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Offering up Fasting

Question:

I frequently fast for health reasons. Can I also use these fasts to pray for the conversion of loved ones?

Answer:

Yes, you may offer up fasting for the conversion of your loved ones. In fact, you may offer up all of your daily activities as a prayer.

Fasting in particular is a time-honored spiritual offering. Jesus fasted in the desert in preparation for his public ministry (Matt. 4:2), and he elsewhere extolled fasting (Matt. 6:16-18; Mark 9:29; see Acts 13:2).

For more on fasting, see CCC 1969, as well as 1387, 1434, 1438 and 2043.

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