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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ash Wednesday Reflections on Fasting


"St. Francis was the most austere when fasting. Sometimes he would go for 40 days without food or water, following the example of Jesus. He spoke about being fed "manna from heaven" at these times. Many of the earlier followers did a "hard fast" in that they would go for several days without food or water. Within his lifetime, Francis saw some of his followers fall away from this practice, just as many did their vows of poverty. This greatly troubled Francis.

Very seldom did the Brothers eat meat. Meat was not condemned by Francis, for he instructed the Brothers to eat what was placed before them when it was offered to them in an alms. He especially encouraged the eating of meat when a Brother was ill and in need of nourishment to become well again."

~ Fra Chris, Franciscan Lay Apostolate

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