Fasting is a limitation of bodily and mental. The wording is not entirely clear, we will explain in more detail.
By bodily limitation is meant abstinence from food. Mental fasting is an evasion of entertainment.
In the article we will talk about whether to fast before confession and communion.
What is confession?
A strange question, it would seem. This is repentance of one's sins. We confess to the priest. And he, in turn, is a vehicle between God and us.
Confession is a contrition for sins. The determination to mend. Stop committing certain sins. That is, this is not a formal report on a piece of paper in which we list our sins. A person must fully realize the abomination of a sinful state. And with all my heart to want correction.
Confession Preparation
Do I need to fast before confession? If a Christian does not receive Communion after her, then fasting is only spiritual. He is a voluntary affair. The man himself decides whether to fast him mentally or not.
The fact is that you need to tune in before confession. To do this, it’s not enough just to take a book with a list of sins, write out a part from it and bring your notes to the priest. This, as some experienced priests say, is a formal report.
You need to want to repent. And fixes to your life. For example, if a person smokes, he should desire with all his heart to give up this passion. And realize how smoking is disgusting before God. With the same lips in which the cigarette was clamped, we attach ourselves to the gospel, take communion, kiss the cross. And we don’t even think about how insulting the Creator is.
And idleness? The very first ordeal that everyone has to go through - in a word. How many chatter and gossip comes out of our mouths? Girlfriends or relatives gather - and it begins. They will wash the bones so that it doesn’t seem enough.
At least before confession, let's refrain from idle talk. From watching TV, long sitting at a computer, listening to music. Leave for this time a visit to the theater and cinema. We better think about what and how we will speak in confession. Without a book - hints, but on our own we will write out the sins that put the most pressure on us. And then we rummage through the bowels of memory. If you leave the entertainment, delving into yourself, so much interesting can be found.
Do they fast before confession? If you are not going to receive communion, then fasting should be sincere. We talked about this above.
So, preparation for a confession includes:
Abstinence from entertainment.
Aspiration inward.
Sincere repentance of our sins.
Determined to mend.
What is the sacrament?
Do I need to fast before confession and communion? Yes, corporal fasting is necessary before communion. Three days is a minimum. Exclusion of some food is added to avoidance of idle pastime. Of animal origin, and on especially severe days, they do not eat fish.
What is the sacrament? This is one of the main church ordinances. The union of man with God through the acceptance of the Mysteries of Christ. Jesus Christ at the Last Supper commanded his disciples to receive communion. Bread is the Body of Christ, wine is His Blood. He gave us the sacrament as a great mercy and hope for salvation.
Why wine and bread?
Skeptics are often found among unbelieving people. Like, the church is deceiving its parishioners. In the Communion Cup, only wine and bread. There is neither the Body of Christ, nor His Blood.
Indeed, why is it under the guise of bread and wine that the sacrament is given to us? Imagine the reaction of people who would be offered to take in real blood and pieces of flesh. Just thinking makes you scared, right? And so that Christians would not be embarrassed, God commanded to receive communion by wine and bread.
Preparing for the sacrament bodily
How much to fast before confession and communion? The ancient Christians fasted for a week. In the modern world, these periods have been reduced to 3 days.
What should not be eaten during the preparation period?
Meat products, including sausages and sausages.
Offal.
The eggs.
Milk products.
Cheese.
Chocolates and milk chocolate.
Baking, which includes eggs and milk.
- In days of strict fasting, you can’t eat fish.
Alcohol is excluded from the diet. It is advisable to refrain from favorite treats.
You look at the list of prohibitions and it becomes sad. And what can you eat? Hot food is allowed. It can be cereals, vegetables, lean soups, lean bread, salted and pickled dishes. From drinks tea, coffee, juices, mineral waters, compotes are allowed.
Fasting mentally
How to fast before confession and communion, we found out. Do not eat food of animal origin, refrain from entertainment. If you are going to receive communion, then you need to know the following:
Physical intimacy between spouses is not allowed during govening.
If a woman has critical days, then one cannot take communion. Now the practice of communion in the days of uncleanness is popular. She is fond of young priests. The elderly categorically forbid to begin the sacrament during this period. Unless it is a mortal danger or illness. Cleansing lasts for women for several days. They stand a week in church practice, only then they begin the sacrament of communion.
