وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

The sinful fasts during the days of the Prophet Jeremiah:
The Lord did not accept this fast and said to Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. "When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them.” (Jer 14:11,12).
The Lord did not accept their fasts, prayers, and oblation because they lived an evil life and their hearts were not pure before Him.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Thus, fasting without repentance is unacceptable.
God wants a pure heart more than He does a hungry body.
A person's fast is invalid if his heart does not abstain from sins and his tongue from evil words. Even if he gives his body to be burned, it will not profit him. (1 Cor 13:3).

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting without mercy and charity is unacceptable:
The Lord explained this point to the Prophet Isaiah, saying: “`Why have we fasted,' they say, `and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'
... Indeed you fast for strife and debate ... Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? ...Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--” (Is 58:3-7).
A fast that does not go hand in hand with merciful deeds and a pure heart is unacceptable even if performed with humility and courtesy.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting that is not for God is invalid:
Some may fast on doctor’s orders. Another may fast to have a graceful body and good looks,. Both fasts are not performed for God and or spiritual gain. A third person may go on a hunger strike and not for spiritual aim or for God's sake. A fourth may forsake food in distress or despair. Non of these fasts can be considered genuine. Again, we reiterate by saying that any fast which is not for God and spiritual gain, cannot be considered a fast and is not accepted by God.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

What then, is an acceptable spiritual fast for God?
It is one where a profound relationship with God is established. It is a fast where you feel God in your life. It is a sacred period, which belongs to God and devoted entirety Him. It is a time when God’s presence is very visible in your behaviour. It is a time with which your relationship with God increases and grows in a spiritual exultation which makes you long to stretch your fast and become endless.

[Mary Naeem]

قدوس قدوس قدوس يا رب الآنام
أدركك بيقين قلبى انك الله القدوس الواحد الوحيد
قلبى يشتاق اليك يا قدوس يا بار يا قدير
فأشكرك يارب على حفظك لنا ولاولادنا

آمين

[Mary Naeem]

قلبى بشوقه يسجد بخشوع
امام انفجار قلبك على الصليب من اثمى انا الحقير
فأشكرك يارب لأنك فديتنا بابنك الوحيد
آمين

[Mary Naeem]

بلهفة روحى اتهلل اليك بتسبيح
وتهليل فى كل لحيظه من حياتى يا عظيم
كم انت حنان على بنيك وتهبنا الحب
والسلام بسخاء ليس له مثيل
آمين

[Mary Naeem]

ربى حبيبى وروحى ونصيب قلبى الوحيد

قلبى يراك فيزيد اشتياق الإنسكاب تحت قدميك
فليس لنا معين سولك

آمين

[Mary Naeem]

ربى حبيبى روحى تتهلل فينسج قلبى
منظومة تسبيح لو كتبت لا تجد لها ما يسعها يا قدير
فليس لنا حبيب غيرك فارحمنا يا معين

آمين