وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

The days of fasting are for spiritual strength and a period of storage.
From the depth of spiritual fast, one gains spiritual strength that sustains him during his period of no fasting. He who is honest for instance during Lent, stores up spiritual stock that strengthens him throughout the fifty sacred days following Lent, where neither fasting nor prostration are allowed

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting should be spiritual in aim and motive
It is not an obligation, for praise, or out of custom. We fast for the love of God above materialistic and bodily things, to give the soul a chance to grow.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting should be a period of penitence and purity of heart:
In it, a person leads a holy life, acceptable in the sight of God, confessing his sins, reproaches himself and then partakes of the Holy Sacraments.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting should be a period of spiritual nourishment accompanied by an effective spiritual agenda:
To use all the spiritual media available and to concentrate on spiritual rather than bodily matters, Not to focus on the type of vegetable food to be eating but on the sanctity of these days of fasting and what is proper for them so that one's spirit may be strengthened
Fasting leads to the strength of the spirit, and the strength of the spirit leads to fasting.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Virtues which are intermingled, are gained through fasting
Fasting helps one stay up late because of the lightness of one's body. Staying up late leads to reading and prayer. Spiritual reading also helps one to pray. Spiritual work as a whole makes a spiritual person sit up late. Reading is a source of contemplation. Contemplation strengthens prayer which is also a source of contemplation.
Fasting is associated with prostration, which leads to humility and a contrite heart. A subdued body through fasting also leads to a subduing of the soul.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Fasting leads to virtues, which relate to the purpose of fasting.
The Apostles for example, prepares one for service. Nineveh’s fast, aims at repentance. The purpose of a fast, such as Esther's, was to save her people. There are those who fast for others and their fast embodies love, sacrifice, and cooperation. These are all fasts, which relates to with special virtues.
We should remember in our fast that the Lord Jesus Christ fasted while He was filled with the Spirit. As for us let at least fast so that we may become filled with the Spirit.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Days of fasting days are sacred and man lives them in holiness.
During these days, the mind, heart and body must also be sacred. Fasting is a period of training during which you attempt to approach God and at the same time, sin pulls you away. Therefore, you must eliminate sin through repentance to draw close to God.
While fasting, your body abstains from food, and your soul abstains from every earthly and worldly lust, and all passions that pertain to the body. Through repentance therefore, you approach God. Ask yourself, are you fasting this way?

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Take the example of the fast of Nineveh:
The Bible says about the people of Nineveh that “every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.“ (Jon 3:8). For this reason, God did not destroy them when He “saw their works, that they turned from their evil way.” (Jon 3:10). The bible did not say: "when He saw their as sackcloth or their fast," but when he saw their repentance which was the principal element of their fast.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

In the Book of Joel, we see an example of repentance that accompanies fasting.
The Lord addresses the people through His prophet saying: “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful. “ (Joel 2:12,13). It is clear that fasting was accompanied by repentance and weeping. Therefore, it is not mere abstention from food. Rather, it is inner emotions towards God.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

In the Book of Joel, we see an example of repentance that accompanies fasting.
The Lord addresses the people through His prophet saying: “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful. “ (Joel 2:12,13). It is clear that fasting was accompanied by repentance and weeping. Therefore, it is not mere abstention from food. Rather, it is inner emotions towards God.