| The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" |
| Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." |
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Living to praise Him
None of us who are healthy and
strong should eat anything other than Lenten fare, either on ferial days or on
feast days. Thus, we must fast every day except Sundays and the Nativity of the
Lord, on which days we may have two meals. And on ordinary Thursdays, everyone
may do as she wishes so that she who does not wish to fast is not obliged.
However, we who are well should fast every day except on Sundays and on
Christmas. During the whole of Easter, as the writing of Saint Francis tells
us, and on the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Holy Apostles, we
are not obliged to fast, unless these feasts occur Friday. And, as I have
already said, we who are well and strong always eat Lenten fare.
But our flesh is not bronze, nor
is our strength that of stone, rather, we are frail and inclined to every
bodily weakness! I beg you, therefore, dearly beloved, to refrain wisely and
prudently from an indiscreet and impossible austerity in the fasting that you
have undertaken. And I beg you in the Lord to praise the Lord by your very
life, to offer the Lord your reasonable service and your sacrifice always
seasoned with salt.
May you do well in the Lord as I hope I do myself. Amen!
