وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III





* The sacrament of the Unction of the sick (the prayer on the oil) is performed by a fasting priest. Those anointed with the oil of this sacrament also have to be fasting. Patients however, who are unable to fast and those absolved from fasting for the sacrament of communion, are exempt.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







* The sacrament of priesthood,

is practiced while fasting as mentioned earlier.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







What remain are the sacrament of confession and the sacrament of marriage.
How marvellous it would be for those who came to confess their sins while fasting

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III








. However, since the Church seeks the sinners regardless of their state, it has not set fasting as a condition for this sacrament.
As for the sacrament of marriage, Jesus Christ exempted it, saying: “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?” (Mark 2:19). However, the early ascetic church practiced the sacrament of marriage after the raising of the morning incense at which time the bride and groom fasted to receive the Holy Communion, and went on
fasting for the remainder of the day. Nowadays, this practice is uncommon. The faithful, who fast, gain the blessings of the Holy Spirit during the Church sacraments.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III








. In the same way, the Church recognised the importance of fasting in the life of worship and service. It has also known it in times of hardship and has come up with a spiritual rule which is:
Through fasting, God intervenes

[Mary Naeem]

Through fasting, God intervenes

We can cite some examples including: Nehemiah, Ezra, Daniel, Queen Esther interceding for her people, the Church in the fourth century in the depths of Arius’s heresy and on many other through the generations, people fasted and God intervened.






The Fraction prayer of Lent, concentrates on the importance of fasting as an established creed in the conscience of the Church, knowing that through faith and fasting problems are solved.
The unwise man has confidence in his power and intelligence but he who is aware of his weakness appeals to God through fasting when in trouble.
Through his fast, he humbles himself before God and seeks His mercy, saying: “Arise O Lord God”. The Lord answers him through the words in the Psalm: "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." (Ps 12:5).

Fasting is a time to let God know of our every problem. It is a period for the contrite heart to lament and for God to hear.

It is a time when people come close to God. A time when God comes close, listens to their yearning and lamentations and acts, . As long as people are preoccupied with their desires, lusts of the body and materialistic things, they feel that God stands far away from them. However, it is not He who detaches Himself from us but we, who push Him away rejecting Him and refusing to approach Him.

On the other hand, during a fast intermingled with prayer, man draws near to God and says to Him: Lend a hand to Your worshipper.

It is the heart crying to God that He may intervene in his life.

This may take place at any time, but it becomes more profound, more sincere and more powerful during the period of fasting.

Through true fasting man can soften God's heart.

He, who realises the benefits of fasting and its effectiveness in his life as well as in his relationship with God, rejoices over it.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III








. Through fasting, God intervenes

We can cite some examples including: Nehemiah, Ezra, Daniel, Queen Esther interceding for her people, the Church in the fourth century in the depths of Arius’s heresy and on many other through the generations, people fasted and God intervened.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







The Fraction prayer of Lent, concentrates on the importance of fasting as an established creed in the conscience of the Church, knowing that through faith and fasting problems are solved.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







The unwise man has confidence in his power and intelligence but he who is aware of his weakness appeals to God through fasting when in trouble.
Through his fast, he humbles himself before God and seeks His mercy, saying: “Arise O Lord God”. The Lord answers him through the words in the Psalm: "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." (Ps 12:5).

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







Fasting is a time to let God know of our every problem. It is a period for the contrite heart to lament and for God to hear.