The greats of the Catholic spiritual tradition routinely encourage fasting as a key to unlocking deeper prayer. St. John Vianney explained the connection this way: “Unhappily, our hearts are not sufficiently pure and free from all earthly affections. If you take a very clean and very dry sponge, and soak it in water, it will be filled to overflowing; but if it is not dry and clean, it will take up nothing. In like manner, when the heart is not free and disengaged from the things of the earth, it is in vain that we steep it in prayer; it will absorb nothing.” Thankfully, we have the example of Jesus Himself in how to fast and pray. May we take advantage of Lent’s call to intensified fasting and prayer so that we are like that sponge St. John Vianney spoke of, soaking up every word that comes forth from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4b).
David J. Conrad
David J. Conrad
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