Fasting is a common practice to do penance in many religions. This article is about Lastan fasting.
What is fasting?
Fasting is restraining from food. It is looked upon as spiritual tool for aiming higher by Catholics.Other spiritual tools
are alms giving and prayer.
Fasting helps in controlling the passions of our body and realize the hardships of the less fortunate people, especially during the season of Lent.
What is Season of Lent?
It is a period of 40 days before the Easter Sunday. Christians celebrate resurrection of Jesus Christ on that day. They observe fasting to do penance. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Sunday.Jesus spent this period of 40 days from his cruxification by enduring the temptations of the Satan.It is a time of self-reflection and redemption for all.People between the age group of 18 to 60 years eat only one full meal on these days.
Essence of Lent Fasting:
The purpose to fast is also to prepare our mind to give up something we enjoy the most and find more pleasure in.It also teaches us:
- Repentance over our wrongdoings and sins
- self-control
- stop chasing material things
- Saying “NO” and sticking to it
- Identify with sufferings Jesus Christ underwent to wash our sins with his blood
- and remember the true pleasures of a Christian
Apart from being a means for earning penance in this holy period, fasting also revitalizes our body. It is because fasting is a very good detoxification process where the waste materials of our body get excreted and the vital organs of body take rest and get energized.
Though Fasting is a means of spiritual discipline, it is always advisable to consult the Doctor and the Priest before starting to fast.
