Ash Wednesday is approaching- February 13th, 2013!
If you are choosing a traditional way of living Lent by fasting, St. Francis has some advice for you. He suggested ways of fasting well.
He said, “These first four days of the holy season of Lent serve as a preface to indicate the preparation that we ought to make in order to spend Lent well and to dispose ourselves to fast well. That is why I thought of speaking to you of the conditions which render fasting good and meritorious.
We must understand from the start that of itself fasting is not a virtue.
Fasting is a virtue only when it is accompanied by conditions which render it pleasing to God.
It is not enough to fast exteriorly if we do not also fast interiorly and if we do not accompany the fast of the body with that of the spirit.
The first condition is that we must fast with our whole heart,that is to say, willingly, whole-heartedly, universally and entirely.
The second condition is never to fast through vanity but always through humility.If our fast is not performed through humility it will not be pleasing to God…Do not observe your fast or perform your works for the eyes of others.
The third condition for fasting well is to look to God and do everything to please Him.”
Source: Sermon for Ash Wed, 1622, St Francis de Sales