Comments on: The Fathers on Fasting http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/ Mike Aquilina's Blog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:47:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: WebElf Blogroll News « The WebElf Report http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-570101 WebElf Blogroll News « The WebElf Report Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:34:33 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-570101 [...] ~ AQUILINA: “The Fathers on Fasting” …. (fathersofthechurch.com) [...] [...] ~ AQUILINA: “The Fathers on Fasting” …. (fathersofthechurch.com) [...]

]]> By: Justin http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-567707 Justin Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:19:19 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-567707 I'm doing some research on fasting in the early church. Do you know of any other good resources. The ones mentioned were great Thanks! Peace, Justin I’m doing some research on fasting in the early church. Do you know of any other good resources. The ones mentioned were great Thanks!
Peace,
Justin

]]> By: john http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-561173 john Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:58:03 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-561173 Hello Mike, Thanks for the tip. It's greatly appreciated. As luck would have it, I already have Ferguson's book, but haven't gotten to it yet. I will now. Pax et bonum John Hello Mike,

Thanks for the tip. It’s greatly appreciated. As luck would have it, I already have Ferguson’s book, but haven’t gotten to it yet. I will now.

Pax et bonum
John

]]> By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-560712 Mike Aquilina Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:47:05 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-560712 John: There are good articles on the subject in Ferguson's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0802822215%26tag=wayofthefathers-20%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0802822215%253FSubscriptionId=0EMV44A9A5YT1RVDGZ82" title="View product details at Amazon" rel="nofollow">Backgrounds of Early Christianity</a> and in Cross's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html%3FASIN=0192802909%26tag=wayofthefathers-20%26lcode=xm2%26cID=2025%26ccmID=165953%26location=/o/ASIN/0192802909%253FSubscriptionId=0EMV44A9A5YT1RVDGZ82" title="View product details at Amazon" rel="nofollow">Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church</a>. Both sources suggest a wide range of customs, varied from place to place and time to time, and also according to one's state in life. The later ascetics of the desert went to the limits of human endurance. I can't imagine the average barrister pulling that off and keeping up with his workload. John: There are good articles on the subject in Ferguson’s Backgrounds of Early Christianity and in Cross’s Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Both sources suggest a wide range of customs, varied from place to place and time to time, and also according to one’s state in life. The later ascetics of the desert went to the limits of human endurance. I can’t imagine the average barrister pulling that off and keeping up with his workload.

]]> By: john http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-560473 john Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:20:52 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-560473 Hello Mike, Thanks for your reply. I probably should have been more clear. I'm trying to find out what was allowed and what wasn't. For example; were fasts total or was some bread and water allowed. I seem to remember reading that the Desert Monks allowed for a certain amount of bread to be eaten after a certain time of the day. Did the Church have any basic rules in this regard that you know of? Anyway, thanks for your time. Pax, John Hello Mike,

Thanks for your reply. I probably should have been more clear. I’m trying to find out what was allowed and what wasn’t. For example; were fasts total or was some bread and water allowed. I seem to remember reading that the Desert Monks allowed for a certain amount of bread to be eaten after a certain time of the day. Did the Church have any basic rules in this regard that you know of?

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Pax,
John

]]> By: Mike Aquilina http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-558262 Mike Aquilina Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:36:18 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-558262 Gerard: Heaven and hell are indeed beyond natural perception, but the vision has certainly been granted to believers — St. Paul, for example (2 Cor 12:2-3) and John the Seer (Rev 1:10f). You're right in saying that human nature hasn't changed; but, then again, neither has divine grace. John: Yes, the disciplines of fasting varied from time to time and place to place. Irenaeus and Eusebius witness to a 40-hour fast extending from Christ's death to his resurrection. In the third century there was a trend toward extending the fast through Holy Week. According to Augustine and Jerome, the 40-day fast arose in the early fourth century. Nicaea (canon 5) treats it like an established custom. Gerard: Heaven and hell are indeed beyond natural perception, but the vision has certainly been granted to believers — St. Paul, for example (2 Cor 12:2-3) and John the Seer (Rev 1:10f). You’re right in saying that human nature hasn’t changed; but, then again, neither has divine grace.

John: Yes, the disciplines of fasting varied from time to time and place to place. Irenaeus and Eusebius witness to a 40-hour fast extending from Christ’s death to his resurrection. In the third century there was a trend toward extending the fast through Holy Week. According to Augustine and Jerome, the 40-day fast arose in the early fourth century. Nicaea (canon 5) treats it like an established custom.

]]> By: john http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-558160 john Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:51:04 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-558160 Hello Mike, On a related subject; what were the strictures concerning fasting in the ancient Church? I imagine it varied depending on the time and the place. I'm interested in learning how fasting was practiced by the early Christians. Any ideas or sources? Pax, John Hello Mike,

On a related subject; what were the strictures concerning fasting in the ancient Church? I imagine it varied depending on the time and the place. I’m interested in learning how fasting was practiced by the early Christians. Any ideas or sources?

Pax,
John

]]> By: gerard http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/comment-page-1/#comment-557062 gerard Sat, 09 Feb 2008 06:16:03 +0000 http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/2008/02/08/the-fathers-on-fasting/#comment-557062 excellent proclaimation to the faithful!,thankyou,one thing is troubling me though,I was reading a pamphlet given to me by a catholic priest about a saint whom i can unfortunately not remember the name of,anyway,they were said to be a seer of Christ and when asking about heaven was given a simple but direct response of"Heaven is beyond human perception",this still rings in my mind to this day and when i see articles even of my earthly brothers and sisters on heaven and hell but heaven inparticular I wonder if maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves and even getting into dangerous waters,for even the Lord said to his disciples that they couldn't even grasp worldly concepts ,so how then could they understand those of the heavenly kingdom.I really just wanted to hear from someone learned if human understanding of heaven and hell could have changed since the time of Jesus. excellent proclaimation to the faithful!,thankyou,one thing is troubling me though,I was reading a pamphlet given to me by a catholic priest about a saint whom i can unfortunately not remember the name of,anyway,they were said to be a seer of Christ and when asking about heaven was given a simple but direct response of”Heaven is beyond human perception”,this still rings in my mind to this day and when i see articles even of my earthly brothers and sisters on heaven and hell but heaven inparticular I wonder if maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves and even getting into dangerous waters,for even the Lord said to his disciples that they couldn’t even grasp worldly concepts ,so how then could they understand those of the heavenly kingdom.I really just wanted to hear from someone learned if human understanding of heaven and hell could have changed since the time of Jesus.

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