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Hello Pater.. my elderly mother, has poor health, she missed Easter church services, but at the time she wanted to fast... Pater, am I wrong, when I tell her she has to eat to take her tablets, its Gods gift for her as an 87 year old, she's collapsed a few times in church...?
Answer to Question 577 Many people have a wrong idea about the rules of fasting. The first and most important is that we do not cause harm to ourselves. One must be healthy to fast otherwise instead of killing the passions which is the purpose of fasting, we kill the body which is suicide and a great sin. But I understand your mother because many of the older generation were brought up to believe that the church insists that they fast otherwise it would be counted as a sin. A little bit of fasting will do her no harm, in fact it would be beneficial, but no more than 2-3 days at a time. Just make sure she gets the proteins and minerals that she needs to stay strong. At her age going without food will weaken her and as you mention she has to take her medication. Some medication can be taken without food but it is always safer to be taken just before or after meals.
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