Medjugorje Mary
Eating fish is not fasting. The best fast is bread and water. If you cannot fast with bread, fast on entertainments such as television. Avoid evil programmes, Mary says. Everyone should fast on bread and water on wed and fri, except the sick. The sick can fast on other things , such as TV . Mary always calls us to switch off the T.V, because it distracts our prayer lives. Fasting on T.V and unreasonable enjoyment of food are good substitues .
Medjugorje :
"You will be happy if you do not judge yourselves according to your faults, but if you understand that in your faults even graces are offered to you." 4392
Our Blessed Mother has provided us with a living model of what a prayer group should be. She provided Jelena Vasilj (locutionist) with these following instructions that were to be applied to the prayer group:
1. Eliminate Fear
They were to put away all fear from their hearts forever. They should renounce all inordinate desires. They were to avoid television, particularly evil programs, excessive sports where it would take away from their prayer life, the unreasonable enjoyment of food and drink, alcohol, tobacco and other habits.
She urged them to eliminate all anguish and told them whoever abandons himself to God, without any restrictions, does not have room left in his heart for anguish.
2. Fasting
She asked that they fast twice a week on bread and water. Gospa says this is the Best fast. Fasting can stop wars and suspend natural laws she also says. Fasting one or two days a week is a form of oneness with the Lord. Maria Lunetti the visionary stated that there were other forms of fasting too. For those people with addictions, they were to fast from those addictions one day a week. Television is another good form of fasting. Giving up something you enjoy.
3. Prayer throughout your day
Gospa told Jelena they the group should devote three hours a day to prayer. A half an hour should be in the morning, a half an hour in the evening. Holy Mass and the Rosary are included in this time of prayer. Set aside moments during the course of the day to pray. Do not concern yourself with the things of this world but entrust all things in prayer to Our heavenly Father.
Gospa said that those who attend school or go to work must pray half an hour in the morning and in the evening and if possible, participate in the Eucharist because it is necessary to extend the spirit of prayer to daily work.
Gospa told them to be especially prudent in their prayers since the devil will tempt those who have resolved to consecrate themselves to God. He will suggest to them that they are praying too much. She wants us to listen to her voice and not to his. When you are strengthened then the devil will no longer be able to seduce you.
4. Confession
The prayer group members are to go to confession at least once a month but when it is especially needed because of hardships then even more frequently. With confession we not only free ourselves from sin but we also are able to perfect ourselves in holiness and be closer to Jesus. "Confession is the remedy for the church in the West" Our Blessed mother has said.
5. Strive for Holiness
Our Blessed Mother encourages us to desire to be holy and to help other members of our group to desire to be holy and to grow in holiness. This is what we are called to do.
6. Holy Objects in the home
Gospa says that we need to have holy blessed objects in our homes and also on ourselves. Medals, Crucifixes and holy water to name a few. She also wants us to have the Holy Bible placed in a prominent place at home and to read this daily.
"I invite you to place more blessed objects in your homes and that each one wear some blessed object on himself. Let all the objects be blessed. For then, Satan will not tempt you so much, because you will be armed against him." (July 18, 1985)
The above rules were given to Jelena's prayer group by Our Blessed Mother. They might be difficult for others to follow, such as the elderly or the infirm. Fasting on bread and water may not be prudent for some so substitute something else. This is a basis to go on for our own prayer groups. Although all prayer groups are different, it's good to stay as close to what we know Our Blessed Mother likes.
Other good substitues for penance:
1. Read deeply
Neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf has been researching how the brain develops different skills when reading in print than reading online. Online readers cover more content but they skim rather than read deeply. What does it matter? The online reader doesn’t “have time to grasp complexity, to understand another’s feelings, to perceive beauty, and to create thoughts of the reader’s own.” Reading a printed book over Lent can improve your concentration, remind you to think critically, and develop your empathy for others, all of which can help you become a better disciple.
2.Control desire for possessions
Marketing is all about psychology and the power of persuasion. In our social media age, sellers are called “influencers”. If you use social media, mute your favourite influencers and submit yourself to the influence of prayer instead.
3.Control Desire for entertainment
Entertainment often provides a welcome rest but today’s streaming services make distraction available any time all the time. Suspend, limit, or schedule your streaming so that entertainment does not drown out uncomfortable feelings that you could bring to God in prayer.
The flame of love:
Jesus said to Elizabeth Kindelmann:
From you , I need a greater acceptance of sacrifice. Renounce the reading of frivolous books , the hearing of your favorite music and your seeking to be among others. I want you to increase your fasts. Do not give yourself to any pleasure.Let your breakfast and your afternoon snack be bread and water. At your principal meal you can have other foods, but make them tasteless. Eat only to nourish your body. At your meals, stop eating what is tasty. Only in this way, will I be your guest. what is tasty for you is tasteless for me.
I permit you to feel alone so you gain merits.My heart suffers because of consecrated souls. I walk with them but they do not recognize me. They live in wasteful laziness,seeking only their own comfort. They act as if they were not my workers."
( For myself: I try to add less seasoning on one to two meals of everyday diet.
I fast with bread and coffee and tea two to three days a week , not restricting only on wed and fri. Sometimes , mon, fri , sun. I read news on apps . I do not have T.V at home.I also listen to some favourite music , but not too much. I also watch useful videos on youtube. I have very few friends. I always keep myself alone. I am very happy with only myself . I do not like friends.)
The desert fathers:
1.Arsenius when he was still in the palace, prayed to God, saying: Lord show me the way of salvation.
A voice came to him saying : Arsenius, flee from men, and you will be saved.
As he left for the monastic life, he prayed again, saying the same words; and he heard a voice saying to him: Arsenius , flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the roots of sinlessness.
2. Moses said, One who avoids others is like a ripe grape. One who stays in company is like a sour grape.
3. Nilus said, the arrows of the enemy cannot touch someone who loves quiet .But those who wander about among crowds will often be wounded by them.
4. Matrona said, Many solitaries living the desert have been lost because they lived like people in the world . It is better to live in a crowd and want to live a solitary life than to live in solitude and be longing all the time for company.
St Padre Pio:
You must have good spiritual books and read them everyday.
Saint quotes:
It is not suitable to say we need to be spiritually poor and donate all the holy books to others, including the Bible.Bible as well as the good holy books are very important for our spiritual lives.
Padre Pio and St Teresa of Avila:
You must read spiritual books as well as the Bible everyday for nourishment and for your sanctity.
