True Fasting

Quote from John Cassian's Institutes, Book V on Fasting (Paraphrase and Meditation by Wm Michael)

The goal of fasting is to mortify (kill) the sin of GLUTTONY. Gluttony is defined by John Cassian as "seeking the pleasure of the palate", that is, eating to satisfy the desires of the mind rather than for the need of the body. We do this because we are not spiritually minded. We are not praying, meditating, reading and therefore our minds are confused, distracted and led about by the impulses of the flesh. The goal of any spiritual practices is to focus the mind on God and on the Virtues and to quiet all of the random thoughts and desires that come up in us.

A saint wants to spend his entire life in contemplation--worshipping, praying and preparing for the vision of God and eternal life. Eating and sleeping--to the saints--are times away from their chief delight and they would serve the needs of the body only as far as is necessary for strength. Eating is not a matter of times or quantities, but of necessity. The goal is not to delight in rich meals, but to enjoy contemplation, prayer and works of mercy--the food and drink Christ lived on.

Thus, true fasting is eating what is needed and not eating for pleasure. Starving oneself is indeed a form of fasting but the saints all taught that the only true definition of fasting--with spiritual benefit--is that which serves the needs of the body and no more.

God will never allow us to face greater enemies until lesser enemies are overcome. All vitues must be sought together, by:

1. Fasting
2. Vigils
3. Holy Reading
4. Compunction/Sorrow for Sins
5. Contemplation on the Virtues


The challenge I see in this is that if this is the way to perfection, it must be built into the lives of our families and children. If the goal of the Christian life is to maintain a focus on God and the virtues, how ought we to do this in our homes? Obviously homeschooling is an ideal means for doing this, but we must make this the focus of that homeschool. Consider some applications:

1. Fasting: Eating a light, healthy diet that does not cater to tastes; maintaining carefully the Church's appointed fasts. Discouraging/disallowing eating for pleasure save for appointed feasts and celebrations. Forbid eating outside of appointed meal times where food is eaten with prayer and reason. Note: When we eat out of gluttony, we rarely give thanks or do so in community at appointed times.
2. Vigils: Appointing nights to stay up together (sacrficing some sleep) to pray Night Prayer, read Scripture or pray the Rosary.
3. Holy Reading: Scrapping all the garbage and reading saint biographies and saints' writings on virtue, the character of God and heaven. Watching videos on the saints' lives or the life of Christ.
4. Compunction/Sorrow for Sins: Cultivating devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, practicing examination of conscience together as a family discussing our sins and how terrible they are considering how much God has given us. Going to Confession regularly.
5. Contemplation of the Virtues: Recite catechism questions on the virtues before the Blessed Sacrament, a Crucifix or sacred Art. Discuss/Write on what a life of perfect would look like and what the saints would have done in different situations we face. Cultivate devotion to one's Guardian Angel and live with the sense that we are never alone...and act accordingly.

By steps like these we can cultivate Christian perfection among our entire families and make our homeschool a true school of saints.