Jean-Serge wrote:The strict fast (not drinking, not eating) is the one of the first week of lent excepted two meals on Wednesday and Friday night after the presanctified, and on holy Friday. I hope 24 hours without eating and drinking is still manageable for everyone. Add to this the fact that a classic fasting day without oil also means one meal per day after ninth hour to be complete.
However, most people today cannot observe a strict fast and work at the same time. Therefore, under the direction of our spiritual father, most of us follow a modified fast and abstinence.
From homely 9 on the first Epistle of the Corinthians of Saint John Chrysostom :
Suppose you are unable to fast or to practice virginity; although you are able if you will, and they who have been able are a condemnation to us. But, however, God has not used this strictness towards us; neither has He enjoined these things nor laid them down as laws, but left the choice to be at the discretion of the hearers.
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/220109.htm
The Saturday before the beginning of the Great Lent is dedicated to the holy ascetics. The synaxary says that they are given as example because they share the same nature as us but succeeded, so they are given as examples and models. To be honest, I am quite worried by this demoralizing and defeating speech about not being able to fast and work at the same time. Would not it be more honest to say not willing or not having enough faith ? If some centuries ago, some common people were able to do so, why is it that such people are less whereas life is easier physically speaking ?
We fast to bring the body under subjugation, to discipline the flesh, not to kill the flesh.
Many of have physical infirmities which prohibit us from fasting. For example, I have low blood sugar as diabetes runs in my family. A strict fast for more than one day could kill me, so my spiritual father has told me to use discretion and follow a modified fast. The best I can do is follow the strict fast on Wednesday and Friday, drink liquids such as water and vinegar, and then eat at least one or two simple meals on the rest of the days. Sometimes I must take a small meal when I feel weak or before I retire, otherwise, my body temperature will drop dangerously low, and I will retire to my bed shivering for hours and be unable to sleep. Incidentally, among the elderly especially, those who eat something before they retire fare better than those who do not as scientists have discovered that many elderly who die in their sleep do so because of low blood sugar.
Even St. Seraphim of Sarov encouraged his nuns to put a piece of bread under their pillows, so that if they awoke feeling weak and sweaty (signs of low blood sugar), they could bless the bread and eat it.