pam Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 This question was asked on the Italian Forum and I thought interesting so thought I'd pose the question here as well. We fast on fast Sunday. We attend our meetings and partake of the sacrament. While it's not eating a meal, it's still ingesting food and drink. Is that considered breaking the fast? Your thoughts? Quote
skippy740 Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 It's an ordinance. It's a spiritual feast, not a physical one. Quote
FunkyTown Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 And I'm fairly certain your hunger and thirst will not be sated by the sacrament. Quote
Mahone Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 And I'm fairly certain your hunger and thirst will not be sated by the sacrament. Though as a teenager, I used to try and sneak two or more pieces in order to try and do just this during fast and testimony meeting. Quote
ploomf Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 And I'm fairly certain your hunger and thirst will not be sated by the sacrament. I don't know, that bread tastes pretty good some weeks. Quote
Moksha Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 The sacramental emblems would not constitute the breaking of a fast. Even fasting monks still partake of the Eucharist. Quote
StallionMcBeastly Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 I agree with all of the above! I've thought about that many times! Quote
Justice Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 Yes. Intention has to do with it also. Like the person who has diabetis, they must eat something during their fast every so ofter or they could put themselves in physical harm. Maybe some think if they had a little faith they wouldn't have to eat. I say if I had a little faith I could heal them. No difference. The purpose to partake of the sacrament is not to feed a physical hunger or need, but a spiritual one. Quote
Guest Alana Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 That little morsel of bread is so delicious on fast Sunday. Alas, no, I do not think it breaks the fast because of intent. Similarly, some people can't fast without liquids, but that doesn't mean their fast isn't acceptable, or when children fast but only for one meal, or when those who can't fast still strive to dedicate their prayers to a cause and pay a fast offering (like when pregnant); I hope all are acceptable to the Lord. Quote
beefche Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 Yes.Intention has to do with it also. Like the person who has diabetis, they must eat something during their fast every so ofter or they could put themselves in physical harm. Maybe some think if they had a little faith they wouldn't have to eat. I say if I had a little faith I could heal them. No difference.The purpose to partake of the sacrament is not to feed a physical hunger or need, but a spiritual one.I have a friend who works a physically demanding job and has a medical condition (I'm not sure if it's diabetes or what), but he cannot go without food. So when he wants to fast, he begins with a prayer, then restricts his food to simple foods and water only. His attitude and intent is one of fasting and he closes his fast with a prayer. Quote
Generally_Me Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 IMO, the sacrament makes fasting all the more difficult. I mean, you are hungry, you eat one solitary bite, and then you continue being hungry for the next couple hours. It's almost MORE of a sacrifice than just fasting would be. IMO. Quote
Traveler Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 Fasting is not going without (starving for) food and drink. And partaking of the sacrament is not eating the bread and drinking the water. Perhaps, there are times it would be best not to do ether until one is ready and willing to do both - with all their heart, might, mind and strength. The Traveler Quote
Danite Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 Well here's my take, food is blessed to our bodies ,and the sarement is blessed to our souls, to me it's a world of difference Quote
rameumptom Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 Partaking of the Sacrament denotes the official end of the fast. Many people will continue to fast afterwards, which is not discouraged. Quote
Misshalfway Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 In my life, I have known people who think about it that way. They start their fast on Saturday and end it with the sacrament. Quote
jameslentz Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 we have a sister in our ward that provides homemade bread for our sacrament. It is quite substantial and has a sweetness to it....i always thank her for the sacrament "cake"....i agree with all the above and like to think of it this way....if the emblems symbolize and help us renew our baptismal covenants, would anyone not get baptized because they were fasting? maybe it's not the same, but i truly believe that in everything we do it matters where your heart is...or like said above it's about your intent. Quote
bnichole Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 I was talking to my bishop last Sunday, and I have always had a hard time fasting for some reason. He was telling me that although it is good to fast completely for 24 hours, if you forget and drink a glass of water or eat a piece of toast, that doesn't mean you're fast is over. You can say a prayer and continue your fast. Just thought I would add that in there. Quote
tubaloth Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 From the Instatute Manual“Fasting, with prayer as its companion, is designed to increase spirituality; to foster a spirit of devotion and love of God; to increase faith in the hearts of men, thus assuring divine favor; to encourage humility and contrition of soul; to aid in the acquirement of righteousness; to teach man his nothingness and dependence upon God; and to hasten those who properly comply with the law of fasting along the path to salvation” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 276). I always viewed the Sacrament on Fast sunday as the Bread of Life, or the living water tha Christ teaches us about. Taking the bread and water, for me has this kind of rush to your sense again. Putting into fouces what I'm really dependent on (the real bread and the living water). Quote
Prodigal_Son Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 This is a topic that is often a source of drama between the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law. I remember a Jack R. Christianson talk where a seminary student expressed concern over accidentally swallowing a bit of toothpaste while brushing her teeth. Kinda misses the point, I think. Quote
Saguaro Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 Partaking of the Sacrament denotes the official end of the fast.Never heard that before, do you have a source for this? I thought a proper fast was skipping two meals in a row. Quote
Compassionate Posted September 25, 2009 Report Posted September 25, 2009 I think your fast ends the same way you started it, with prayer. So what occurs in between is your responsibility. So is fasting an ordinance or is the sacrament? I think sacrament trumps fast, yet fast is still valid until you end it. The sacrament does not end it, the cheerios mom brought for the baby does! Quote
pam Posted September 25, 2009 Author Report Posted September 25, 2009 Partaking of the Sacrament denotes the official end of the fast. Many people will continue to fast afterwards, which is not discouraged. I do remember when I was little, being taught to start our fast the night before. Missing dinner, and then breakfast, so that when the Sacrament was passed that would be the official end to our fast. Quote
will227457 Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 no partaking of the sacrament does not interupt your fast... Quote
Hemidakota Posted September 28, 2009 Report Posted September 28, 2009 This question was asked on the Italian Forum and I thought interesting so thought I'd pose the question here as well.We fast on fast Sunday. We attend our meetings and partake of the sacrament. While it's not eating a meal, it's still ingesting food and drink. Is that considered breaking the fast?Your thoughts?You are still fasting... Quote
Vort Posted September 29, 2009 Report Posted September 29, 2009 This question was asked on the Italian Forum and I thought interesting so thought I'd pose the question here as well.We fast on fast Sunday. We attend our meetings and partake of the sacrament. While it's not eating a meal, it's still ingesting food and drink.Of course it is eating a meal. That's the whole point of the sacrament -- it's a reenactment of Jesus' last supper with his disciples. It is only a token meal, but it is still a meal.Is that considered breaking the fast?Your thoughts?Mamma mia. No, it is not breaking the spiritual ordinance of the fast, though strictly speaking is is breaking the physical ordeal of the fast. Fasting per se is of little value, unless it is accompanied by sincere prayer and used as a spiritual ordinance. Ma senza dubbio avete gia realizzato questo punto... Quote
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