aeternus

I received an email from a friend concerning the upcoming Presidential Election in the U.S.A. The contents of the email referenced the good and holy works of Fasting. I know that the word and certainly the act of fasting in prayer would be quite easily laughed by most of society, and perhaps even a few good church going people. But I see the act of fasting as so very beautiful, noble and holy. I thought I would share with you the email….

BLESSED THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD
Fasting for the Election

As we approach the most crucial election in the history of our country, we must be most
dedicated to protecting Christianity, human life, justice and freedom of religion in America.
A serious situation mandates a serious, persevering and fully committed response. Salvation
history is replete with examples of the efficacy of prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting
comprise a unit and cannot be separated. Fasting is praying with our bodies, and, if we do not
fast, a whole part of us isn’t praying. Let us not minimize the essential link between the two.

In times of great importance and great danger, the people of God always proclaimed a fast.
A few examples:

• In order to succeed in her intercession to save her people, Queen Esther ordered Mordecai to be told,”Go and gather together all the Jews, whom you shall find in Susa, and pray for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights”. Of course, Esther did the same and then saved her people.

• A passage in The Book of Judith reads, “And every man of Israel cried out to God with great fervor and they humbled themselves with much fasting…. So the Lord heard their prayers and looked upon their affliction for the people fasted many days.”

• Moses fasted for forty days at the end of which he was given the Ten Commandments. We can see that fasting preceded most important events.

• When Nineveh was threatened with destruction, the people of God proclaimed a fast and Nineveh was saved. Fasting is pleasing to God and most efficacious.

• Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert and this fasting gave Him strength against the temptations of the devil. It also served as preparation for His public life.

• In The Acts of the Apostles, the apostles always prayed and fasted before making important decisions about the early church. They never separated the two. Neither should we do so.

Our beloved Pope Benedict xvi, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote in 1985 in his
Dialogues Upon Faith, “Fasting means accepting an essential aspect of Christian life. It is
necessary to rediscover the corporal aspect of faith….. to know how to fast periodically is to
testify that Eternal life awaits us.”

Prayer and fasting together are the means, given to us by our loving God, to avert destruction.
There are many ways to fast— bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays, not eating between
meals, fasting from favorite foods, not using condiments, etc. etc.. Please pray about the
particular way in which the Holy Spirit is calling you to fast and ask your guardian angel to help
you. Our country faces great peril. May we embrace this most loving, merciful and efficacious
gift from God. He will hear our plea.

Prayer and Fasting can overcome!