[BliliBoopsy]

Dear friends,

I as well have heard of God-bearing monastics who have taught the same thing as you have mentioned, that is, breaking the fast rule when you are a guest and someone offers you a non-lenten meal. The reasoning behind it is that fasting is primarily an ascetic practice which assists in mastering one's passions, thereby fostering obedience and submission to the will of God, which in summation is mercy and love for own's neighbor. Ultimately, the goal is mercy and love for our neighbors. So while following certain dietary practices may be beneficial in terms of spiritual development, if instead it causes scandal and disharmony between loved ones, than it has served little good purpose and becomes instead an impediment rather than a useful tool.

It must be added that breaking the fast for even such a noble reason as to not cause offense to one's neighbor carries with it great risks and invites temptation. What can sometimes happen, (as I know from my own experience), is that the love can be misdirected away from one's neighbor and rather directed towards the passions, so that opportunities are relished and sought after simply as an excuse to slacken our ascetic training and indulge in our own desires. This is why it requires great spiritual discipline to be able to do such a thing. I know that keeping the Nativity fast the day after Thanksgiving is one thousand times more difficult if I ate turkey the day before.

So just as every athlete trains differently according to the measure of their abilities, likewise fasting and the breaking of fasts should be discussed with one's own spiritual father as such a matter such as this heavily involves pastoral guidance and economia.

In Christ,
Antonios