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March 24, 2021Catholic Bishops of England and Wales restored the custom of Catholics abstaining from meat and fasting on every Friday of the year. Older Catholics will remember this was the custom of the Church in the United States. Father Phil Seeton, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton, encourages his parishioners to not just do the minimum required by the Church but to pray and abstain from meat on Fridays during the whole year. This is done in remembrance of the Lord who died on a Friday.
“There are many great reasons to pray, fast and abstain. Fasting reminds us that when we feel hunger we should pray to ‘fill up’ our lives with God. Fasting has to be accompanied by prayer. When we fast, it is not only to condition the body and discipline ourselves (1 Cor 9:27), but it is also to give the soul a chance to be nourished by the spiritual nutrition that is good for us: prayer, spiritual readings, works of mercy and love for others,” Father Seeton said.
“For many Christians fasting is essential because we see it happen in the perfect human being, the Word incarnate, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Another reason to fast is to overcome temptation. In the Gospels, we are shown the Lord’s fasting in the desert and his triumph over Satan. Some Christians fast to be able to reconcile with God, others fast to build up their spiritual life and others fast to be able to relate to the poor of the earth.”
Father Oby Zunmas, pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Madill, said it is important to our faith to learn about prayers, fasting and abstinence.
“We live in a world of plenty. We do not eat when we are hungry, but because ‘it is time to eat.’ Prayer, fasting and almsgiving, especially during Lent, allows us to share our suffering and our blessings with the less fortunate,” Father Zunmas said.
“Christ gave us the example of prayer and fasting, and he wants us to get closer to God through prayer and fasting. Just think, if we go out to eat and spend $10-$15, what that will purchase for people in the third world through things like Operation Rice Bowl.”
In a homily at daily Mass on March 10, Father Kevin Ratterman cited two readings – Deuteronomy 4:5-9 and Mt 5:17-19 – as reasons to use prayer, fasting and abstinence as tools to begin a closer relationship with Christ.
“This program will take you to a new level in your spiritual life.”
Father Seeton added that it is about the “bright sadness” of the Lenten journey and Holy Week.
“In the Eastern Christian churches, Lent is a time of ‘bright sadness.’ It is sad because of my sinfulness and the waste I have made of my life (Lk. 15:13). It is bright because of God’s continual presence and constant willingness to take me back to himself. Lent is a time to look at the darkness in our lives and open our lives to Christ, the light that is never overcome by darkness. This leads to the joy of glorifying Christ, risen from the dead.”
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