Before the sacrament you must not smoke. When a person has long and firmly been friends with the "tobacco stick", he knows how hard it is to survive without a day. Have to endure four days at least.
There is an opinion that one cannot brush teeth before communion. This is not true. Even priests are advised to brush their teeth. What can we say about the layman.
Communion cannot be eaten after midnight. And in the morning, before the sacrament, do not eat. You can not drink holy water and eat prosphora.
Mandatory reading of canons and prayers before the sacrament. Three canons are read: to the Lord, the Virgin, the Guardian Angel. And the follow-up to holy communion. This rule is in every prayer book.
Refrain from visiting guests. And other recreational activities.
Easing fasting
Do pregnant, sick and children need to fast before confession? If a person simply confesses, then fasting should be sincere. When it comes to the sacrament, only the priest performs the weakening or cancellation of the fast. With this question it is necessary to approach the priest.
The meaning of the post
Do we need to fast before confession without the sacrament, we found out. Mental fasting is necessary.
Let's talk about the meaning of fasting. There are four long lean periods. This is a Christmas post that runs from November 28 to January 6. It is installed in honor of the Nativity of Christ. This fasting is joyful, awaiting the birth of the Savior.
The second post is the Great. The longest and most difficult of the four. It lasts almost 50 days. Very strict in its charter. Under the ban, fish, and vegetable oil is allowed to eat only on weekends.
Lent is set in memory of the Savior's fasting in the wilderness. The Lord fasted for 40 days.
Petrov post. It begins after the Trinity. Fasting is rolling, so its duration can vary from 1 week to 1.5 months. ends on the day of Peter and Paul - July 12.
Assumption post. Short but as austere as the Great. It lasts only two weeks. People fast in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The meaning of fasting in the fight against their own passions and desires. Cutting off passions, both physical and mental, we conquer ourselves. Fasting is a time of enormous spiritual work, repentance, and recognition of our sins.
Appearance and rules of conduct
In the article, we talked about whether to fast before confession. The answer to this question is given.
We offer a short talk about visiting the temple. How to behave, when to come, what to do.
Let's start with the rules of appearance and behavior:
Dress modestly. It is clear that they do not go to the temple in tank tops, with a neckline and bare shoulders. This applies to women. Men attend the temple in trousers and shirts. Shorts, wrestling and t-shirts will have to be forgotten.
The woman should have a skirt or dress. We cover the head with a scarf, hat or other dress.
A man, being in the temple, takes off his headdress.
Lovely women, don’t have to paint when you go to church. This is not very appropriate in the house of God. Of course, do not hide the manicure. And you can’t get rid of eyelash extensions. But set aside the shadows and lipstick until the "appearance of the light." With painted lips you will not attach to the icon, for you will dirty it. Yes, and you can’t approach the Chalice, taking communion, messing up the liar.
If you are going to the temple with the children, do not let them scream and run. Children should be calm. Do not rush through the temple, announcing it with loud cries, do not distract the parishioners from prayer. And even more so, do not try to enter the pulpit and look at the altar. Parents are responsible for the behavior of the children in the temple.
You can not speak in the temple. Especially screaming and laughing. They came, put candles, venerated the icons, and pray quietly.
We came to the temple
When to come to the temple? 15-20 minutes before the start of service. Quietly write notes, buy candles. You can put candles in front of the icons, attach to the images. You won’t disturb anyone, and nobody will pull you. If you are late for the service, you will have to wait until its end. And only then put candles, applying to the icons.
When you go to confession, you don’t have to jostle. Take it easy. No need to enter into conversations. And finding out who was standing here is inappropriate. It looks very ridiculous when the line of confession begins to sort things out. Parishioners hiss at each other, trying to decide who was standing in front of whom. We came to God, and not a queue for sausage. If a retiring lady jumps up to you, loudly announcing that she “was behind this grandmother in a handkerchief”, skip it. Let him stand, only in silence. It was still not enough to enter into conflict because of the clarification of the order.
Conclusion
So we figured out how to fast before confession: what you can eat, what foods you should refrain from. How to mentally "tame" yourself.
Now there is a Christmas post. It's time to look inside yourself. Rummaging in your own soul, you can find so many interesting things. Yes, such that we run to confession.