“And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.” – Matt 6:16-18
The Church requires so little of us nowadays fasting, and I suspect most can’t even be bothered. I would wager that, when all is revealed, lack of fasting will turn out to have been a major factor in the advance of evil. The current discipline is the equivalent of almost two full meals… dude, that is literally NOT FASTING. Can’t we try to do better?
Given that the strict fast is now down to two days a year, surely we can and should do better. I would suggest the Black Fast at the very least, but honestly, you can do even better. After all, the Black Fast was designed to be tolerable for five days in a row, or even longer. If you are only doing one day, like Good Friday, go for the full fast, which means water. Or at most, coffee in the morning and a bit of broth later to quell nausea. Near-zero calories. Trust me, it is actually easier this way, and more rewarding too. Who doesn’t need some extra graces?
Blessed Triduum, everyone.
“Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.” -Matt. 6:19-21
Just saying here… there are some of us, including myself, that legitimately can’t fast, or even abstain, due to health issues. And this is more prominent than ever before due to the increased unhealthiness (inflicted and self-chosen) of the population.
That doesn’t excuse those of us who can’t fast from doing whatever we can and substituting wherever and whatever possible, to the limits of our endurance.
Of course!
Is it ok to have broth on Good Friday? I thought that might be considered meat.
I don’t see how a liquid can be meat, but there is always vegetable broth too.
Under traditional rules of fasting and abstinence, meat broth was considered meat and we were obligated to abstain from it as well as solid meat. Under the current “official” rules, broth of this sort can be consumed. But then again, we are talking about stepping it up a notch.
Veggy broth it is, then. And as I said, it only need be taken to stave off illness/nausea… which can also be done with antacids which of course are permitted. We really need not take anything but zero calorie liquid. It’s only one day.