40-day fast a way to ‘feel closer to God’

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This article was published 18/02/2023 (1333 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

During Lent, the 40-day period when Christians are encouraged to give something up in memory of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, some choose to make sacrifices of their own by giving up activities like watching TV, playing video games, shopping or following the news. Others give up things they like to eat — meat, coffee, chocolate, dessert, snacks or candy.

A few go further, like some Winnipeggers who are giving up on regular meals for 40 days to subsist on only bread and water. They will start on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and end on Holy Thursday, April 6.

One person who is doing this is Monika Dueck, 59, a member of the Christ the King Roman Catholic parish in St. Vital.

“I do it because I want to get more out of Lent, and feel closer to God,” said Dueck, who has done the 40-day fast twice before.

“It is such a happy and joyful experience for me. The mass and the scriptures come alive for me during that time.”

The first time she thought about doing it, she thought there was no way she could make it for 40 days just eating a couple slices of bread and water at each mealtime.

“But I prayed about it and I felt the Lord was calling me to do it,” she said, adding it turned out not to be very hard.

“It was challenging the first couple of days,” she acknowledged, especially giving up coffee. “I love my coffee in the morning!” she said, adding she also has a sweet tooth.

But she stuck it out. After a few days, the urges for her favourite foods dissipated. What helped was prayer and scripture readings, and knowing there were others doing it, too.

“It helped to be part of a group,” she said. “I felt their support.”

She did lose some weight, she said, but “that wasn’t the focus.”

Dueck was surprised at how good she felt while doing it. “I felt so much energy, I was never tired,” she said. “It was a happy and joyful experience. I’m looking forward to doing it again.”

The 40-day fast in Winnipeg is organized by Melvin and Maria De Paz, who head up the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services of Manitoba.

The goal of the organization is to bring people into a living personal relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. One of the ways it does that is through the Lenten fast.

The couple, who are members of St. Gerard parish in Elmwood, don’t find it to be a hardship.

“We feel Jesus fasting in us, we feel his strength,” said Maria, 41. “It’s a way to become closer to God.”

It’s also a way to remember those who don’t have enough to eat, added Melvin, 42.

“It reminds us of how fortunate we are to live in Canada where most people don’t go hungry,” he said. “We are aware there are millions in the world who don’t have enough food. This helps us connect with them.”

When people decide to do the 40-day fast, they receive a set of instructions to help them do it successfully.

That includes a recommendation to drink lots of water, and which types of bread are best to eat three times a day — French, whole-wheat, gluten-free and sourdough. Participants are also encouraged to add a small amount of extra virgin olive oil for taste, or a bit of salt.

The goal is to only eat as much bread as needed to feel full and not to overeat. On Sundays, participants are encouraged to enjoy regular meals with family and friends — a way to be sociable and not exclude anyone.

The most important thing of all, Melvin said, is to pray and read the Bible. “Fasting without prayer and scripture reading is just dieting,” he said.

For Maria, the time spent fasting is “something out of this world.” Added Melvin: “I never feel better than during those days.”

They both say they not only feel better, but they sleep better and are calmer and more patient at home with their seven children, ages 10 months to 15 years old.

It’s not like there aren’t temptations, said Melvin, such as when people at work get coffee during breaks or someone brings doughnuts. At times like that he asks God for help, adding “I feel surrounded by the prayers of others doing the fast.”

Along with fasting and prayer, participants are also encouraged to donate to charity. Some calculate the amount of money they save on food during the fast and give that away.

For Melvin, fasting during Lent is a way to “quiet my mind and enter into a deeper relationship with God. I can listen to him better, be aware of things I might not ordinarily see.”

Added Maria: “During the fast God is changing me and my way of viewing him and others.”

Last year, 45 people participated in the 40-day fast in the province; the couple hopes the same number or more take part this year. Those who want to be part of the fast can visit the website catholicrenewalservices.com for more information.

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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