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The Fasts of Saint Francis
“He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars. In her honor he fasted every year from the feast of Saints Peter and Paul until the Assumption.” Bonaventure, Major Life - Chapter IX - 3
This fast lasted from June 29th until August 15th each year.
“All the friars without exception must fast from the feast of All Saints until Christmas...” in preparation for Christmas and so he did.
The Rules of 1221 and 1223 for the friars - Omnibus of Sources
“In his extraordinary devotion to Christ, he fasted every year for forty days, beginning at the Epiphany, the time when Christ himself lived in the desert. Then he would go to some lonely place and remain there shut up in his cell, taking as little food and drink as possible, as he spent all his time praying and praising God.”
Bonaventure, Major Life - Chapter IX - 2
“He had an unshakable love for the Angels who burn with a marvelous fire, so that they are taken out of themselves to God and long to inflame the souls of the elect. Each year he fasted and prayed in their honor for forty days from the feast of the Assumption.”
Bonaventure, Major Life - Chapter IX - 3
“He also kept most devoutly a fast of forty days in honor of St. Michael between the feast of the Assumption and his feast.” Hence, this fast, for the angels, whom he loved dearly, began on the Assumption and ended forty days later, i.e. the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, September 29th.
Celano, Second Life - Chapter CXLIX - 197
“...he embraced all of the Apostles with the greatest affection, and especially Saints Peter and Paul because of their passionate love of Christ. In his reverence and love for them, he used to keep a special forty-day fast in their honor.”[9] This fast ended on the feasts of SS Peter and Paul, June 29th, at which time the fast in honor of Our Lady was begun.
Bonaventure, Major Life - Chapter IX - 3
“All the friars are to keep the Lenten fast before Easter...” and so he did too.
Omnibus of Sources - The Rule of 1223 for the friars
Of these various fasts which St. Francis and his friars observed, he established two, the Christmas fast (from the day after the feast of St. Martin until Christmas), and the Lenten fast, as appropriate for laity under the First Rule of the Third Order.
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