FASTING DAY 24 BONUS - Inside the Monastery - Monastic Fasting Through the Ages

About this episode

This episode explores the history and practices of monastic fasting among various Christian orders.

BONUS DAY 24: Inside the Monastery – Monastic Fasting Through the Ages Description: For 1,500 years, monks have been the ”special forces” of Christian fasting. In Bonus Day 24, we go inside the monastery to examine the detailed fasting rules of the Benedictines, Cistercians, and the ultra-strict Carthusians (who eat one meal a day and maintain near-total silence). We explore why men and women throughout history have chosen to live under such strict discipline to seek God [Source 8: 521-522, 529]. We look at the Rule of St. Benedict, which mandated vegetarianism for monks but allowed wine in moderation, and the Trappist tradition of silence during meals. We also revisit the Desert Fathers, who viewed extreme fasting as direct warfare against demons, and contrast them with St. Francis, who ate meat to avoid the sin of pride [Source 8: 523, 527, 533]. What can modern laypeople learn from these radical lifestyles? We discuss the concepts of ”Rhythm and Rule,” community accountability, and the danger of pride that even the Desert Fathers struggled with. Discover how structure can create freedom for the soul [Source 8: 539-540]. Keywords: Monastic fasting, Rule of St Benedict, Trappist…

People in this episode

Host: Bob Baulch

Topics covered

• monastic fasting
• Christian discipline
• spiritual formation
• historical fasting practices
• community accountability
• Rule of St. Benedict

Keywords

• monastic fasting
• Rule of St Benedict
• Trappist monks
• Carthusian order
• Christian monasticism
• Desert Fathers
• silence and fasting
• spiritual formation
• St Francis fasting
• Cistercian monks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Benedictines, Cistercians, Carthusians, Trappist

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