Esto Vir.

Here we are, friends. Another Ash Wednesday is upon us.

Two of my favorite bloggers – Ann Barnhardt and Mark Docherty – have brilliant posts about a topic that is pivotal to a successful Lent, that is, fasting. Please check them out here and here.

I would like to add my two cents as well if anyone may benefit from yet another fasting post.

Despite being a practicing Catholic my entire life, there is much that I never learned until recent years (coincidentally, around the time I came to discover the TLM but make of that what you will). As we all know, the current law of the Church is that Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and that this fasting allows exceptions for just about everybody. Even those who keep the fast are allowed three meals during these two days.

I hate to cast aspersions on anyone. I was one of those who, for years, believed I was being virtuous in keeping that fast on those two days.

The thing is, these are dangerous times. And I want to be a man for Christ – to live IN Him and to suffer and die WITH Him.

I once gave a lecture to my high school seniors where I talked about the need for all of us to be more virile in our practice of the faith. I concluded that by saying, “Esto vir!” That is, “Be a man!” Subsequently one of the young men in that class went off to college and got that phrase tattooed on his rib cage. I did not expect that and would definitely not have advised the same. In plotting this very post in my mind this morning I wondered if my Latin was even correct and if that young man now has the Latin-esque equivalent of “Death to the round-eye” inked into his flesh for all time. My personal Latinist informs me that my translation is, in fact, correct.

So I am going to direct this post specifically to men – adult human beings with a Y chromosome. I have to clarify that in case any wokeys are reading this. God gave you that chromosome for a reason. He gave you the body and mind of a man, not a woman, not a beast, and not a boy. He gave you the desire to do difficult things. He gave you the strength to match that desire. He gave you the will to fight. Original sin has tampered with these things but His Sanctifying Grace sets you back on track. So, fellas, here’s the question you need to answer.

What do you think that body is for?

Statistically speaking – there are always outliers so don’t @ me – you are in relatively good health and probably overfed. I know I am. Theologically speaking, that body will be united to your soul forever, save for the time it will spend rotting in the grave from your death until the general judgment. And after the judgment? It will either be glorified in heaven with the Triune Godhead or tormented in hell with the other damned. For. All. Eternity. If you are married, it isn’t even your body anymore. Remember that thing on your wedding day when you gave rights to it over to your wife? Yeah, that. Your body, then, exists for Christ, for your wife and children, and for your salvation.

Will you eat three meals and call it suffering? Will you half-ass it and skip a Snickers bar and deny yourself something you didn’t need in the first place? Worse yet, will you quarter-ass it and “do something positive like pray more – which is a very good thing in itself – but shun any real mortification because it’s too hard and “I simply can’t do that because [insert excuses here]”?

Remember, Our Lord took the wood of the heavy cross upon His sacred, broad, and manly shoulders to die for you and He embraced that cross with profound joy. And what does He ask of you? To “take up your cross” and follow after Him.

That is, only if you want to gain everlasting life where that body you starve today will be perfect in Paradise with Him…

I have mentioned before that the Church assures us that the grace necessary for sustenance (in other words, to rigorously fast) is poured out in abundance specifically during this time of Lent. That goes for all men. For practicalities, look up any of the vast number of videos and articles online about fasting in the ancient Church. I have posted some of them in recent days. And on a final note, Christ promises us that certain demons can only be driven out through fasting. Take a look at several of the prayers from today’s Mass.

Grant us, O Lord, to take up our duty as soldiers of Christ by holy fasting that we, who are going to struggle with the evil spirits, may be protected by the help of self-restraint. Through Christ our Lord.

Prayer from the blessing of the ashes

Grant, O Lord, that Your faithful people may, with true piety, undertake the time-honored custom of fasting and may carry it out with unwavering devotion.

Collect for Ash Wednesday

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who by this bodily fast, dost curb our vices, dost lift up our minds and bestow on us strength and rewards; through Christ our Lord.

Beginning or the Preface for Lent

So again I ask, will you fast like men or will you run fast from fasting? If the former, dive into the arsenal of prayer and alms-giving too. Set an image of a skull on your kitchen table to remind you that one day, food will be useless to you anyway. Embrace this cross with joy. Fight like a man against the temptation to give in.

Lord Jesus Christ, crucified for love of me an ungrateful sinner, have mercy on us!