Fr. Slavko Barbaric - Fast With The Heart

by

Fr. Slavko Barbari, O.F.M.

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PUBLISHED BY:

The Medjugorje Web - medjugorje.org at Smashwords

Fast with the Heart

Copyright Informativni Centar Medjugorje2007

This Book is also available in Print at: http://www.medjugorje.org/ccart

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FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

I. CALL OF THE QUEEN OF PEACE

II. EXPERIENCE OF FASTING

2.1. A Witness of a Priest

2.2. The Witness of a Religious Sister

III. FASTING AND ITS FRUITS IN THE PRAYERS OFTHE CHURCH

IV. FASTING IN THE BIBLE

THE OLD TESTAMENT

4.1. Fasting and Visions

4.2. Lamentation of Sins

4.3. Fasting in a Time of Sorrow

4.4. Prayer and Fasting for Healing

4.5. Fasting and Inner Healing in anExperience with God

4.6. Fasting and Danger of War

4.7. Prayer and Fasting for a Blessing and aSafe Journey

4.8. Fasting after Destruction of War

4.9. Fasting after Returning to the TrueGod

4.10. Fasting, Prayer, Almsgiving andRighteousness

4.11. Life-long Fasting out of Sorrow

4.12. Fasting in a Situation Endangering thePeople

4.13. Fasting in Psalms

4.14. The Meaning of Fasting a NewRelationship

4.15. Fasting and Preparation for Listeningto the Word of God

4.16. Responding to the Word of God withPrayer and Fasting

4.17. Fasting and Prayer as a Way out of aCommon Sinful State

THE NEW TESTAMENT

4.18. Jesus Fast

Jesus and Adam

4.19. Jesus Speaks about Fasting

4.20. Jesus Disciples will Fast

4.21. Fasting and Prayer Strengthen Faith

4.22. Fasting and Prayer Used AgainstSatan

4.23. Fasting and Prayer Before Being Sent toServe

4.24. St. Paul Fasts

4.25. Eschatology Dimension of Fasting

4.26. Bread and Water Pilgrims Food

4.27. The Forgotten Fast

4.28. Everyone is called To Fast

V. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ONFASTING

VI. A HISTORICAL LOOK AT THE TWO DAY FAST

6.1. From Jewish To Christian Practice

6.2. Gaelic Names for Weekdays Pertaining toFasting

VII. FASTING IN THE LIVES OF SAINTS

7.1. Saint Benedict

7.2. Saint Francis of Assisi

7.3. Brief Texts about Fasting from theTraditional Church

7.4. A Conversation between a Master and aDisciple About Fasting

VIII. A WEEK OF A LIFE WITH BREAD ANDWATER

8.1. Drinking Bread and Eating Water

8.2. A Therapeutic Description of FastingAccording to Dr. Mayr

8.3. A Full Stomach does not PrayWillingly

8.4. Balanced Weight

IX. FASTING AND PRAYER AND MENTAL HEALTH

9.1. Entering Within and Becoming Silent

9.2. Texts about Silence

Prayers before Meditation

X. FASTING AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH

10.1. God in the First Place

10.2. Awakening a Yearning for God

10.3. Fasting and Peace

10.4. Fasting and Gratitude

10.5. Fasting and Prayer

10.6. Fasting and The Eucharist

10.7. Fasting and Good Works

10.8. Fasting and Prayer Against DemonicForces

Interview with Father Martin Ramoser

10.9. The Gospel of Life - Pope John PaulII

10.10. Paenitemini-Pope Paul VI

XI. FASTING AND RELIGIONS

XII. PRAYER ON FAST DAYS

12.1. Prayer To Begin a Fast Day

12.2. Rosary on a Fast Day

12.2.1. The Joyful Mysteries

12.2.2. The Sorrowful Mysteries

12.2.3. The Glorious Mysteries

12.3. The Way of the Cross on a Fast Day

12.4. Prayer Before the Cross

12.5. Eucharistic Adoration on a Fast Day

XIII. CHANGING THE DIET BY FASTING

13.1. Interview with Joseph Sprcic

13.2. Fasting and Physical Health

13.3. What is Necessary for the HumanOrganism

XIV. ANOTHER SIDE OF FASTING

14.1. Healthy, Beautiful, Rich

14.2. A Nasty Person

14.3. Fasting and Being Nervous

14.4. Experience of Carmelo Puzzolo

14.5. Cathedral or a Small Chapel OneEvidence Against Fasting

CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER ON FASTING

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Without knowing it, I received anextraordinary gift and a special grace from Our Lady. This gracewas to be able to work for and with Father Slavko Barbaric forseven years.

During those years, he quietly guided andtaught me by what he lived each and every day in the school of OurLady - about prayer, about conversion, about fasting.

Life with bread was an expression FatherSlavko used often in speaking about fasting. That expression hasforever been etched in my mind and became a concrete reality for meduring these years with him. I came to realize and understand whatthe word FASTING is meant to stand for: Forgiveness,Acceptance,Self-control,Truth,Integrity,Nourishment andGrace

The purpose of fasting is not to denyourselves sustenance or to feel hunger, but to grow in the innerfreedom necessary to be open to Gods graces and love. It compelsus, on our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual levels, toreach the purity, humility, peace and joy Our Lady is continuallycalling us to. I discovered that the goal of fasting is perfectionand holiness.

Father Slavkos life was a reflection of atrue disciple of Our Lady. She enveloped his very being, andbecause of this, it was clearly visible that Father Slavko livedfasting and prayer. He lived conversion. He lived the SacredScripture. He lived the Sacraments. He was a living example offaith, hope, love, forgiveness, peace, joy, patience andhumility.

As we know, God is perfect love. Iwitnessed Father Slavkos immersion in this love through fastingand prayer. He knew that by fasting, one could reach, could feel,and could experience this lovethe very essence of perfection inaction.

Fast with the Heart, is the lastbook written by Father Slavko. It is a key and an answer to thequestions of what, why and how concerning fasting in our lives.Through this book, Father Slavko has given a most precious gift toall of us. He left behind a signpost to help us become theperfect love of Jesus Christ.

He begins the book with messages from a dearfriend, Our Lady of Medjugorje. He walks us slowly and faithfullythrough the Old and New Testaments and, like an old confidant, hewarmly speaks to us about what the Church, its saints and otherreligions say about fasting.

He then, with great concern and craft,explains the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of fasting.With gentleness and simple, yet profound, heartfilled prayers, heteaches us to speak to Jesus. Finally, he educates us in thenutritional aspects of fasting and includes a few recipes for goodmeasure!

The conclusion by Father Slavko does not endwith a heavy feeling in ones stomach about fasting, but isfilled with several pages of charmingly witty antidotes pointing tothe lighter side of fasting!...

...and in wisdom, he then finalizes thepages of the book by providing us with a glimpse into what CardinalJoseph Ratzinger (Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith in Rome) has said about fasting in our lives asChristians.