“That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
What kind of
fast?
Consider abstaining from meat on Tuesdays and/or Fridays or attempt to
complete a Daniel Fast for three weeks.
A Daniel Fast is very similar to a Vegan/Vegetarian diet.
A fast can be defined as either a reduction in one's food intake or abstinence from some or all foods. A Daniel Fast involves abstinence from meat, dairy products, sweets and some fried foods, e.g. potato chips. While the Daniel Fast does not prescribe the amount of food a person should eat, it generally involves a reduction in a person's daily caloric intake because the foods eaten are higher in water content compared to foods comprising meat, dairy products, sweets and/or oily/fatty foods. A stricter version of the Daniel Fast, which is more likely to result in weight loss if desired, includes abstinence from all grains, e.g. wheat, rice, oats, cereal, breads, etc.
There are many health benefits that can be realized from a Daniel Fast –the foods eaten are generally higher in vitamins, minerals and fiber, and less likely to contribute to inflammation, or more likely to prevent it, meaning fewer aches and pains, more energy, and a lower risk for cancer, diabetes and heart disease (see nutritiondata.com for the inflammatory potential of various foods).
The fast can also help free up time and ease strain on one's pocketbook as the meals are generally inexpensive and easy to prepare. However, the biggest benefits, consistent with our intention, involve 1.) an empathetic increase in one's spiritual awareness of the battles facing our culture, 2.) the spiritual fruits from united sufferings and prayers, and 3.) joy that comes from being in solidarity with others.
The Daniel Fast
obtains its name from the prophet Daniel who refused to eat certain
foods, especially meat that
had not prepared in a Jewish, or kosher way, or had been sacrificed to idols.
This was during the sixth century before the birth of Jesus under the
rule of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
The Daniel Fast can symbolize resistance to government rule
that goes against our conscience or beliefs...
"In those days I, Daniel,
was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine
entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three
weeks."
~Daniel 10:3
For
more information on the prophet Daniel,
click here.
For more information on the Daniel Fast,
click here.
For information on the types of foods eaten during a Daniel Fast,
click here.
For recipes while on a Daniel Fast,
click here.
Please see the IMPORTANT NOTE below before starting a Daniel Fast.
For additional information on fasting, click here or here.
For possible prayer guides
click here.
For background information on the challenges
to religious liberty that the HHS Mandate created,
click here.
To join with others in a current Fast for Life through a Facebook event page, if you have questions, or would like to stay informed about the fast and related activities through a Listserv, please click here.
When should I fast?
Below is a list of fasting and prayer events recommended for solidarity. However, you may fast in a manner that works best for you according to your schedule and any recommendations you have from your spiritual director and/or healthcare provider. The event times suggested below occur over three week periods throughout the year and usually start on Feast days of Saints associated with the pro-life cause (see Patron Saints of the Pro-Life Movement).
-
February 11th
-
March 19th (St. Joseph) –Patron of unborn children
-
April 28th (Saint Gianna Beretta Molla & St. Louis Marie De Montfort)
-
June 13th (St. Anthony of Padua)
-
June 21st (Call to Prayer & Sacrifice for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty, orchestrated through the US Conference of Catholic Bishops) –Ends on the 4th of July!
-
August 14th (St. Maximilian Kolbe)
-
August 19th (Saint John Eudes)
-
September 29th (St. Michael the Archangel)
-
October 1st (St. Therese of Lisieux)
-
October 5th (St. Faustina Kowalska)
-
October 16th (Saint Gerard Majella)
-
November 5th (Saint Elizabeth of the Visitation)
-
December 12th (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Why should I fast and pray?
At the moment of conception a
baby boy or girl is formed with a complete set of DNA that demonstrates
their "personhood." A person has a natural, God given right to life.
This right
should continue to be protected
under our 14th amendment.
