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I am wondering how much is too much food on a fasting day. The rules are kind of vague so I wonder how to really know. For example I didn't eat breakfast my lunch was a bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter and a banana. For a snack I had peanut butter and jelly sandwich and for supper I had a fish sandwich and fries. I guess my meals were not a whole lot smaller than usual but I did not have snacks in between, which I am a big snacker. So in that sense I did eat less. I do tend to get hypoglycemic I get shaky, headaches, dizzy etc... (not officially diagnosed by a doctor, just through a nurse who said to eat smaller meals more often and eat more protein) I didn't feel hungry very much because I ate so much protein and I ate them so close together, because I was trying to avoid low blood sugar since I couldn't snack. Anyway I guess I am asking if I did alright on the fasting or did I commit a sin by eating too much.
Hi, Mandy:
Thanks for the question.
Of course realizing that the only days of fast prescribed and required by the Church are Ash WED and Good FRI: the guidelines are basically 1. Age 18-59; 2. Only one regular size meal, and 2 other small snack meals that together add up to less than one full meal; 3. A fast day also includes abstinence from flesh meat; 4. No food taken in between.
As you described above, you only ate at 3-times: 1 full meal, and 2 small meals.
You seem to have a health factor that can perhaps make it more difficult for you to fast. The Church is not trying to ruin people's health; so you have to monitor that situation and do the best you can. But, as far as I can tell, it looks like you observed both letter and spirit of the Lenten fast.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
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Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
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