When You Fast

The Why and How of Christian Self-Discipline

By: L. Joseph Letendre

Narrated by: L. Joseph Letendre

In this companion volume to the popular When You Pray, L. Joseph Letendre explores the underpinnings of the Church's practice of fasting and of ascetic discipline in general. Rather than being preoccupied with the details of food regulations, he helps the listener understand the purpose of fasting and how to enter into it more willingly and fully.

©2021 L. Joseph Letendre (P)2021 L. Joseph Letendre

Very Helpful

I really appreciate the author’s handling of the subject. He takes you beyond what one thinks of fasting and shows that fasting goes beyond abstinence from food but includes the battle of the passions.

A base for understanding Orthodox Lent

When You Fast opened up my understanding of Orthodox Lent, something that was totally foreign to me coming from a Protestant world. This is an awesome read! Highly recommend, especially to those new to Orthodoxy.

Excellent, concise text about Christian fasting

L Joseph Lentendre's When You Fast is an excellent introductory work to fasting. Fasting is one of the three key spiritual practices of Christian discipleship, along with prayer and almsgiving, but it is often neglected in contemporary Christendom. In addition to explaining why we fast (to prepare, to be free, and to be fruitful), how we fast (following patterns the Church has founded from antiquity), and when we fast (also following the rhythm the Church has maintained from antiquity), this work provides good guidance on how to think about the practice of fasting in a manner that should encourage any Christian to deepen his or her own faith.
Unlike many other works that try to popularize Orthodox ascetical labors, Lentendre is beautifully concise and clear. He doesn't assume that his readers/listeners are fluent in Orthodox jargon, but he also doesn't dumb down his language; he presents the language of asceticism just as the saints do, and then he defines his terms concretely. This book approaches the subject from the perspective of Orthodox Christianity and grounds fasting in the sacramental, liturgical, and ascetical traditions of the Orthodox Church. Nonetheless, Lentendre gives a wonderful overview that any Christian should be able to engage with. I've recommended this book to friends who are Catholic & Protestant clergy and laypeople; those who picked it up ended up finding it very helpful. The universally Christian scope is bolstered by Lentendre's drawing from sources as diverse as Dante's Divina Commedia, C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Letters, and Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism, in addition to referencing Orthodox sources.
After all this, Lentendre also provides an appendix that alone is worth the price of admission: a concrete, modern explanation of “the Eight Thoughts” (from which “the seven deadly sins” are drawn), or Eight Passions, about which a great deal of ascetical writing is concerned; as noted in the text, being able to name the passions we are fighting against is a key step to overcoming them. If you are interested in better understanding the Christian spiritual practice of fasting, consider picking up this short book; there are far worse ways you can spend two hours than reading/listening to this book.

A study tool

I appreciate this rather academic and certainly spiritual departure from current trends in fasting literature. Would have liked a bit more from Isaiah. I recommend it for grounding in the spiritual discipline and practice of fasting.

Fasting Help

I was Protestant prior to my recent conversion to Orthodoxy. Fasting rarely was mentioned and not a practice in my church.
This wonderful, delightfully written and meticulously thought out book,
clarifies the purpose of this spiritual tool. I was greatly helped by the authors wisdom and clear communication.