وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

Such also was the fast of Nehemiah and that of Ezra.
Ezra, the scribe and priest, said: “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones ... So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.” (Ezra 8:21,23).
Nehemiah also said: “I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” (Neh 1:4). He said this about himself, but as for the people, he said that they “were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.” (Neh 9:1-3). Is this not also an integrated fast: through prayer, weeping, lamentation, Bible reading, repentance, confession, and abasing oneself in sackcloth and ash! Therefore, fasting is not merely abstention from food.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III

In the same way was the Prophet Daniel's fast.
He said: “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession ... "we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts ...” (Dan 9:3-5).
In another fast, he says: “I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself ... “ (Dan 10:2,3). This fast constitutes the same elements as the previous fasts.
This is indeed the fast that the Prophet David referred to, saying: “My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting “ (Ps 35:13).
There is no doubt that lamentation constrains the bodily lusts and removes all desire for food. Moreover, humility opens the gates of Heaven.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III






Fasting Accompanies Seclusion and Stillness





The following statement was repeated twice in the book of the Prophet Joel: “Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly.“ (Joel 1:14,2:15).

Call a sacred assembly, namely “retire”, so that you may find time for spiritual nourishment.

In seclusion, you keep silent, and since you have no one to talk to, you talk to God. However, do not remain secluded in sin or in vain thoughts, but do so in order that your fast may not become visible to anyone except to your Father in Heaven who sees in secret. Moreover, one who fasts may be in such a state of asceticism, hunger, and weakness that one is unable to make any effort. Seclusion is therefore more suitable for him.

When a person fasts, his soul is occupied with internal work with God. Speaking hinders one's prayer, preoccupation and contemplation. Meetings and visitations hinder one's devotion to God and may lead one into making mistakes.

In fasting, the Lord Jesus Christ retired to the mountain, in seclusion with God, the Father, and devoted Himself to contemplation.

Our Fathers' fasted in the same way in the wilderness. As for you, retire as best as you can, and if you are forced to mingle, do it within the limits of necessity. Rid yourself of lost time and of every trivial word.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III





Fasting of the Tongue, Thought, and Heart


Saint Isaac said: “the fasting of the tongue is better than the mouth's, and the abstinence of the heart from lust is better than both fasts” this shows the importance of fasting of both the tongue and the mouth.

Many concern themselves with abstaining from food. God rebuked them, saying: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matt 15:11). In this way He shows us that wrong words are defiling. In the same way, our teacher, the Apostle James, refers to the tongue which “defiles the whole body.” (James 3:6). Is your tongue, thus, fasting with the rest of your body? And is your heart abstaining from lusts?

A fasting heart is able to make the tongue fast with it, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34).

The Lord also said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. “ (Matt 15:18). Moreover, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matt 12:35). Therefore, if your heart abstains from sin, your tongue will abstain from every evil word.

He who fasts the heart, can also make his body fast also.

Therefore, what is important is for the heart and thought to abstain from every wrong desire assisted by the fasting of the body, which is the least of all, Therefore in your fast, control your tongue and in the same way that you make your mouth refrain from food, make it refrain from bad words. Control your thoughts and yourself.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







Fasting of the Tongue Thought and Heart


Saint Isaac said: “the fasting of the tongue is better than the mouth's, and the abstinence of the heart from lust is better than both fasts” this shows the importance of fasting of both the tongue and the mouth.

Many concern themselves with abstaining from food. God rebuked them, saying: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matt 15:11). In this way He shows us that wrong words are defiling. In the same way, our teacher, the Apostle James, refers to the tongue which “defiles the whole body.” (James 3:6). Is your tongue, thus, fasting with the rest of your body? And is your heart abstaining from lusts?

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







A fasting heart is able to make the tongue fast with it, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34).

The Lord also said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. “ (Matt 15:18). Moreover, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (Matt 12:35). Therefore, if your heart abstains from sin, your tongue will abstain from every evil word.

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







He who fasts the heart, can also make his body fast also.

Therefore, what is important is for the heart and thought to abstain from every wrong desire assisted by the fasting of the body, which is the least of all, Therefore in your fast, control your tongue and in the same way that you make your mouth refrain from food, make it refrain from bad words. Control your thoughts and yourself.

[Mary Naeem]

Happiness is when you rejoice and praise the Lord for what you have, remaining content and staying away from complaints, sadness, and distress over what you dream you should have.



St. Basil the Great

[Mary Naeem]

Live your days simply, and thankfully
without agonizing concern for the future..



St. Basil the Great

[Mary Naeem]

Don’t waste your time fantasizing about
things that don’t exist, but make
the most of the present.


St. Basil the Great