Fasting <br/><br/>

A disciple once asked Jesus, “Why is it that we cannot drive Satan from the children’s body?” Jesus answered, “There are some evils that can only be driven out by prayer and fasting!”<br/><br/>

The church’s tradition is that we must abstain every Friday, that is we should refrain from eating the meat of a warm-blooded animal. Moreover, we must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which means eating only one full meal per day. Nowadays because of pastoral needs, many parishes allow parishioners to replace fasting with acts of charity on Fridays.<br/><br/>

The spirit of fasting is to proactively restrain one’s desires.<br/><br/>

For every day since June 25, 1981, Holy Mary has appeared to six children in Medjugorje. Mary invites them to pray the rosary, eat only bread (whole wheat bread) and drink only water every Wednesday and Friday, for the intention of world peace.<br/><br/>

Mother Mary laid down these restrictions because she is aware of our human weakness. She invites us to fast not only once, but twice a week; she asks us to fast from all meat; not only the meat of warm-blooded animals. However, Mary adds, “Those who are sick do not have to fast.” Mother Mary’s request is an invitation for all of us, not a commandment. If one has many doubts and fears in his heart, practicing what Mary teaches is one plausible solution. Moreover, we can become closer to the poor in this world when we eat only bread and drink only water!