SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Questions & Answers

Fasting

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Prayer, Fasting and Worship › Fasting

The question

What should I focus on this year to benefit the most from the Holy Great Fast?

The answer

On the pre-fast Sunday, the church reads from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew 6:1-18. The church teaches us that the three pillars of the Holy Fast are fasting, prayer and charity. We should strive to do all three with gladness. During the Holy Fast we should spend extra time in prayer and reading the Holy Bible. Also read spiritual books about fasting, like "The Spirituality of Fasting" by His Holiness Pope Shenouda. Do not forget charity. If you are used to tithe, you should in this season put the little extra over the tithe. What you save in food and snacks during fasting should be given to the poor.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 856 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.