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I concurr with the words of the venerable Father Diakon that our brother William the Lazarite has posted. The rule of fast handed down to me by my parents (RCs) is to at least abstain on Wednesday and Fridays-which my mother does. My Father consumes only bread and fluids (he would rather it be only water, but that fast was giving him migraines) on these days. During Lent, we were to further augment this rule by further abstainance of some sort, and increased prayer time every day (ok Mother Sharon. They did not increase almsgiving, but that was always present in throughout the year). Thus it was when i became Greek Catholic. It is not difficult for me to adjust the above rule to the Orthodox rule, save for that I married a convert from Protestantism who is unused to fasting. So I have to make allowances for her health and well-being.

Another thing i have learned is that it is useless to fast if i am in a situation where i am a guest, and my host prepares a meal that has meat. If i say, "i cannot eat this; i am fasting," the truth of the matter is that i am lying. By making such a remark, i break the fast, seeking to satisfy my lust for approbation. Far better is it to partake of the meal, and be a gracious guest, than to boast on the street corner my piety. That being said, i need not stuff my belly with food. Fasting is a denial, and one such denial is to eat smaller quanties in the meal. Sometimes this leaves me feeling emptier than had i not eaten anything all day.

Food for thought.

Brother Theophan,

This word made an impression on me. I've been thinking about it ever since I read it a while back. As much as I would never want to disagree with the Holy Desert Fathers, my experience is leading me to another conclusion than this one offered.

I have anti-Catholic/anti-Orthodox/anti-everything but Fundamentalist family. They know about fridays (and maybe even wednesdays) being days of fast for us... and they think its a big joke. They couldn't care less about respecting our faith as we would try to follow it. We are often in contact with them during times of fasting (e.g. wednesdays, fridays, Advent, the Great Fast, the other Fasts, etc.).

I'm not so sure telling my kids we should all drop our fast everytime we are around our family and others who don't care about our faith, is a good idea. No, we don't have to announce "we are fasting" or draw attention to ourselves, I totally agree. But what's wrong with a simple "no thank you" when offered candy during the Great Fast.

I wonder if the Desert Fathers were speaking more to their own heroic personal fasts than that ordained by the Church for its members during liturgical seasons? Surely a surprise meal which included something we were fasting from would be o.k. since the people who made it did it in innocence and good will. But if we are given the opportunity during an invitation for a meal and we mention we are avoiding certain foods -for whatever reasons- (we could even say for health i.e. spiritual health reasons), what's wrong with this?

In other words, I'm not so sure we are obligated to, in every circumstance, just set aside the Fast. Personally speaking, if I and my family did this during the Great Fast, there would hardly be any difference between this Holy Season and that of any other.

What do you think? Am I a pharisee? Let me know.

Trusting In Christ's Light,
Wm. DerGhazarian
Armenian Catholic Christian
www.geocities.com/wmwolfe_48044/ [geocities.com]