reply to post by jmdewey60
Jesus fasted for 40 days. The Apostles fasted. The Prophet Daniel fasted ("I, Daniel, understood...So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him
in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:2-3)
Joel 2: 12-13 " 'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with FASTING and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not
your garments.' "
Matthew 6:16-18 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the
truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that
you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Daniel 9:3 + Acts 13:2
So from this biblical perspective God accepts fasting. Other acts of penance such as a cold shower are merely different forms of fasting that serve
the same purpose: the giving up of pleasure or willfully experiencing displeasure to purify the soul, to demonstrate contrition, to demonstrate a
willingness to participate in God's plan, etc.
And other than Jesus, the Apostles, and Prophets, there exist more recent examples of a link between suffering(penance) and a connection to God in
the stories from the lives of people such as the following:
Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney (Saint John Viannney, 1786-1859, France)
Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone (Saint Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226, Italy).
Therese Neumann (1898-1962, Germany)
Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Ahumada(Saint Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582, Spain),
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, (1987-1968, Italy)
So here we have some evidence that people who have experienced the greatest manifestations of the workings of the Holy Spirit are those that have
engaged in the greater degrees of offering away the flesh comforts.
But of course, the "fasting" or other acts of penance without the much more important acts of "serving others" and pressing against the impulses
of anger and jealousy....renders the "fast/act of penance" useless in regards to a greater purpose. "Say to all the people of the land and to the
priests: When you fasted...was it really for me that you fasted"Zechariah 7:5
Isaiah 58:3-4 " 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the
day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with
wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high."
1 Peter 4:1-2 "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is
done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God." 1 Corinthians
9:26-27
There is also the words from visionaries that provoke great controversy between Protestants and Catholics. I'll provide a quote anyway.
In Kibeho, Rwanda it was said that the true road was "the one of suffering". And in Fatima Portugal, the angel of Peace was to have instructed to
the three young children to "Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High. In everything you can, offer a sacrifice as an act of
reparation for sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners. Thus draw peace upon your country. I am its Guardian
Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and endure with submission the suffering which the Lord will send you."
Lastly, even though I am a piece of dirty poo in comparison to everyone I mentiond in this post, I have made some major attempts at going the extra ,
and I can say that the experience for me.....
