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When did fasting for Lent start and why?
Roman Catholic Answer
Fasting as always been part of Lent, it started for two reasons:1. Our Blessed Lord commanded us to fast: "But, when YOU fast..."
2. Our Blessed Lord, Himself, fasted for forty days in the desert.
The Lenten fast is based on the Biblical practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
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What is fasting and abstinence during Lent and what are the rules governing it?
Fasting is eating only three meals with no snacks or eating in between meals and the two lesser meals combined should not be greater than the biggest meal. Abstinence means …no meat. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Fasting is recommended but not required on other days of Lent. Rules apply to those between ages 18 and 60 for fasting and 14 until death for abstinence unless medical reasons contraindicate.
How do you do a progressive fast for Lent?
This is a fast our church recommends: Ash Wednesday - Abstain from beef and veal for remainder of Lent Sunday, March 17 - Abstain from pork for remainder of Lent Sunday, March… 24 - Abstain from poultry for remainder of Lent Sunday, March 31 - Abstain from fish seafood for remainder of Lent Sunday, April 7 - Abstain from eggs for remainder of Lent Sunday, April 14 - Abstain from dairy for remainder of Lent Holy Thursday, Good Friday & Saturday - bread and water only This is pretty intense...I did it last year as I was going thru RCIA. Listen to your body..don't put yourself in an unhealthy situation. If you need to break the fast, break it. It comes down to intention... They recommend consulting your doctor before trying. Good luck if you try it! I'll be there with you!!
Why are Sundays skipped for fasting during Lent?
Technically, Sundays are not part of the 40 days of Lent. If you count from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (including those days) you will come up with over 40 days. We come u…p with 40 days by excluding the Sundays. It is more widely known that we are not supposed to fast on Feast Days, since they are days of rejoicing and Jesus said "'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast'" (Mark 2:19). However, few people know that Sundays are Feast Days. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "2174 Jesus rose from the dead "on the first day of the week."Because it is the "first day," the day of Christ's Resurrection recalls the first creation. Because it is the "eighth day" following the sabbath, it symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ's Resurrection. For Christians it has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord's Day (he kuriake hemera, dies dominica) Sunday." Also, "2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. 'Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church.' 'Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.'" Sunday is also when we are supposed to go to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (aka Mass). True, we can go to daily Mass, but we are only obliged to go on Sunday. Each Sunday is supposed to be like a "mini-Easter," in that we are rejoicing in Christ's Resurrection, and going to Mass. Every Sunday is the Lord's Day. Therefore, we are supposed to "enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives" (CCC 2184). Likewise, every Friday should be like a "mini-Good Friday" where we fast and sacrifice to remember what Christ did for us. I am adding a link from Catholic Answers for you so that you can learn more about this.
Why do Catholics fast during Lent?
Because it signalises the time when Jesus was in the desert for forty days and forty nights and only ate locusts and honey. Roman Catholic AnswerBecause Our Blessed Lor…d told us to: "But thou, when thou does fast, anoint they head and wash thy face, so that thou mayest not be seen fasting by men, but by thy Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who sees in secret, will reward thee." St. Matthew 6:17-18
What days during lent do you fast on?
Catholics must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday under pain of sin. Catholics are encouraged, but not obliged to fast throughout the entire duration of Lent, save on Sunda…ys. On Fridays during Lent, Catholics must abstain from meat.
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Why do people fast during Lent?
According to the Bible, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert with no food or drink while being tempted by Satan. Christians fast and usually give up something special to them dur…ing this time to represent the hardships Jesus went through. Lent is also a preparation for the crucifixion of Jesus, so people are almost mourning what is to come. Then on Easter, when it is believed that he resurrected, people stop fasting and celebrate his resurrection.
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What is Lent?
Lent is a time when Jesus was in the desert for 40 days. Catholics observe this. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. People can give something up like candy …or do something they would not normally do like pray the Rosary. On Fridays during Lent, people 14 and older make a sacrifice and do not eat meat, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday people between 18 and 59 fast. They use the money they save not eating meat to give to the poor. For more details you can call a Catholic Priest. Lent is defined as "the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter." (Answers.com) It is believed that Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry, during which time he encountered temptation by Satan. Christians during this period give up certain "sins" in their lives, symbolizing triumph over temptation similar to Jesus's triumphs over Satan's temptations.
When do you stop fasting during Lent?
Lent lasts for forty days and unlike similar fasts last through the nights as well. Sundays are not counted in the forty days as each Sunday is seen as a celebration of …the resurrection (like mini-Easters) anyway. Lent ends the Saturday before Easter Sunday. Good Friday is a fasting day anyway. Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter. Eastern churches call this period the 'Great Lent'.
When does fasting end for Lent?
Lent ends on Maundy Thursday, which begins the short season of Easter Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday). However, fasting for Lent often …continues through to Holy Saturday, concluding after Easter Vigil services.
At what age do children start fasting for Lent?
It's said that the obligatory age for fasting is 18 - 60 years that too not for the entire season of Lent, just for Ash Wednesday and Good FRIDAY.
How many days do christians fast for during Lent?
40 days, but most Christians do a modified fast by say, giving up a food or fasting once a week.
When did Lent start?
Every year lent begins 40 days before Easter Sunday, though the date is actually flexible in the Liturgical Calendar. Tradition says that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday each yea…r, and continues until Easter Sunday. As early as 130 years after the death, a tradition of fasting and self reflection in preparation of Easter. This period was set at 40 days around 300 AD and was defined to begin on Ash Wednesday, exactly 40 days before Easter, in the 600s. Jesus wants us to be nice and live together forever and love each other.
Answered
What time does lent start?
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. There are 40 days in Lent, because you eliminate the Sundays.
Answered
At what age can stop fasting for Lent?
i don't think you ever stop fasting for lent. i think as long as you believe in it, you fast.
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What should you eat during Fasting for Lent in Eastern Orthodoxy?
The foods that you should abstain from (avoid) during Lent are all meats (eg. red meats, white meats and fish) and all dairy products (eg. cheese, eggs, milk). This applies to… healthy persons. Persons who are elderly or sick are allowed to relax the Fasting rules, or not to follow them at all, depending on their person circumstances. Generally, a spiritual father would provide advice on what rules apply to individuals. All fruits, nuts and vegetables etc are permissible.
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In Catholicism
How long do Catholics fast during Lent?
There are only two mandatory fast days for Catholics during Lent - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics are urged to also fast on other days in Lent but it is not required….
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What are some things children can do instead of fasting during lent?
instead of fasting and giving up something like chocolate or lollies, you may want to take up something like doing more exercise, stop biting your nails or make your bed every… single day.