How to Have Your Best Lent Yet | Fr. Ambrose

[@st.michaelsabbey]

Sign up for "The Great Fast" for free here: theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join

[@PerpetualPreponderer]

Hi, I’m new to the faith. What is the method & details of the fasting please? I come from different religious background where fasting means only water can be had. However I’ve noticed significant health problems & long term side effects in people who do that frequently, especially for long periods. Given that lent is 40 days, I’m pretty sure that’s not the way it’s done, right?

[@_peasant6317_]

Fasting is different for everyone depending on age, health, situation in life, etc. If you can't fast everyday, maybe only try on Wednesdays and Fridays; or give up things like sugary foods and drinks, alcohol, or other things you enjoy consuming for lent. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to fast, as long as you truly believe you are giving your best effort to God. That's all He asks of us 🙏❤️

[@PerpetualPreponderer]

@@_peasant6317_ thanks :) I just don't want to do end up doing something that results in negative health consequences down the road....seen it happen to sooo many where I'm from.

[@margaretfadipe9656]

Thank you for this. This is my first time fasting 6 to 6. When it gets hard, i hear Fr Nobert saying "keep going". Now these clips help me know we are many journeying with our Saviour. Thank you for praying for me 😁.

[@jovithapaul2855]

Same here

[@madgiemadgie9128]

You are not alone. Today somehow seems harder than on Monday when I started the 6am-6pm. I keep thinking of the Jollof rice in the fridge. But Glory be to God. Lent is such a gift.

[@lailasule543]

@@madgiemadgie9128today was hard for me too, and the heat didn’t help. I had to take permission to close a little earlier than usual. May God continue to help us 🙏

[@navigatorofthevalley]

You can do it. In the difficulty you will find meaning. God reveals truths to you when you fast.

[@margaretfadipe9656]

@@madgiemadgie9128 😂😂. Thanks for the laugh. I needed the humour. 😂

[@a.m.6594]

God Bless You. I initiated on Ash Wednesday and followed up on the immediate Friday wanting to absorb the ancient way..then I found "St.Michael's Abbey"! Thank you for your prayers and assistance in the refinement of my Lenten journey and the following Sacrements of Initiation during the upcoming Easter Vigil.

[@JohnintheTyranny]

I admire all of you. Fasting is very difficult--I found out this Lent. My hope is that God reveals himself to you.

[@elenasilipa6090]

Good morning Father,Just woke, and opened my phone, and I hear you, so I truly love this challenge of Lent. Yes I'm not an angel or a perfect person, Im a weak person and always fall into sin. Please pray for me so that this year of Lent, I will manage, to be strong to be truthful the best I can to stay faithfully offering myself during this Lent. Please pray for me a sinner. Thank you for inviting me to join in with you. It moves my heart to accept your invitation. From the bottom of my heart, this is a great opportunity for me a born Catholic and the whole Christian world to be close to God daily.🙏 Yes, I do believe. Help us Lord. Thank you and your Priesthood community for reaching out to assist me and others to have the best lent and to meditate on our Saviour's Passion on the Wood of the Cross✨✝️✨ God Bless you all Father

[@navigatorofthevalley]

For Lent I eat just once per day after sundown. For reparation, to overcome myself and to strengthen my will for God.

[@marcios5269]

I do the same

[@DeusVolo]

The worst I can do is not try.

[@marys_fiat]

Also fasting and only having one meal after 6pm. Offering it as a sacrifice for all of you at the Abbey. Thank you for pushing me to do more. Through God’s grace, we can all do it. God bless you!

[@Wacdonaldnoneyt]

After going on Kairos 85 Retreat (Servite High School) I feel prepared for Lent and ready to become a future Norbertine!

[@joylove7559]

💗 thank you 🙏 yes I feel deep inside that fasting is the most direct way to meditation and this communion and God 🌈 thank you for promoting powerful enlightening technologies with so much devotion which I feel is the true message of Christ ! and not just guilt generating moral remarks like too many churches of all stream around the world. 💗

[@ale21424]

Guys, please pray for me. I sinned on Tues and sort of lost that spark since. Although I'm still fasting and haven't given up.

