Friday, February 19, 2010

How to Understand Fasting:

GRANT US TO PASS IN PEACE AND HUMILITY
THROUGH THE DAYS OF CLEANSING THAT PREPARE US FOR THE FAST.
IN YOUR INEFFABLE LOVE FOR MANKIND, CHRIST OUR GOD,
DESTROY THE EVIL PLANS OF THE ENEMY.
PRESERVE US ALL BY YOUR CROSS,//
FOR YOU ALONE KNOW THE SECRETS OF OUR HEARTS.

YOUR VIRGIN MOTHER, STANDING BY YOUR CROSS,
COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE YOU SUFFERING UNJUSTLY.
WEEPING AND LAMENTING, SHE CRIED OUT TO YOU:
CHILD, DEAR TO MY HEART,
HOW DO YOU SUFFER YOUR PASSION WHEN BY NATURE YOU ARE IMPASSABLE?//
I SING THE PRAISES OF YOUR PERFECT LOVE!


IN VAIN DO YOU REJOICE IN NOT EATING, MY SOUL!
YOU ABSTAIN FROM FOOD, BUT ARE NOT PURIFIED FROM PASSIONS!
IF YOU HAVE NO DESIRE FOR IMPROVEMENT,
YOU WILL BE DESPISED AS A LIE IN THE EYES OF GOD!
YOU WILL BE COMPARED TO EVIL DEMONS, WHO NEVER EAT!
IF YOU CONTINUE IN SIN, YOU WILL PERFORM A USELESS FAST:
THEREFORE, REMAIN IN CONSTANT WARFARE,
THAT YOU MAY STAND BEFORE THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOR,
OR RATHER THAT YOU MAY BE CRUCIFIED WITH HIM WHO DIED FOR YOUR SAKE://
REMEMBER ME, LORD, WHEN YOU COME IN YOUR KINGDOM!

From http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/prayers

Posted via email from deaconjohn's posterous

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