Why Do We Fast? w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, OP

[@benedictcorbett1954]

As always Father Pine, cool as a cucumber and very informative, thank you and you’re in my prayers 😊

[@emiliamahoney8280]

Thank you for discussing this topic! I have been doing intermittent fasting and eating 2 meals/day for several months now and my soul feels so much lighter! And amazingly my health is waaaay better! For me, it worked reducing cravings by giving up refined/processed carbs, eating salads, drinking diluted apple cider vinegar with lemon water, eating some proteins, some healthy fats. Giving up sugar/refined carbs IS KEY!! Once you do that, you don’t feel that urge to munch all the time, no need for snacks anymore, you feel FREE! It’s so amazing not being slave of food and desserts anymore! Praised be Jesus!

[@elitisthavoc3949]

To conquer our passions and forge ourselves in Christ.

[@joejackson6205]

Funny thing about fasting and abstaining, modern nutritionist have shown amazing health benefits from fasting 12 to 24 hours, working to just one meal a day.

[@thomasgronek6469]

Thank you Father Gregory. There has been a big movement toward straightening out the misinformation provided by the USDA, that is, many are becoming carnivores, and as such we only eat meat, it's associated fat, fish, cheese, butter, eggs, and the like. some are strict carnivores, , I have lived that way for almost 3 years now, and I, along with most of the carnivores, frequently fast (not for the religious aspects), but because we're not hungry. Going without any food for a day is soooo easy, and two or three days without food is not uncommon for us, especially if we have a bit of fat to use. I only eat one meal a day (Know a OMAD) frequently, and I abstain from meat on Fridays, and adhere to the guidelines of the Church. If one gets the other items out of one's diet, they will find how easy fasting is. Thank you for the presentation, , , I feel sorry for those who have trouble fasting. It's so easy with the species appropriate diet. God Bless

[@jacobmoorman2720]

That’s the first time I’ve heard it put that way-species appropriate diet. I am making the switch, the more arguments for carnivore I hear l, I am convinced.

[@thomasgronek6469]

@@jacobmoorman2720 I am happy for you. Much luck, God Bless

[@Twin_solo_az]

I have several times in the past lost weight and got in shape in the name of vanity. Today I struggle with temperance more than any virtue because it’s accidents are so psychologically bound up with vanity. I pray for the grace of being deprogrammed out of that mindset every day.

[@RevolutionDrummer47]

I never heard St. Gregory on temperance, and it is so accurate. So many times I read Scripture, or participate in Mass, and I just want more. These videos are great, thank you Fr.!

[@account2871]

Dear Fr. Pine (if you read any of these comments that is) You are a nerd. And we love you for it

[@aiantenor9080]

salamat Padre

[@BlessedisShe]

Great video!

[@talia37]

BRILLIANT video!!! 👌👌👏👏

[@tbojai]

A (former) Protestant’s perspective: Catholics seem to be much more in tune with the virtues of chastity and abstinence than Protestants. Good on us for that. But in my experience, Protestants are way ahead of us on fasting. When I was a Protestant, fasting was pretty important, and I had never heard of eating food while fasting until I became a Catholic. I knew Protestants that fasted (on nothing but water) one day a week for years. I knew others who would go days or sometimes weeks on nothing but water. This type of exercise is not without deep spiritual benefits. It is worth noting as well that great saints like Padre Pio subsisted on naught but the Holy Eucharist for many days. I would suggest that the rigors of fasting are not just for the “spiritual athletes” in the clergy, but that this is an area where the laity can participate in a very full way. I would submit Arthur Wallace’s book “God’s Chosen Fast” to all Catholics for consideration. Certainly it will never receive the imprimatur, but neither would any of C.S. Lewis’s works, yet they too are full of helpful thoughts for all Christians. Thank you Fr. Pine for this wonderful and encouraging video!

[@mariobaratti2985]

This and the deeper layers of Prayers such Meditation are the most neglected parts of the christian life nowadays!

[@mikkis668]

Meanwhile in the Orthodox Church: the laity fasts about 180 days/year, monastics even more 😮. Asceticism is seen as a vital part in every Christian's life. 💪😊👍

[@patrickmicheal6235]

Hello so I would like some guidance on how I should fast cause I'm an athlete and I do lots of physical exercise. I fast every Wednesday and Friday and most of the physical exercise is in the evening but after a day of fasting, I feel so drained as compared to the other days and yet I'm not changing the load I do on those days of fasting. Is that how it should be? should I continue with the intermittent fasting that I do or should I take on another form of fasting? #askfathergregorypine or anyone in the community could answer. Thank you

[@WarriorPrincess717]

Is it appropriate to fast on Sundays?

[@abp.dorime7943]

One problem I could see with this is when you attend Sunday Mass you will partake of the Eucharist. While not a full meal, I debate whether it violates the spirit of a fast. While I personally see nothing wrong with fasting on a Sunday, it's a question you should ask.

