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Is fasting a common practice among the Eastern Rites and Eastern Orthodox? Also, within the Eastern Rites, do any of them abstain from meat during the Fridays of Lent as the Latin Rite does?
Pax Christi,
Michael

CHRIST IS RISEN!
INDEED HE IS RISEN!

Hello Michael

Fasting is practiced among Eastern Christians. It's probably more common practice than among Latin Rite Catholics.

During Great Lent we obstained from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays. Many abstain from eggs and dairy products also on these days.

Some do not use meat, eggs or dairy products during the entire fasting period.

In addition to the Great Fast, most Eastern Christians fast at other times during the Liturgical year. These times include the Filipovka, the Fast of St.Phillip starting on November 14 and lasting thru Christmas. The fast of Sts.Peter and Paul, the last of June. The Dormition Fast starting on August 1 and lasting thru the Dormition (Assumption) on August 15.

Many Eastern Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays during the Liturgical year.

Hope this helps....

mark

Dear Michael,

I am an Eastern Catholic who grew up in Roman Rite schools etc.

The Eastern Church fasts a great deal as Mark has discussed.

Could you explain to me what the regulations of fasting are in the Roman CAtholic CHurch?

You mentioned that there is fasting on the Fridays of Lent - I thought there was fasting only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and that for all else one might substitute good works or something.

Alex

Alex --

As I recall, Latin Rite Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat *or* perform a fast-equivalent good work every Friday (that generally isn't practiced). During Lent, Latin Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays, and on ASh Wednesday and Good Friday there is fasting as well as abstinence (that is, a limit on the number of meals as well as the type of food eaten -- I think it's "one meal and two 'collations' and no meat").

Brendan

>>>Could you explain to me what the regulations of fasting are in the Roman CAtholic CHurch?<<<

Lax?

Dear StuartK,

I have had the pleasure and privilege of reading your voluminous postings on this Forum and gaining much intellectual and spiritual benefit from so doing.

But I must confess that your response in one well chosen word in this latest posting should earn you an Honorary Doctorate!

Alex

Dear Brendan,

Thank you for explaining the RC (ideal) practice with respect to fasting.

In the interim, I had already asked three practicing RC's in my office about this and they were all surprised that fasting was still around in their Church!

Alex

>>>n the interim, I had already asked three practicing RC's in my office about this and they were all surprised that fasting was still around in their Church!<<<

That is a sad, telling testimony as to the state of the Roman Church

Dear Irish,

But that doesn't mean that I love them or you any the less!

Alex

>>>But that doesn't mean that I love them or you any the less!<<<

Of course, I know that. But in your love I would request your prayers for your Roman brothers and sisters. We are going through a rough time with all out heresy being taught in some pulpits on Sunday.

We are sheep in need of Traditional sheperds.

Dear Irish,

I will say an Eastern Akathist for my beloved Roman brothers and sisters later today!

Alex

More of the same--
In the local RC parish there was a funeral service conducted during the recent Great Lent one Friday morning. The women of this parish did their usual meal serving which included meat items and this necessitated the pastor to grant a dispensation to everyone attending.

Dear Orientalia,

Of course, there are many Roman Catholics who fast.

I recently spoke with an acquaintance who took up fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays after visiting Medjugorje.

This person will only eat bread and water on those days. He also fasts very strictly throughout Lent and at other times.

This reminds me of a Catholic actress who fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays.

She attended a banquet on a Friday but turned away the roast beef that was offered.

The chef came out very angrily to ask her what was wrong with his masterpiece . . .

She said simply that she was a Catholic and fasted on Fridays.

To this he said, "Then I am honoured greatly that you put God and the Catholic faith ahead of all else!"

May it be so with us all!

Alex

>>>To this he said, "Then I am honoured greatly that you put God and the Catholic faith ahead of all else!"

May it be so with us all!<<<

Amen!

While we are on the subject; what is the significance of the Wednesday fast?