The Holy Forty Fast - Jesus' commandment for us
The youth of Saint Francis, working and university groups, gathered in the convent of the Sisters of St. Anne's Daughters in Bethlehem, where the topic of the meeting was about the forty days and the holy fast, which is the commandment of Jesus to us.
The meeting began with the youth’s prayer, after which the spiritual mentor of the youth, Sister Anna Salwa Said, gave a lecture, in which she explained the meaning, how and about what we fast or stop and differentiate between them, and to whom we fast, as she stressed the importance of change in this time because we fast to get closer to God, who sacrificed himself For us sinners.
And I quoted from the entire Bible, from both the Old and New Testaments, those who talked about fasting in verses that were presented to all members, the most important of which are those that talk about dust, and to dust they return. Spirituality was explained in our going to the priest and putting dust on our heads as a sign of repentance and regret, and that we confess at this moment that we are sinners. I also explained what we fast, why and when we fast at specific times, and that we can not fast on Sundays and holidays. The types of fasting and abstinence were divided. All according to the Catholic Church.
At the end of the meeting, the members gained good and new knowledge about fasting and how to fast after they had little knowledge on the subject. All members asked and raised their prayers to God the Father in the concluding prayer, in order to complete this journey towards the cross and the glorious resurrection.
In secret he will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16-18).
