![]() ![]() Fasting on Fridays creates a pattern of preparation for Holy Communion.įasting trains us to say “NO” to our sinful flesh by saying “NO” to our bodies.įasting teaches us that our corporal bodies, though created good, are affected by Sin andĬan be both Friend and Foe in our journey toward Holiness.įasting reminds us to hunger after righteousness. Perhaps the most surprising for most is the weekly fast on all but two Fridays of the year.There is a weekly rhythm of feasting on Sundays. The weekly rhythm of fasting makes sense when we keep this in mind. Of note is that Advent is commonly considered a “little Lent.” The 1928 BCP, compared to older versions of the Prayer Book and other traditions is notoriously light on its requirements for fasting and/or abstinence.Įmber Days, as we explained a few weeks ago, are times of prayer for clergy and especially those who are entering Holy Orders. Next, the forty days of Lent do not include the Sundays. It only states that you must, for the health of your soul, abstain from something. In other words, the Church requires that you fast, that you fast weekly, but it does dictate from what you must fast. Notice, too, that the “measure of abstinence” is not prescribed. This is left to the conscience and discretion of the individual Christian. It refers to things benign, but perhaps what our soul is inordinately attached to in a way that is addictive, distracting, or providing false consolation. It means that you should refrain from something. This does not, of course, refer to something sinful, which we should always refrain from. It uses the word “Abstinence” instead of “Fasting.” Abstinence is a more general term. ![]() ![]() THE CHURCH REQUIRES.” The Book of Common Prayer is intended to be a Common Rule of Life that the Church, acting as Mother, gives her children. This Rule comes with an expectation of holy obedience. III. All the Fridays in the Year, except Christmas Day, and The Epiphany, or any Friday which may intervene between these Feasts.įirst, notice in the paragraph written in all caps that it says. and Saturday after the First Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Pentecost, September 14, and December 13. II. The Ember Days at the Four Seasons, being the Wednesday, Friday. OTHER DAYS OF FASTING, ON WHICH THE CHURCH REQUIRES SUCH A MEASURE OF ABSTINENCE AS IS MORE ESPECIALLY SUITED TO EXTRAORDINARY ACTS AND EXERCISES OF DEVOTION. There you’ll find “A Table of Fasts.” It reads: Near the beginning of the prayer book on page li, after the Lectionary and Calendar, there is a page titled, “Tables and Rules for the Movable and Immovable Feasts”. Over time, it has incorporated other forms of abstinence as well. Traditionally, this has meant abstaining from all food or meat. Every Friday, in commemoration of Jesus' death on the cross, the Prayer Book calls for a measure of fasting and abstinence (a "mini-Good Friday"). Christians have also traditionally seen a similar rhythm at the weekly level.Īs the Prayer Book indicates, every Sunday is a feast day, because it is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection (a "mini-Easter"). For instance, Lent is a time of fasting and preparation for Easter. We are likely familiar with this idea through the liturgical calendar, which walks us through the course of the year through various seasons that have their unique emphases and practices. From the earliest centuries, Christians have ordered time with certain spiritually formative practices. ![]()
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