An Evangelical Discovers Lent
The History of Christian Fasting (Part 1)
“What can be more powerful than a fast? By its observance we draw near to God, and withstanding the devil, we conquer our alluring sins. For fasting has ever been the nourishment of virtue. From abstinence indeed proceed pure thoughts, prudent wishes, more healthful counsels: and through voluntary afflictions, the flesh dies to its concupiscences, and the spirit is renewed in virtue.” -Pope St. Leo the Great (5th century)
“For this reason the eating of flesh meat is forbidden in every fast, while the Lenten fast lays a general prohibition even on eggs and milk foods.” -St. Thomas Aquinas (13th century)
I can still recall the first time that I saw a friend of mine return to campus at Taylor University with ashes on her forehead. Growing up Baptist, I didn’t know what had happened to her. As a Methodist she then began to explain to me the historic practices of Ash Wednesday, the 40 days of Lent, and fasting from something dear to you like desserts or movies. After our conversation, I looked further into the role of fasting in the Christian life and began to gradually give up favorite foods and screen time during Lent as well.
At the time, I was reading a popular book in certain Protestant circles called ‘Celebration of Discipline’ by Richard Foster. This book was life-changing for me at the time and really opened me up to the reality that Christian ‘discipleship’ must be rooted in actual disciplines if we are really going to make progress in becoming like Christ. This book, along with many others at the time, really brought it to my attention that Christ fasted and presumed that his followers would fast also. Christ did not say, “If you fast… but “when you fast.” Jesus did not say that all demons will be driven out by “prayer alone” but instead that some demons will only be cast out by “prayer AND fasting.” Lastly, the Apostles did not wait for the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost by having a church pitch-in every night in the Upper Room! Instead, they had a novena, a period of nine days devoted to prayer and fasting. (Novenas have become quite popular in the Catholic West, and I have many friends who pray and fast for 9 days leading up to a great solemnity or holy day).
Since my conversation with my Methodist friend, I used to think really hard about what I was going to give up for Lent. Chocolate? Beer? Screen time? 12 years later, I no longer think about it. When friends, family, and students ask me what I am giving up for Lent, I simply respond, “The usual.”
What changed?
I began following ‘The Fasting Program of the Saints’ that has existed since ancient times. The program is always spiritually intense and challenging, and my prayer is always that I come out of the fasting season looking more like Jesus than less (I’ll admit that this doesn’t always happen). In short, during the fasting seasons, I abstain from meat and most animal by-products such as dairy and eggs. It is close to vegan but not quite. Shellfish is allowed as well as other exceptions. Fish with backbone was generally allowed in the Christian West while it was only allowed at certain times in the Christian East (such as Saturday, Sundays, and Holy Days). I also try to avoid sweets and desserts as it goes against the spirit of ‘the Fast.’
Discovering the Meaning of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
I began to learn about the ‘original fasting program of the Saints’ when I was a new Catholic back in 2012 while studying about the church’s original holidays or holy days. When I arrived to ‘Mardi Gras’ (Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday), I was surprised to discover that it was the day before Ash Wednesday or the beginning of Lent. On Mardi Gras, western Christians would ‘pig out’ by eating the last of the meat, eggs, and dairy they had on hand so it wouldn’t be around to tempt them or spoil until Easter. In England, Shrove Tuesday was a popular day to eat lots of pancakes, because they wanted to consume the last of the eggs, milk, and butter in their homes. All Western Christians, like the East, generally fasted from meat (+ by products) for the entire duration of Lent leading up to the great Easter celebration!
Origin of Easter Eggs
The original Lenten fast also explains the origin of ‘Easter eggs.’ You cannot tell your chickens to stop laying eggs at home during Lent, and so most households had a pileup of eggs. Unlike dairy, eggs have a long shelf-life and can make it to Easter. Families saved these eggs and painted some of them with images of Christ, Mary, and the Saints. (This is still popular practice in Russia today!) Once Easter arrived, you would bring Easter baskets filled with new cuts of meat, freshly churned butter, and your stockpile of eggs to be blessed by your priest at Mass or Divine Liturgy. Eastern Christians still maintain this practice since Eastern Catholics & Orthodox ‘hold fast’ to the fasting program of the ancient church.
Fraternal Support & A New Way of Cooking
For about 8 years, I gave up meat regularly for Lent. It wasn’t until Advent of 2021 & Lent 2022 that I eventually began to give up animal by-products as well. I texted an Eastern Orthodox friend who kept the fasts to keep me accountable. Like me, he had also been a Protestant pastor, and so we struck up a friendship primarily through social media to discuss fasting and all things related to ancient Christianity (You can listen to his interview with me here). I also learned to eat and cook differently which was both challenging and wonderful! I would break my fast around noon with raw carrots and apples or perhaps bread with some olives or maybe some chips and hummus. At dinner, I might cook up Thai curry with coconut milk or tacos stuffed with beans, avocado, & salsa. I would also air-fry some chickpeas with garlic and other seasonings and toss them into a dish. (There are some terrific Facebook groups dedicated to sharing recipes for Lent or the Great Fast). At first, my body and mind felt very tired, but, after a week or so, my body felt lighter with more energy. My mind even felt sharper.
Why Meat?! Here are 3 Reasons
But many Christians in the West (particularly in America) will protest giving up meat. “What does meat have to do with spirituality and prayer? Why can’t we simply keep giving up chocolate?”
Fasting from meat is one of the best ways for Christians to fight sexual temptation. St. Augustine writes,