Why Catholics Do Fasting – The Inner Life – March 21, 2025

Father Tom Wilson joins Patrick to discuss Fasting.

  • Christ fasted before His public ministry. It was a time of preparation, just as it is for us. Catholics between the ages of 14 and 59 are to fast 2 days per year. Fasting is supposed to help us become more in tune with our Lord, spiritually. It reminds us that the blessings that we choose to set aside are less important than the Lord who gave them to us in the first place. (1:09)
  • John – I was unaware that we had to abstain from meat on Fridays. By listening to RR, I found out otherwise. I’ve been fasting on all Fridays. (22:16)
  • Marie: I’m a mom and decided to give up social media for Lent. I thought it wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice, but as we’ve been in Lent, I realized how much I was missing with my daughter. Didn’t realize I had a problem with it. (28:27)
  • Ilka is fasting from meat and also eggs, dairy and butter. Any fast that helps us change direction a little bit, is going to be helpful? (32:43)
  • Patrick: I’ve added something rather than taking away. My Lenten ‘fast’ has been reading the Gospel of John. (35:14)
  • Miguel – I decided to give up smoking during Lent. (45:13)
Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.