Dear fasting friends, We bless all of you for your resolve to fast today and extend special kudos to all who are making strides in fasting more and fasting better. If you haven’t already enlisted in the prayer and fasting campaign led by Fr. Rick Heilman of US Grace Force called Let Freedom Ring: 40 Days to Freedom from the Devil we hope you will jump on board now. The 40 days began on July 7 and conclude on August 15, 2020, so there is still plenty of time to join us in this valiant offensive. Different levels of fasting, prayer, and reparation are proposed based on your state in life so all can do what is best suited to them. Most of us will fall in the category of doing our best to fast three days a week during this timeframe. It’s a challenge but it is doable. We received another nudge to fast better from a friend who recently reminded us that Our Lady of Medjugorje said the best form of fasting is on bread and water and that She invited us to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. We personally responded by making a solemn promise to Our Lady to do our best to fast in this manner, perhaps you will too. In the least give it the old school try, that is what is most important. And then there is St. Faustina and her fasting plan. In Diary passage 530 she wrote that she asked permission from the Mother Superior to fast for forty days on bread and water; and, she did not intend to eat croissants three times a day and drink a jug of water. Oh no, she wished to take merely, “once a day a piece of bread and a glass of water.” Gulp! Interestingly, the Holy Spirit had me stumble upon that passage while preparing to write this note. I can tell you that it surely caused us to reflect on our “struggles” with fasting and convicted us to be more humble, more trusting, and more saintly in our efforts. It turned out that St. Faustina was only given permission to fast in this manner for seven days; but still. . . can we fast like this for even just one day? Let’s try. Let’s all try to fast a little bit better and a little bit more. O bread and water, we thank God for your nourishment. O Blood and Water, save us. Saint Faustina, pray for us! | 
