shows that Christians fasted on Fridays, in commemoration of Jesus' crucifixion, and Wednesdays, in commemoration of his betrayal (see also Good Friday and Spy Wednesday). By the fourth century these weekly fast days had become widespread. Around the year 400 A.D., however, Christians living ...
throughout the world still calls for periods of fasting. For instance, during the holy celebration of Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. Similarly, Jews abstain from eating and drinking on Yom Kippur, and Christians may fast on Good Friday or throughout...
In many religions, feasts are supposed to be preceded by fasts: Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians are asked to fast on Good Friday before the celebration of Easter; Jews are to fast for 25 hours for Yom Kippur before ending the holy day with a large, festive meal. And the converse...
There is a good reason why the Church prescribes fasts on the vigils of great feasts, says Venerable Bellarmine,"so that Christians might be more fit for celebrating the divine solemnities."For this reason, fasting is also mandated before the reception of Holy Communion. Not only has fasting...
As Christians, our lives are to be lived hour by hour, day by day for our Lord. When we give, we are to give out of love for the Lord. When we pray, out of devotion to him. When we fast, out of a passion to draw closer to him. That is surely the spirit of this passage....
In the time of Christ's Incarnation, practitioners of the Old Testament religion fasted or abstained on Mondays and Thursdays, but Christians opted to take Wednesdays (the day Our Lord was betrayed) and Fridays (the day Our Lord was crucified) as their penitential days. Wednesdays and Fridays...
Syria Saturday. Pope Francis has asked all Catholics and all Christians and other people of good will to dedicate Saturday (Sept 7, 2013) as a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria. The Holy Father did not give specific instructions for how to pray and fast on Syria Saturday, but...
Fasting requirements for Catholics are outlined by the Code of Canon Law, and include eating no meat on the Fridays during Lent, as well as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Fasting in this case refers to eating just one full meal a day.) Many Christians will make personal vows...