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"Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindiation shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and He will say: "Here I am!'" - Isaiah 58:6-9
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Fasting and Abstinence in LentGood Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.
For members of the Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
Many Catholics follow the Church’s fasting and abstinence rules without thinking about the spiritual significance. Our culture emphasizes fasting for its physical benefits, but there are also spiritual fruits.
Let’s get clear on what fasting and abstinence are and how they help us grow closer to God.
What’s the difference between fasting and abstaining?Many people confuse these two terms. Fasting is eating less or avoiding food for longer periods of time than normal. The Church defines it as limiting yourself to one full meal a day, with the option of having two smaller “meals” that together don’t equal a full meal.
For example, you could have a muffin in the morning, a full serving of pasta at lunch, and an apple at night. Typically, there’s no eating between meals.Abstinence means avoiding meat and some seafood. (Most seafood is allowed on days of abstinence.)
Fasting and abstinence help you grow in virtue.
These two Lenten practices relate to the cardinal virtue of temperance, by which we moderate our enjoyment of sense pleasures. God created a sense of pleasure for our enjoyment, but since Adam and Eve’s fall our drive for food, drink, and sex has gotten out of whack. We have to intentionally rein in these desires so they don’t enslave us and take God’s place as Lord of our hearts.
Interestingly enough, controlling these instincts often leads to a more wholesome and greater enjoyment of them. Nothing tastes as good as a meal after a full fasting day! Let these instincts rule us, however, and they become cruel overlords.
Accept the suffering that comes from fasting and abstinence.
Whether you follow or go beyond the Church’s minimal requirements, you’re going to suffer for your sacrifices. Embrace the feeling and offer it to God, who asks so little of you compared to the agony of His Son on the cross.
Suffering is fertile soil that leads to the growth of divine life in us. This Lent, let’s make a special effort to embrace our sacrifices with openness and love.
https://pintswithaquinas.com/why-do-we-fast-and-abstain/
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Mass of the Lord's Supper, April 17
5pm - St. Columba Church
7:15pm - St. Mary's Church
As a reminder, there will be no morning Mass on Thursday, Friday or Saturday this week.
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Holy Thursday - Seven Churches PilgrimageTimes for the Lord's Mass and and Adoration
Adoration until 9:00PM
St. Anastasia, 21 North Main Street, Harriman, NY
7:00PM Mass - Adoration in Church
Adoration until 10:00PM
St. Columba, 27 High Street, Chester, NY
5:00PM Mass – Adoration in Chapel
St. John the Evangelist, 71 Murray Avenue, Goshen, NY
7:00PM Mass - Adoration in the Chapel within Church
St. Joseph, 14 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY
7:00PM Mass – Adoration in Church
Adoration until 11:00PM
Holy Name of Jesus, 45 Highland Avenue, Otisville, NY
7:00PM Mass - Adoration in Lower Brennan Hall
Our Lady Queen of Peace, 1011 Union Valley Road, Hewitt, NJ
7:30PM Mass – Adoration in Rear Annex of Church
St. Mary’s, 46 Ball Street, Port Jervis, NY
7:00PM Mass – Adoration at 50 Ball St. across parking lot
Adoration until 12:00 Midnight
Holy Rosary, 41 Windermere Avenue, Greenwood Lake, NY
7:00PM Mass – Adoration in Church
Our Lady of Fatima, 184 Breakneck Road, Highland Lakes, NJ
7:00PM Mass – Adoration in Church
Sacred Heart-St. Patrick Parish, 26 Still Road, Monroe, NY
7:00PM Mass - Adoration in the Sacred Heart School Gym.
St. Francis de Sales, 614 County Rd 517, Vernon, NJ
7:30PM Mass – Adoration in Boland Hall (glass doors on right)
St. Joseph, 454 Germantown Road, West Milford, NJ
6:00PM Mass - Adoration at the Altar of Response
St. Joseph, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY
7:00PM Mass – Adoration in Blessed Sacrament Chapel
St. Mary’s, 42 Goshen Avenue, Washingtonville, NY
7:15PM Mass – Adoration in Tetreau Hall Behind Church
Adoration until 12:00PM Midnight
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 90 Euclid Avenue, Middletown, NY
7:00PM Mass (bilingual) - Holy Thursday Mass will end at 8:00PM, and Chapel will be creaed at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Center - 100 Euclid Avenue beginning at 8:00PM
St. Stephen, the First Martyr, 75 Sanfordville Road, Warwick, NY
7:00PM Mass - Adoration in the Church AtriumDOWNLOAD THE ABOVE INFORMATION HERE
One of the cherished customs of Holy Week is the practice of visiting Christ in the Blessed Sacrament at seven churches on the night of Holy Thursday.
The Apostleship of Prayer invites you to take a Pilgrimage Booklet listing 16 participating churches to help guide you as you make your visits after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
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Blessing of Easter Food, Saturday, April 19
St. Mary's Church, 10am
Read more about this Catholic tradition here.
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"But the greatest of all [feast days] is Easter Day, the day of the Lord's Resurrection, because today assurance was given to us to obtain eternal and immortal life in soul and body. Christ gave it to us through his resurrection, which is the cause and the assurance of our resurrection."
- St. Vincent Ferrer
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