Lent is traditionally a time of fasting. Fasting, since Judaic times, has always been associated with purgation of self - readying oneself for atonement. Although the Lord God mentions 4 times of fasting (Zch 8:19), He is never said to have ordained a nationwide fast for the people. What He had ordained is the affliction of one's soul (Lv 16:29-31), and that was a commandment for one day out of each year. In a way we still see today, both Jews and their offspring - Christians - obviously decided that what is good one time, would be better more often, and both Judaic calendars and Christian ones designate more than one day suitable for fasting and/or abstinence, having traditionally observed the affliction of one's soul to begin with the affliction of one's body by fasting and abstinence. The ancient Judaic codes required fasting from everything but water from sundown to sundown on the noted days, and was temporalized on what may have been deemed as "minor" holy days. Christians (who, of course, were originally Jews for the most part), simply continued with the observances of their times.
In short, fasting was a self-imposed penance. In the Orthodox Church, Lent is designated as the time of the Great Fast, and strict fasting rules apply. "Strict Orthodox fasting" consists of: no meat, no wine or other alcohol, no (olive) oil, no dairy, (technically, little or no spices,) about 1 ½ normal meals per day (plus, in many places, no TV, radio, music, movies, parties, entertainment, etc.) No meat includes fish and poultry, although shellfish and octopus are allowed. "Relaxed Orthodox fasting" is like strict fasting, except that on some days (generally, 'holidays') either wine, or wine and oil, or fish, wine and oil are allowed... though almost never on Wednesday or Friday.
In the Roman Catholic Church, fasting and abstinence, while related, are two different concepts. Moderation in all things is the key phrase here - and times have proven that even fasting can be taken to extremes that are not only spiritually damaging, but physically dangerous as well. Like many other physically damaging acts of self-penance (flogging or scourging oneself, flagellation, kneeling on rice or salt while praying, etc.), fasting became an abused act when those who practiced it too heartily left their bodies - the Temple of God - in an unhealthy state, actually abusing their bodies instead of revering and caring for God's Temple in a holy manner. The old days of fasting taught many people, primarily those who were overweight, that merely doing without food would accomplish what no other diet would do - literally strip the fat off of them. Our society, which puts a high premium on svelte bodies, has done a lot of harm to our young people, who "fast" to lose weight to the point of near or actual death. Do not overdo fasting - consult your health care provider and your priest/pastor about your dietary regimen for the Lenten observances.
Normal fasting is described as the partaking of only small meals that together amount to less than 2 full meals. It is usual to restrict oneself to only one "ordinary" meal during the day (one's primary meal, which varies from person to person), and to eat only sufficient quantities at other mealtimes to sustain one for his or her daily duties. It is customary to only have meat at the primary meal.
Abstinence, on the other hand, is not eating red meat. Because animals reproduce sexually, all red meat is considered impure for eating when one is striving to purify oneself. Although this technically includes poultry, it has never included fish and other non-mammalian species of the ocean world. To both fast and abstain is to eat only the equivalent of one and a part meals, and to have no meat or fowl at all, substituting fish at the primary meal. Some equate milk and other dairy products as prohibited as well, coming as they do from mammals, but most only restrict their by-product usage by using vegetable-based cooking oils.
There are only 2 days when all Catholics are requested to both fast and abstain: on Ash Wednesday, and on Good Friday. Fast and abstinence are also required before reception of Holy Communion, but only for one hour beforehand. Many interpret this as for one full hour before Mass, considering Mass to be the entirety of the service, but in actuality Mass subsists entirely of the partaking of the Holy Sacrament, and when one's fast begins depends on how long into the service the parishioner receives Holy Communion. In current times, one receives Holy Communion towards the end of a typically one-hour service, so that by not eating for about 20 minutes before the start of Sunday services is all that is really necessary, and a prescription that shouldn't be bothersome to any of the faithful. Daily services are typically shorter, but since most folks would be leaving work to attend services, their fasts have usually begun since they arrived at work, or at least since the morning coffee break.
Fasting, of course, is prohibited for certain segments of society - pregnant women, those who are ill, the very young, and the elderly. Certain other members of the parish whose personal health deems it, or whose daily duties requires it are also not to fast, although technically one should seek a formal dispensation from one's bishop. I mean, we really do not want our health care providers, our police officers, our fire fighters, and other vital persons of service to pass out from lack of proper sustenance while performing their rigorous duties.
That being said, let us consider the following recipes for the mainstream Christian who is observing the Lenten fast on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (in memorial of our Lord's death.)
| Salads | Main Dishes |
| Side Dishes | Soups |
| Desserts | Snacks |
All graphics are credited to their creators to the best of my ability and knowledge.
Background set ©2003 by SleepyHead. Please do not use without her permission.
Site url= http://sleepyheads-holidays.50megs.com/