[@_peasant6317_]

Praying for you 🙏❤️ If you feel the sin is serious I greatly recommend going to confession or talking to your priest

[@dominicjacob8617]

Keep going forward... Keep going

[@bettybella2417]

GOD BLESS YOU & BE WITH YOU.

[@Rugbylacroose4life]

God Bless you Fr! Thank you!

[@koolertrek]

Please pray for me. I struggle with so many bad sins.

[@Scb30476]

Pray the rosary every single day multiple times a day if possible 🙏🏻☺️

[@madgiemadgie9128]

🙏🏾

[@chaupham2888]

Don’t concentrate about sin concentrate about God .

[@lisam.9519]

I will be praying for you! Know that God loves you, go to confession and trust in His Mercy. He will give you the grace to overcome sin, especially if you ask it through the intercession of Our sweet mother, the Blessed Lady and St Joseph, our spiritual father. Don't get discouraged, if you fall go to Jesus with humility and love through the sacrament of reconciliation. Remember to pray the Rosary, look into the promises our Lady gave to those who pray it. May God bless you!

[@SuperIndomitus]

One can do it for many days if, each time hunger or temptation comes, you ask the Lord to help you persevere and consider that the satisfaction of the stomach will not feed you with what you really need.

[@tomplunkett4505]

I have taken this fasting under the guidance of god and Father Norbert to renew my catholic faith and day 7 has come .

[@NABE_124]

*God

[@csongorarpad4670]

beautiful!

[@joyfulsongstress3238]

I have a few things on the go this lent (devotions, a bread fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, etc). I hope you offer this again next year. Due to health concerns and working full-time, I have to do modified fasts, but I'm determined to make a more concerted effort than in the past.

[@nitapalacios4968]

God Bless all the chosen sons of St. Michaels Abbey 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@jims512]

Embers Days are this week: Today (Wed 2/21/24), Friday, and Saturday

[@R.C.425]

Thank you

[@maryccwm1]

Thank you Father Ambrose🙏🏻

[@marisagonzalez1543]

You can also try to fast with bread and water, is a good practice too. Where you put all you have in Our Lord's Hands, is abandoning ourselves to His Devine Will.

[@bruno-bnvm]

Warning THIS IS BAD ADVICE TO DO FOR 40 DAYS. YOU COULD DIE. IGNORE

[@marisagonzalez1543]

@@bruno-bnvm no bro, get more info about it. You don't die from your existentes, but you die to the world for living to God Our Lord only. I've done that more than once, many people have follow the 40day fast with bread and water and have very strong testimonies. Most Saints have fast only with bread and water. Jesus fast for 40 days before getting into the desert. Fasting for 40 days with bread and water for a human, is impossible. However, when you fast for 40 days is not YOU, is Jesus fasting on you, where you leave everything you have to His Divine Will, THERE is where He transforms YOU.

[@lenysmartinez1084]

Thank you for your support to follow our Lord. God Bless you Always. Love from my heart! :)

[@rajanivarghese481]

Amen

[@blankimolina]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word.

[@toryknee8471]

Thank you for this

[@here2swear]

My Lord sojourned through the desert 40 days and nights without sin while being constantly tempted by the devil. Breaks my heart ♥️ We should therefore do our part to say the least. Lenten blessings.

[@michaelamclarnon9270]

THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏

[@pennylane5326]

Wow, that's really hard. I normally skip dinner and sweets for Lent. Fasting is hard when you have a family that's not on board. Love what you are doing nevertheless ❤ Blessings!

[@here2swear]

I signed up before the fast began and this explanation does help understand how to use the daily emails from Fr. Prior better. Thanks for the explanation Father Ambrose 🙏

[@christ_mark]

❤😊🙏God bless

[@barbara.T1450]

Thank you. Just signed up.

[@bernob9770]

Amen!

[@swashyhimself]

Beautiful video and I really like the clothes he's wearing. I know that's irrelevant but aesthetics matter. Also, fasting is HARD lol I'm getting on with it but it's my first time and I'm not used to it

[@Salve_Regina8]

Wish this video was uploaded before lent started. Maybe next year. God willing.

