Catholic Priest Advises Christians to Confirm Medical Fitness Before Lent Fasting
A Catholic priest has advised Christians to confirm their medical fitness before observing Lenten fasting, emphasizing the need for both spiritual commitment and physical readiness. The guidance was delivered during the Ash Wednesday celebration in Abuja, marking the beginning of the 40-day Lenten period in the Christian calendar.
Spiritual and Physical Readiness Required
Reverend Father Sebastian Sanni, the priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace, addressed worshippers at the Ash Wednesday Eucharistic celebration. He stated that fasting requires more than spiritual intention alone, highlighting that it demands physical health to ensure a smooth spiritual exercise.
According to Father Sanni:
"The fasting does not only require spiritual growth and repentance, it also requires one to be medically fit, in order to have a smooth spiritual exercise."
He explained that ignoring health limitations could defeat the purpose of the season and expose worshippers to unnecessary risks, urging a balanced approach to fasting.
Focus on Repentance, Reconciliation, and Charity
Father Sanni described Lent as a time of deep reflection and self-examination, meant to draw believers closer to God through sincere repentance and acts that reflect Christian values. He emphasized that fasting without love for others defeats its purpose, warning against hypocrisy.
He added:
"If you are fasting and you keep malice with your brothers and sisters, your fasting cannot be answered."
The priest encouraged believers to seek peace with others and extend help to those in need, noting that charity remains one of the strongest expressions of faith during Lent.
Ash Wednesday and Lenten Observance
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn period observed by Christians through prayer, fasting, and repentance. During the service, ashes were placed on the foreheads of worshippers as a reminder of humility, renewal, and the call to conversion.
Father Sanni elaborated on the significance of the season:
"Lent is a season of fasting, prayers, almsgiving, deep reflection, and total submission to God, where Christians receive ashes on their forehead as a symbol of repentance, humility, reconciliation, and transformation."
He described it as an invitation to return to God with a genuine change of heart, emphasizing the importance of repentance.
Health Considerations in Religious Fasting
The advice comes amid broader discussions on health and fasting, including for Muslim diabetic patients during Ramadan. Medical experts have noted that fasting with diabetes is possible in some cases but depends on individual health status, type of diabetes, and blood sugar control.
This highlights a growing awareness of the need to balance religious observance with personal health, ensuring that fasting practices do not compromise well-being.
In summary, Father Sanni's message underscores the importance of medical fitness in Lenten fasting, coupled with spiritual devotion and acts of charity, to make the season meaningful and safe for all believers.
