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.