[@MissPopuri]

There is a Eucharistic fast which is no food or drink (with the exception of being sick) for an hour at least. Previously, the stipulation was three hours before reception of the Eucharist. The hardest Eucharistic fast is Midnight Sunday until receiving. You can imagine that people would want to go to Mass super early in order to break their fast quickly (hence we call the first meal, breakfast). St. Augustine and some of the other spiritual fathers have said that fasting on Sunday is forbidden outside of the Eucharistic fast because it is the First Day of the Week, the Day dedicated to celebrating his Resurrection from the dead and engaging with his glorious mysteries. You don’t fast when the bridegroom comes to be with his bride.

[@micheled8764]

Fr. Dufner said no - Sundays are for feasting and not fasting. We should not fast on Sundays (or other important feast days).

[@jdosvd]

Prayer and fasting helps fight demons and their works. Also Most essential is Repentance of one's sins with will control not to sin again.

[@OpEditorial]

It's also completely natural biologically, humans having unlimited access to food is a surprisingly recent phenomenon in terms of our evolution (in some parts of the world it still hasn't happened yet) intermittent fasting would've been the norm for our species.

[@terricolarusso2639]

Fr Pine, you are usually over my head with doctrine …Lol but today you spoke to my soul and by the grace of God I am going to try an implement abstinence in my life. Thank you and God bless you

[@andrewkelly2028]

Every time I see Fr. Gregory Pine open the video with a funny face, I can't help but think of the time he said "This is the eighth time I recorded this," a month ago.

[@mariannatodd7010]

Going to add my 2 cents in with the other ketovores. Eliminating processed foods especially refined carbs and upping the healthy fats have made fast/abstinence days doable and Joyful, instead of dreaded and too difficult. It is very humbling to know that I'm weak and need to eat healthy in order to practice temperance, rather than feeling dejected and prideful in thinking I should be able to fast and cannot.

[@Caritasaveritas]

Thank you, Father, for your guidance. Your explanations and examples make good sense. God bless you and your work.

[@nellyblancaflor5559]

Father, you did not discuss why do we have to fast?

[@PC-mz5su]

Great topic Father, thank you with lent around the corner! Merry Christmas 🎄 I’ll pray please pray for me!

[@nancycomee4844]

I was good until you mentioned chocolate chip cookies immediately after I finished eating two chocolate chip cookie bars! 😳

[@Jorge_Magallon]

Food for thought, pun intended. Seriously though, something I should chew on. Errr, something I should ponder as I consider Exodus 90 as a way of increasing my virtue and tempering some of my vices.

[@pxsmythe8913]

Do it. It’s a great program

[@astrol4b]

We fast to trigger autophagy and get healthy, obviously.

[@kathleenhundt2740]

I'm a mom of 4 small children and would like to begin fasting, however I am the main cook in the household and food is a large part of my day. Do you have any advice of how I can curb my appetite/avoid temptation to break my fast, while still doing all the cooking?

[@dmd418]

This is my life too. I usually fast breakfast or dinner so I can not be around when everyone is eating and someone else can pick it up. Hopefully that helps.

[@MissPopuri]

When you make meals for your children, you can make a little portion for yourself to eat while they eat. Like baking muffins or cookies, you can give your children the best and biggest cookies while keeping a tiny one for yourself. It also depends on the attitude of the child toward eating. My own niece and nephew tend to like to graze throughout the day on the portion we give them. It helps them to be able to imitate someone who is also eating because they think it is a good time when food is out.

[@angelus823]

I like fasting and I believe in the spiritual benefits, but my problem is that I don't think I'm doing it right because I easily get too carried away without realizing it. My stomach shrinks quickly after the first day and then I'll forget to eat when I'm supposed to which makes me sick

[@MissPopuri]

It’s probably the bloat of having overindulged that shrinks your stomach upon starting to fast. You might want to check with a medical doctor for any other issues with fasting though. For myself, I tend to forget to eat if I am absorbed in something that captures my attention and don’t want to stop. When I was younger, I would never play video games and eat at the same time because I didn’t want to dirty the controllers with my food particles. You get the same principle when you are older feeling like you don’t want to eat in the same place where you are doing work.

[@angelus823]

@@MissPopuri so basically if I gradually tried to decrease the amount I eat normally before a fast, that should help me to fast without getting sick?

[@MissPopuri]

@@angelus823 yes, it is a moderation technique that gets easier the more you practice.

[@classicsfan10]

What does one do if they’ve struggled with an eating disorder? I developed anorexia after increasing my Lenten fasts in middle school. Now that I am an adult, I really, really want to fast but my body is not able to because of struggles with food. I would have to stay in bed all day and could not do anything if I fasted. I have tried! I feel sad that I can’t fast when there are so many benefits. I know I can fast from other things but it’s not usually what the church means when they speak of fasting.

[@elliottcannon9031]

Have you tried fasting from things other than food for example chastity or social media etc. Temperance can be developed in many ways other than fasting from food. Temperance is about being in control of pleasures. God bless