THE FAMILY ZONE

During Lent, we often see images of deserts, sand and cacti or bare sticks. That is because we consider Lent a "desert time," as it mirrors the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert fasting and preparing for his public ministry. In this edition of The Family Zone, we'll take a closer look at the Lenten pillar of FASTING; something we do to help us better comprehend this desert time of sacrifice and simplicity. How does it help us grow in holiness?

On February 22, parishes around our diocese will observe a Day of Penance during which they will offer additional hours for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Click on the button below for details on where confessions will be heard near you!

Canon Law is the code of laws that governs the Catholic Church. Here are the Canons surrounding fasting before receiving the Eucharist at Mass:

"Can. 919 §1. A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.

§2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day can take something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one hour between them.

§3. The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour."

This simple fast, and sacrifice we make helps us to hunger more deeply for Jesus, the Bread of Life!

The Readings we share at Mass each week can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/. Here is a family conversation topic based on the upcoming readings for Mass:

On February 25, we will hear in the second reading from Romans: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Sometimes we need to be reminded that no matter what happens in life, God will always be there loving us through it. Chat about times in your lives when you have placed your reliance on God. Have you ever felt alone or lost? How can faith and trust in God get us through the difficulties we must navigate in life?

Fasting is one of the three pillars of the Lenten season. Traditionally, most Catholics choose to give up something for all 40 days of Lent. It can often be difficult for people to keep that commitment and halfway through Lent they have abandoned their Lenten fast. However, it is never too late! You can help your children learn to fast by choosing one thing a day (for younger children) or one thing a week to commit to fasting from as a family. For example, maybe you will give up screen time at home for the week, or fast from shopping for extra unnecessary items. These are great ideas but the hope is that your fast helps you to grow in holiness. So, you might give up screen time and commit some time to praying as a family or reading from the Bible together instead. If you are limiting extras in your budget, perhaps your money can go to those in need. Have conversations about what you are experiencing and learn from your family fast. This is a great way to make the Lenten pillar of fasting mean more to your spiritual journeys!

Fasting as a form of prayer; learning to control our desires.

Here are some ways you can FAST and then give your surplus to others:

• Give up fast food or coffee shop stops your family makes and put that money toward Operation Rice Bowl instead!
• Refrain from drinking anything but water for a week or the whole Lenten season and donate to a water charity such as the Ugandan Water Project or a similar organization.
• Eat simple meals and use your extra grocery money to support soup kitchen needs.

Here is a collection of recipes from Catholic blogger Peanut Blossom, for those days we must fast from meat:

If you find that fasting is a meaningful Lenten experience for your family, why not instill a regular fasting practice? For example, you could choose a day of the week to fast from social media or screen time or choose a favorite toy to give to someone in need, each month. Living more simply and living without immediate gratification is a good lesson for our kids and ourselves!

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester

Editor: Leslie Barkin leslie.barkin@dor.org

Email: oec@dor.org
Website: oec.dor.org
Location: Diocese of Rochester, Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY, USA
Phone: 585-328-3210

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