Before Vatican II, Catholics weren't allowed to eat meat on any Friday of the year, and they also had to fast all the weekdays of Lent. But sick people, pregnant or nursing mothers, and those who worked in hard labor jobs, as well as those in the military during wartime, were dispensed. Going back even farther into Catholic history, Catholics weren't allowed to eat meat, eggs, cheese, or dairy products all during Lent. Since Vatican II, however, the obligation is to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent and to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
To get to the heart of why we fast, I'll quote St. Thomas Aquinas:
The tradition of abstaining from meat and fasting on Fridays goes back to the first century, when Christians abstained from eating meat on Fridays to honor Jesus' death on the cross on Good Friday. Because Jesus sacrificed his flesh for the salvation of humankind, the flesh of warm-blooded animals wasn't consumed on Friday.
The practice of abstaining from certain foods and fasting actually goes back to Old Testament times. The Scripture says that God told the Hebrews through Moses how to prepare for celebrating Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Although fasting isn't mentioned, the Scripture does say for this day, "You shall afflict your souls" (Leviticus 16:31; 23:27-32; Numbers 29:7), and from antiquity, rabbis have interpreted this to mean fasting. The New Testament also mentions the practice, saying, "It has been decided by the Holy Spirit...to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals." (Acts 15:28-29)
Before Vatican II, Catholics weren't allowed to eat meat on any Friday of the year, and they also had to fast all the weekdays of Lent. But sick people, pregnant or nursing mothers, and those who worked in hard labor jobs, as well as those in the military during wartime, were dispensed. Going back even farther into Catholic history, Catholics weren't allowed to eat meat, eggs, cheese, or dairy products all during Lent. Since Vatican II, however, the obligation is to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent and to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
To get to the heart of why we fast, I'll quote St. Thomas Aquinas:
...fasting is practiced for a threefold purpose. First, in order to control the lusts of the flesh... lust is cooled by abstinence in meat and drink. Secondly, through fasting the mind arises more freely to the contemplation of heavenly things: simply, fasting helps you pray. Thirdly, fasting helps in satisfying for sins. According to St. Augustin, "Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one's flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity."