HHS mandate: Fines would cripple work of the Church, close businesses
Joyce Coronel | October
13, 2012 | Catholic Sun
Consequences for Business Owners of Faith
Leaders of a multitude of religious-advocacy
groups are warning of the mandate's consequences for business owners of
faith:
The Catholic Association, or TCA, released a
statement warning, “August 1, 2012, indeed marks a seismic shift in the
world of religious liberty in America. Once the mandate goes into
effect, the government has codified into law the notion that employers
may be required to violate the teachings of their faith if they are a
for-profit employer. … August 1 is D-Day for religious freedom in
America.”
Matt Smith, president of Catholic Advocate:
“Aug. 1 will be remembered as the day our most cherished liberty was
thrown in a government dumpster and hauled away. A day when family owned
small businesses were forced to abandon their religious beliefs to
provide products and services for free. And if they don’t, they will be
taxed and fined at a time when job creators are struggling with enough
costs and bureaucratic red-tape at every level of government just to
stay in business. While the courts have provided a reprieve for one
family business in Colorado, the government will never be able to repair
the broken conscience of thousands of others until this mandate is
removed.”
Gary Marx, executive director of the Faith &
Freedom Coalition: “Confidence in the system and hope for religious
liberty was mildly restored when a federal district judge issued a
temporary injunction blocking Barack Obama’s health-care mandate from
compelling a business to provide insurance coverage of sterilization,
contraception, and abortion-inducing drugs. This is certainly a victory,
but the fact that it only applies to one company means the federal
government is still going to force millions of Americans to choose
between having health insurance or their conscience and faith. With an
administration intent on suppressing religious liberty, we can expect a
historic turnout of voters of faith show up in November.”
Kristin Hawkins, executive director of
Students for Life of America: “Today marks the beginning of the end of
religious and conscience rights in America. As an employer, I am forced
to make a false choice between providing a vital service to my employees
and violating my conscience and values. The abortion-pill mandate is an
egregious attack upon my rights, as well as the rights of all people of
values and faith in America.”
Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family
Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity: “Today as a result of this
initial implementation of the HHS mandate, the relationship between the
separation of church and state is critically changed. Americans can no
longer follow their consciences or religious dictates on issues as
critical as abortion-inducing drugs. Organizations such as Wheaton
College, or businesses such as Weingartz Supply of Ann Arbor, Mich.,will
be forced to violate their consciences. On this sad day Americans have
no ‘choice’ in this matter.”
Larry Cirignano, president of Faithful
Catholic Citizens: “Give up your religion or go bankrupt. This is not a
mandate; it is an ultimatum. Buy insurance and kill babies or go
bankrupt fighting us. Not all of us can afford lawyers to fight this
‘mandate.’ None of us can afford to pay the fines $100 per employee.”
Penny Nance, president and CEO of Concerned
Women for America: “The only solution that has been provided to the
majority of Americans is to stand up and fight for their religious
rights by refusing to comply or battling in court. … We must remember
the wise words of Thomas Jefferson, ‘All tyranny needs to gain a
foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.’ To force
religious groups to deny their deeply held convictions is not called
balance; it is called tyranny.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before starting a
Daniel Fast, be sure to check with your healthcare provider if he or she
already has you on a specific meal plan or diet, or if you are unsure
about a health condition you may have that might include dietary supervision, such as anemia, pregnancy, rapid weight
gain or loss, hypercoagulability (as evidenced by a history of DVT,
atrial fibrillation, stroke or mitral valve replacement, or if you are
currently taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin (warfarin)), cancer, diabetes or kidney disease.
When abstaining from meat for an extended period, a vitamin B12
supplement will be needed if not regularly drinking soy, rice or almond
milk that has been fortified with an adequate amount of B12. The
Institute of Medicine has not established an Upper Limit for B12 due to
it's low potential for toxicity, stating "no adverse effects have been
associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in
healthy individuals." Thus, taking at least a 100 mcg vitamin B12
supplement every day or every other day is recommended.
For additional information on B12,
click here.
If you are under 18 years old, please obtain parental or guardian
permission before starting a Daniel Fast.
Thank you for your consideration!