Fore & Aft Newsletter Vol. II No.5 - July - September 2000

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The Kind of Fasting That Pleases the Lord

A few weeks ago, amidst the tumultuous events that had thrown our country into a frenzy of dizzying and destabilizing challenges, our dear Cardinal Sin encouraged his flock to FAST, and offer this act of penance to the Lord, for peace in our country especially in the troubled spots in Mindanao.

Fasting, as most of us would interpret the word, means substantially reducing our daily food intake; some would even go to the point of subsisting on bread and water only. Some would broaden the meaning of fasting and practice acts of self-denial, and still call that "fasting".

The bible refers us to Isaiah 58:6-9 for the kind of FAST that pleases the Lord:

"See the fast that pleases Me: to break the fetters of injustice and unfasten the throngs of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke. Fast by sharing your Lord with the hungry; bring to your house the unsheltered needy; clothe the man you see naked and do not turn away from your own. Then will your light break forth, as the morning and your healing will come speedily your righteousness will be your vanguard; the glory of Yahweh will be your rear guard. Then you will call and Yahweh will answer, you will cry and he will say, I AM HERE."

For us Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls, we see that the kind of FASTING that we are involved in, is that as we do our share in liberating the souls in Purgatory, we do not turn away from your own".

Let us do more FASTING, in this context, although for sure it could be more meritorious for us to do all three: fast, by reducing your daily food intake; do acts of self-denial; and do your share in liberating more souls in Purgatory, especially during this Great Jubilee Year, where plenary indulgences earned can be applied to these sufferings souls.

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Fore & Aft Newsletter Vol. II No.5 - July - September 2000