www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology The Great Fast -- Am I being too strict?

If I have decided to abstain from meat, eggs, and dairy for the whole of Lent, am I being too strict to read the ingredients labels and not buy products that say "milk ingredients" as part of the product?

I went to buy granola bars today and saw that they use "milk ingredients".

I put them back.

Am I being too harsh with this or is this proper?

Thanks for your input.

Brother Ed

Ed,

Seek counsel from your spiritual father.

In Christ,

John

I contacted my spiritual director and have received instruction.

Thank you.

Ed

As far as I always knew, this is called Black Fasting and traditionally is done throughout the duration of the Great Fast. The bare minimum being to black fast on the first Monday and Great and Holy Friday.

some would go even further like say no soy because its a substitue milk even though its non dairy
now i say that is too strict.
Stephanos I

If it were soy milk or soy ice cream, both of which try to taste like milk products, I would say that violates the spirit of the fast. However, other kinds of soy, e.g., tofu that's not pretending to be anything other than tofu would be okay. On the other hand, if tofu is trying to be something it's not, e.g., tofu disguised to taste like meat, that would also violate the fast.

I once got into a discussion with someone about peanut butter. She was of the opinion that it's butter substitute. Since by no stretch of the imagination can peanut butter taste anything like butter, it cannot be a butter substitute.

Sophia,

I believe the spirit of the fast is to push oneself just a little more than one thinks one is able to do. With the guidance of a spiritual director, that might be to remove all meat and fish on Wednesdays and Fridays for some, while it might be to remove all meat, fish, eggs, dairy, oil, and alcohol throughout all of Lent for others. If it is too much of a stretch to remove all meat or dairy, but it becomes a difficult but doable stretch to remove all dairy or meat but to allow alternative substitutes such as soy, then who are we to say that person is breaking the spirit of the fast? It seems to me that there are plenty of circumstances in which using those products would allow some people to keep not only the letter but also the spirit of the fast -- which isn't about what goes into our mouths, but how we allow our food, and our passions, to control or be controlled by our souls.

Please, everybody, do NOT take spiritual and/or fasting advice on the internet. This should be taken up with ones spiritual father/mother/director.

Unless of course it is the teaching of the Church.

No, Dr Eric IS correct. Fasting needs to be directed by one's spiritual father, not by internet would-be gurus.

Alexandr

I agree - Dr. Eric is absolutely correct. Every soul and body have unique physical and spiritual weaknesses, and it is for the spiritual father (and doctor, if necessary) to discern what are appropriate ascetic endeavors in each specific case. Economia goes hand in hand with the law.

Father Deacon and Alexandr,

Thanks for backing me up. I get worried when people undertake things on their own without consulting someone who might know better than they do. Some things are dangerous even though they are supposed to be good for you. That's why you can't get a vioxx or skelaxin at GNC.

Even though we all want the best for each other on the Forum (at least I hope we all do) we are not qualified (well, not me anyway) to answer spiritual/fasting topics such as these. I myself have asked questions as opinions (and even in PMs) but I follow the advice of my Spiritual Father (by default.)

I wish you all a Holy Fast.

100% in agreement with Alexandr on this one!

Glory to Jesus Christ!


To the contrary, having tasted my aunt's self-proclaimed "Tofurkey", I would pronounce the eating of tofu trying to be meat as a greater sacrifice than the giving up of meat.

-Uspenije

I thank all for their input. As mentioned, I have contacted my spiritual director and have received instruction.

Brother Ed