The Great Lent

Main Idea

The lecture revolves around the true meaning of the Great Lent, emphasizing that it is not مجرد abstaining from food, but a complete spiritual life aimed at repentance and inner change. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III stresses that fasting should produce real change in a person’s life, not pass without benefit.

Fasting as a Means of Change

The Great Lent is one of the most important fasts because it is the fast of Christ. Therefore, it should be a period of real transformation. Repeating the fast without change in behavior indicates no spiritual benefit.

Self-Control and the Virtue of Restraint

The teaching focuses on self-control, not only in food but also in thoughts, words, and emotions. True fasting is controlling oneself from sin before controlling oneself from food.

Repentance as the Foundation

Fasting without repentance is unacceptable before God. The goal is to practically abandon sins such as anger or sins of the tongue, and to adopt spiritual exercises that lead to real change.

Fasting and Prayer Together

Fasting must be accompanied by prayer and worship, as prayer lifts the mind to God and helps spiritual stability. Spiritual readings and memorization of psalms and verses are also encouraged.

Spirituality Over Formality

There is a warning against focusing on delicious fasting foods, as this removes the spiritual essence of fasting. Simplicity and avoiding desires are essential even in fasting meals.

Spiritual Growth and Evaluation

Fasting is an opportunity for spiritual growth through self-examination and continuous evaluation to determine whether one is progressing or regressing.

The Goal of Fasting

The ultimate goal is a holy life, where a person dedicates this period to God, grows in virtue, and comes out of the fast transformed for the better.

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