[@_peasant6317_]

It's never too late to start or take up practices during lent ❤️🙏

[@Salve_Regina8]

@@_peasant6317_ true. Thanks!

[@TheKevinRico19]

Thank you for this amazing thing that you have given people. This is truly an inspiration for many. May I ask what beautiful piece of music is played at the beginning?

[@myfakinusername]

The church teacher, St. Basil the Great (whom the Holy Roman Church commemorates on January 2, together with St. Gregory of Nazianzus) said that it was fasting, or not observing it, that caused the Fall (of Adam and Eve) and, among other things: "Because we did not fast, we fell out of Paradise; therefore, let us fast in order to return there. Don't you see how Lazarus entered Paradise through fasting? Do not imitate Eve's disobedience; never again accept the advice of the serpent, who suggested eating out of consideration for the body. Do not use physical illness and weakness as an excuse for not fasting. You do not offer such justifications to me, but to Him who knows everything about you.''

[@veredictum4503]

Thank you Fr Ambrose. Not trying to be a smart alec, but as a borderline diabetic, I have been reading a lot on diets and fasting. If I may add - real definition of Fasting is no food, drinks and clear soup allowed (not high protein shakes though that didn't exist in olden days). Medically (spiritual is separate), the purpose of fasting is to deplete glucose, force the body to burn stored fat (turns into Ketones). It also triggers autophagy (self-destruction of damaged cells - that scientist won the Nobel Prize). New cells created on eating. So what you described is actually OMAD - One Meal A Day, or IF - Intermittent Fasting. There's still calories coming in, but restricted to an hour. That lowers insulin (fat storage hormone) for 23 hours. Obviously not to gorge 3 meals worth into the 1 hour. So what we can do for Lent, is OMAD as you describe, but simpler food and smaller portions - no lobster and caviar! I personally think these definitions are important, because 'fasting' will imply to the rest of the world zero food. I think there's reason to believe Jesus did that - he always does the maximum to set an example. No food is achievable, provided one has fat reserves (penguins, polar bears). Otherwise muscle is consumed, and the heart is a muscle. But no water would be impossible.

[@bvmheart]

Intermittent fasting equals atophagy and the reason monks never have loose skin ❤

[@eoinMB3949]

My fast is not eating sugar(foods that have sugar added to them) and not drinking caffeine or any type of teas, I drink only water.

[@ale21424]

Godspeed

[@beatricesama-qb7hl]

Thank you Father for this encouragement! This is my first time observing Lent and I pray God give me the grace to complete it. Also, are we suppose to fast on Sunday?

[@ourladyqueenofvictorys6]

Should I be fasting more than just on Ash Wensday and Good Friday or should I stick with what I'm currently doing(no snacks and no seconds at dinner)? I'm 18

[@evelyntoland6935]

Where can I receive the relic of St Michael?

[@KrisEnderez]

How do you fast?

[@d.o.7784]

How do you fast

[@ale21424]

Eat a regular sized meal a day except for Sundays. Also, abstain from red meat on Fridays.

[@chinweuzondu7515]

What about nursing mothers? How does one fast if nursing a little one?

[@jennifermanzano2400]

I don’t think you should fast from food if you’re nursing. Your health is important for the health of your baby. Baby is first. Maybe fast from something else

[@KathleenPape-u7l]

Please add me to your list!

[@KathleenPape-u7l]

Oh, I guess I can join the circle but your website it blocked at work :(

[@JH_Phillips]

Where can I find this version of Miserere?

[@st.michaelsabbey]

It’s on our channel!

[@PhyllisCoffey-z3q]

Father, I have tried twice to sign up and I haven’t received anything in my email.

[@babeybabey9805]

Can we eat egg?

[@babeybabey9805]

As a young woman I don't think we can complete the 40 days fast before the end of Lent. What are we supposed to do to fill those days. This is my first time of going 6 to 6. Seriously I never knew it was mandatory until seeing Fr said so. I am just going to keep going... Are we allowed to eat egg?

[@kyrieeleison1243]

It is not mandatory. It used to be mandatory in the Middle Ages. It is the traditional monastic fast which the Fathers are inviting us to generously participate in.