An integral part of Our Lady’s reported messages in Medjugorje call us to fast. From the first reported appearances, she said:
“I would like the world to pray with me these days. As
much as possible, to fast strictly on Wednesdays and Fridays…”
“Dear children, today I invite you to start fasting with the
heart... I ask [you] to fast out of
gratitude that God allowed me to stay [here] so long. Dear
children, fast and pray with the heart. Thank you for having responded
to my call.” (9/20/84)
In answer to Our Lady call to fast, Father Slavko Barbaric, the beloved pastor of Medjugorje until his death in 2000 offered this beautiful and profound prayer to help us choose fasting.
I pray that this prayer, when prayed carefully and with the heart, will help each of us to fast on Wednesday and Friday as Our Mother calls us.
I pray that it will help us,
first of all: to decide to fast
and then, secondly: to fast with the heart
- allowing the graces of fasting to purify and strengthen our wills - and thus, draw us ever closer to God. Mary, our Mother, help us to fast!
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear Father,
Today I decide to fast. I decide for fasting because your prophets used to fast,
because Jesus Christ fasted and so did His apostles and disciples.
I especially decide for fasting today because your servant, Mother Mary, fasted too.
She
called me to fast when she said:
"Dear children, today I call on you to
begin fasting with the heart. There are many people who are fasting, but
only because everyone is fasting. It has become a custom which no one
wants to stop. I ask the parish to fast out of gratitude because God has
allowed me to stay this long in this parish. Dear children, fast and
pray with the heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."
{9/20/84}
So Father, I present this day of fasting to you.
Through fasting I want to listen to and live Your Word more.
I want to learn to be turned more toward you in spite of all the things that surround me.
I want to fast for all who are hungry.
I want to fast for peace in the world.
I want to fast for the conversion of sinners.
To fast to be able to see Jesus in all around me.
I want to fast to be able to understand the value of Heavenly Bread.
Grant me the grace that through fasting, my desire for You will grow and that my heart may long for you.
Grant me the grace that through fasting I will become humble and willing to do Your Will
Cleanse me Dear Father of my selfishness.
Cleanse me of my bad habits and let Your virtues increase in me.
Let the depths of my soul open to Your Grace through this fast today so that you will totally affect me and cleanse me.
Help me to be like Your Son in resisting every trial and temptation.
Dear Mary,
Obtain by prayer the grace of a joyful fast for us today.
Obtain by prayer the grace for me that my decision to fast may be firm and long lasting.
I {we} offer, for all the people, the difficulties and the hunger that I {we} are going to feel today.
Mary, pray for us! Let every evil and temptation keep away from us today through the power of your intercession and protection.
Teach
us Mary, to fast and to pray that day after day, we may become more and
more like you and your Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit!
Amen!"
© Janet Moore. 2019. All Rights Reserved.
