For Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and some Protestants, the upcoming holy season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
The following information on Christian fasting is from Wikipedia:
For Roman Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal (which may contain meat) and two small meals. Complete abstinence is the avoidance of meat for the entire day.
For Catholics in the United States the only fast days are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. The days for abstinence from meat are Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. Also, we are to do more penances of our own choosing especially on Fridays throughout the year, since Jesus gave his life for us on a Friday, and during Lent, when we recall what the Lord suffered for us.
[The above paragraph from the Daughters of Saint Paul website.]
For Orthodox Christians, there are five fasting seasons, which include Nativity, Meatfast, Great Lent & Holy Week, Apostles' Fast and Dormition. Fasting during these times refers to abstention from animal products, olive oil (or all oils, according to some Orthodox traditions), wine and spirits.
Perhaps some of us who come from traditions which don't require much fasting, will feel called this Lent to extend the scope of our Lenten fast voluntarily. The Orthodox fast resembles a Vegan diet with food being cooked in water instead of oil of any kind.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also suggests that we fast from sin. Fasting from such things as gossip, negativity, gluttony and laziness are great ways to spend a holy Lent. A cleansing confession is a wonderful way to start this off.
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