Some Support for Fasting

You feel called to grow deeper in your relationship with God through the rhythms of the church but don't have the time and experience for gauging next steps? 

You were raised with a fasting culture that emphasized giving up and suffering? 

You fast from food without difficulty but never really learned the theological and spiritual components of fasting?

You do not have access to a strong, healthy church community and are looking for sustainable ways to develop your domestic church life?

You've been fasting for years but now have children, a spouse, relatives, medical conditions, budget or time constraints that require re-assessing what you're doing? 

You were raised fasting but never learned the hows and whys of menu planning or nutrition? 

You are in a position of teaching others about food or fasting?

You're bored or listless and want to re-commit yourself to a lived faith life?

If this describes you, I made a little thing to share!

Click here to download the PDF:

Traditional Slavic Fasting
on the 2021-22 Gregorian Calendar

😇🙏🏼 Please offer a prayer for my intentions when you use it.  👏🥰

Included in the PDF:

• A one-page cheat sheet for major fasting dates in 2021-2022 for the Slavic tradition on the Gregorian calendar. Easy to hang in a pantry, cupboard, on a bulletin board, or on the fridge.
• A quick overview of the aims of fasting and the typical structure of abstention.
• Nutrition information for fasting (protein, iron, calcium, Vit B12 and Vit D, iodine, omega-3s, etc)
• A sample week's menu with images. Foods from around the world that provide a well-rounded nutritional profile, ease of use, low cost, and family-friendliness are prioritized.
• An extensive list of whole food ingredients.
• St. John Cassian's Eight Deadly Dominoes on fighting the passions.
• Quotes from the Fathers on fasting.
• St. John Chrysostom's homily on fasting.
• Fr. Milan Savich's explanation of the meaning and purpose of fasting in the Byzantine tradition.
• FAQs on fasting.
• Bonus meal plan ideas and a recipe.

This menu emphasized diversity to give you a lot of new ideas. If there's interest, an update will include a batch prep menu with ingredient lists to streamline shopping and cooking--let me know if you'd like to see that and how many people you'd want it to plan to feed. And add your own favorite prayer-fasting-alsmgiving advice for others who are looking to grow!

The Bible in the Domestic Church

Catherine Speaking at the Eastern Catholic Bible Conference
Photo by Nick Havrilla, Sr

I spoke at the first ever Eastern Catholic Bible Conference yesterday on the topic of the Bible in the Domestic Church. Several asked me for the recording or transcript of my talk and for a copy of the documents I referenced, so here they are!

The Bible In the Domestic Church Parts 1-4 (Full transcript)

Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of my talk combined into a single document for easy use.

Who is God?
Part 1 of my talk, covering the Trinitarian communion of God and the incarnation and virgin birth of Jesus

Who am I?
Part 2 of my talk, covering personhood and being and rebirth through Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist

To What am I Called?
Part 3 of my talk, covering the vocations of celibacy and marriage and their associated spiritualities and communities

How Do I Live Out My Calling?
Part 4 of my talk, covering practical and attainable ways to grow within the domestic church, during which the below resources were mentioned

Resources for the Domestic Church
A short list of recommendations to share some of the options available out there to inform and support the work of the domestic church

When Eastern Catholics Commune at a Roman Catholic Mass Pamphlet
A single-page pamphlet addressing the most common questions and practicalities related to intra-Church communion including the canonical foundation, babies and young children receiving the Eucharist, and how the topic can be approached.

Byzantine Morning Prayer for Adults
A single-page morning prayer rule for adults which focuses on spiritual growth through the Byzantine tradition

Byzantine Morning and Evening Prayer for Families
A single-page morning and evening prayer rule for families which introduces the Byzantine tradition and encourages continued growth in a sustainable way

Byzantine Examination of Conscience for Married Parents, Married Adults, Single Parents, Single Adults, Clergy and Religious, Youth, and Children
A series of compatible examinations which encourage continued spiritual growth through the full life span, each on a single page and tailored to the needs of a different demographic.

Byzantine Examination of Conscience in a Visual Format (pictures)
A single-page examination that has a picture accompanying each point, followed by a series of cards that can be cut out (and laminated and/or placed on a ring if desired) to use one at a time, including the option of selecting only those that have been a challenge to take into Confession. Particularly helpful for pre-readers, those with learning differences or attention constraints, and those with disabilities.

Byzantine Rule of Repentance with a Byzantine Confession Guide for Adults, Simplified, and in a Visual Format (pictures)
A single-page prayer rule in preparation for Confession (most suitable for teens through adults) with a Confession guide for every age and ability, including a visual format which is particularly helpful for pre-readers, those with learning differences or attention constraints, and those with disabilities.

Roman Catholic Prayer Rule

Morning prayer, evening prayer, rule of repentance, and Confession guide designed to optimize the prayers needed for Mass and the most popular Latin/Roman devotions, most to all of the prayers also on the list of indulgences.

We have a winner!

Your Word From The Wise brought you three opportunities to be entered into a drawing for this beautiful Deisis icon. The entries are in and the winner is... 

Dennis O'Donovan!

Disappointed that you didn't win this time?

Watch this space for another freebie contest which will be coming up soon!

I'll be contacting Dennis today to coordinate shipping. Congratulations!

Win a free icon! Read more here...

Your Word From The Wise is bringing you three opportunities to be entered into a drawing for this beautiful Deisis icon! 

With a gold and silver background, the 6 ¾" x 8 ¼" icon on wood depicts Christ Pantocrator--Christ in His majesty--with the Mother of God and John the Baptist flanking him, their heads bowed and arms raised in prayerful supplication to Christ on the behalf of mankind. It's approximately a $30 USD value, which one Your Word From The Wise reader will receive free of charge directly from The Byzantine Seminary Press!

• Publicly "follow" Your Word From The Wise and you'll be entered once. 
• "Like" the Your Word From The Wise Facebook page and you'll be entered once. 
• Share this link with at least 10 other people through e-mail, your Facebook wall, YouTube, your website, and/or another online venue and let me know that you've done so and you'll be entered once. 

How to enter up to three times:

1. To be entered for following the blog, click the "Follow" button near the top of the right hand column of the blog (under "Be a Lover of Truth") and follow the instructions. All those who show as public followers on March 1, 2011 will be entered into the drawing once. (http://yourwordfromthewise.blogspot.com/)
2. To be entered for liking the Facebook page, click the thumbs-up "like" button at the top of the Your Word From The Wise facebook page. All those who show as fans on March 1, 2011 will be entered into the drawing once. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Word-From-The-Wise/182039235158170)
3. To be entered for sharing the drawing with others, first share this page about the drawing with at least 10 others online and then contact me one time through a PM, post or comment on Facebook, by commenting to this blog post, or by emailing me. Tell me that you shared this page and would like to be entered in the drawing. I will respond with a confirmation that it was received. If you don't receive a timely response, please write me once more and note that it is a second correspondence. All those whom I send a confirmation to by March 1, 2011 will be entered into the drawing once. (http://www.facebook.com/Catherine.Alexander.on.FB)

That's it! Three easy ways to have this magnificent icon in your home by Easter!

**Edited to clarify** If you're already following the blog or Facebook page, you do not need to unsubscribe and resubscribe. You will be entered as long as you show up in the list of fans/followers on March 1; it doesn't matter when you signed up. If you do not want to be entered, you can write me an email or you can forego the icon should you win.