tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post6255916851335064528..comments2024-02-02T19:30:12.868-06:00Comments on Fear Not Little Flock: Byzantine Catholic Fasting isn't Orthodox enough- or- Should I stir in the almond oil?priest's wife - S.T./ Anne Boyd http://www.blogger.com/profile/03792937108732259684noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-22832727912820616672013-02-27T11:03:43.835-06:002013-02-27T11:03:43.835-06:00I like your fasting method!
I haven't read t...I like your fasting method! <br /><br />I haven't read that book- I'll try to find itpriest's wife - S.T./ Anne Boyd https://www.blogger.com/profile/03792937108732259684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-23958273633750083902013-02-26T22:59:26.941-06:002013-02-26T22:59:26.941-06:00Have you read, Fr. Alexander Schmemann's For t...Have you read, Fr. Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World?...He starts out by saying you are what you eat. For man, the only food we can eat that will give us life is the Eucharist. So in a sense, Great Fast is all about food--the Living food. Over the years (especially having been pregnant and nursing through many fasts), I have developed a method for the fast: "If it's a luxury, try to fast from it in any way you can. If it's a vice, make a total fast and do not revisit it after the fast." Granted the above stated is that very few make a complete fast. But, it's a great thing to strive for. The the journey of the fast is a beautiful gift to us.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02367907451392729802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-45335674356944583412013-02-17T09:20:33.925-06:002013-02-17T09:20:33.925-06:00Thanks for this informative post. My husband and ...Thanks for this informative post. My husband and I had an interesting discussion about this earlier today, esp. the whys of no oil, no eggs, etc. My question is how is Byzantine Lent counted as 40 days when it starts on "Pure Monday"? Are there days you don't count during Lent, other than the Sundays?Nancy Piccionehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08440982166820769813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-4068634100062789442013-02-17T09:18:45.742-06:002013-02-17T09:18:45.742-06:00Thank you for this informative post. My husband a...Thank you for this informative post. My husband and I were having a discussion this morning about the difference between Latin and Eastern rite Lent practice, and the whys of no oil, eggs, etc. My random question is, how is Lent counted as 40 days if Lent starts on a Monday? Nancy Piccionehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08440982166820769813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-89567327483058590112013-02-13T12:46:37.903-06:002013-02-13T12:46:37.903-06:00well- I think now we know what to pray for while w...well- I think now we know what to pray for while we are fasting and abstaining! priest's wife - S.T./ Anne Boyd https://www.blogger.com/profile/03792937108732259684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-69436921223152072032013-02-13T12:41:31.205-06:002013-02-13T12:41:31.205-06:00Not pertinent to your latest (and good) column, bu...Not pertinent to your latest (and good) column, but pray for our Holy Father and the receptivity (of the Holy Spirit) of the College of Cardinals when they have their conclave/election. God bless Pope Benedict !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-4628613655035676712013-02-13T01:55:09.586-06:002013-02-13T01:55:09.586-06:00I'm liking the commentary. This being my first...I'm liking the commentary. This being my first Eastern lent, I'm doing what I can to keep the spirit of the fast, while attempting to relish in a resourcefulness of where to find alternative means of nourishment; and not too much on substitute foods, in place of the abstained. I'm hugging sweet potatoes, rice, avocados, bananas, et al very closely. I think it's a matter of attitude, personally. It's easy to come away with dread, though, when thinking about abstinence. But, as my friend reminds me: fasting guidelines are rudders, and not clamps; and one should consult a father confessor, or spiritual father. Fluid Motion & Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10963717225714324077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-71568017976373889702013-02-12T12:25:34.016-06:002013-02-12T12:25:34.016-06:00Agree with Bear. As we were making our meal plan f...Agree with Bear. As we were making our meal plan for this week, we were overly cautious not to have something for dinner on Tuesday (today), with leftovers, if they couldn't wait until Thursday to be eaten. Because my birthday has always fallen during Lent, what I'd like to eat or where to go out to eat has to be thought about carefully, or the celebration needs to be postponed until a better day. Fortunately my birthday will never be Pure Monday or Good Friday! Maybe in modern times, with so much variety and convenience, the penitential duty is to be a good steward with our food? Not to be wasteful or over the top with it? Yes, this should be aimed for all of the time, but perhaps, even special attention during our Great Fast?<br /><br />So, we are having venison chili tonight. Leftovers will be fine until Thursday, and if there's anything left after that, I'll freeze it into small containers for lunches next week and beyond. I do think it would be easier to be super restrictful, say, only eat rice and beans during Lent. No thought, fairly simple preparation...Jen (AKA Rabbit)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15742830792050815627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-45157304465440536102013-02-12T12:11:31.419-06:002013-02-12T12:11:31.419-06:00I figured it was between, since I've heard you...I figured it was between, since I've heard you refer to eggs and fish, but wasn't sure. I was trying to get Chris to go meatless, or maybe meatless one extra day, but with all of his dietary restrictions, he feels as if he has given up a lot already. I think a lot of our fasting/restricting is easier these days, given how we can get seafood flown in overnight and still very fresh, or finances can allow nice fish or veggie burgers... Using the "we" as society, not me or you, personally. With so much abundance in America, and in most of our homes, I almost feel fake, having shrimp on a Weds or Fri. Is that true sacrifice? Not really, if you think about it, or would have had that shrimp any other night in non-Lenten time.<br /><br />Catholic guilt never ends!!! :)Jen (AKA Rabbit)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15742830792050815627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-52828666545914759422013-02-12T09:05:03.714-06:002013-02-12T09:05:03.714-06:00yes bear- even with my middle-of-the-road style fa...yes bear- even with my middle-of-the-road style fasting, I think about variety. In the old days, there certainly wouldn't be a hundred different vegetables to choose from!priest's wife - S.T./ Anne Boyd https://www.blogger.com/profile/03792937108732259684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-59753920842791204302013-02-12T09:03:42.532-06:002013-02-12T09:03:42.532-06:00between! (of course) no meat for us in Lent except...between! (of course) no meat for us in Lent except maybe Sunday and vegan on Wednesday and Friday- this works for us- a sacrifice but it is fine for our healthpriest's wife - S.T./ Anne Boyd https://www.blogger.com/profile/03792937108732259684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-16342427832927868442013-02-12T05:30:17.648-06:002013-02-12T05:30:17.648-06:00Before we go to town on ourselves, we should remem...Before we go to town on ourselves, we should remember that most of the Orthodox are often not THAT observant, and it is a rare person who observes the whole of Lent strictly. That said, the demands on the religious and the clergy are very high...<br /><br />My greatest fear about the fast is to become pharisaical about it. Char-grilled baby octopus, served with garlic and lemon juice meets the requirements of the fast, but really is it fasting? One of the dangers of fasting is that food ends up taking a much more important place than before, and can become a preoccupation: this can lead to a loss of focus about the season.<br /><br />I suspect one of the purposes of traditional fast was to take away the importance of food and food preparation, requiring us to eat more simply in order to focus on more important things. Thus, squabbling about which set of fasting rules is better/more traditional/harder/&c. is a little distracting.Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470725036398346551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-902102460517670809.post-23754981606901608962013-02-11T21:16:29.938-06:002013-02-11T21:16:29.938-06:00Sooooo, where do you fall? In between Mandatory an...Sooooo, where do you fall? In between Mandatory and Ancient? :) Jen (AKA Rabbit)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15742830792050815627noreply@blogger.com