How to Fast
Fasting doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be real.
This page is here to help you fast faithfully and fruitfully for the Holy Father—whether you’re skipping a meal, stepping away from your phone, or surrendering your need to have the last word. Fasting is never just about deprivation. It’s about love. It’s a way of saying with your body what your soul believes: that God is enough.
Every small sacrifice can be a seed of grace when offered with love.
You don’t have to plan it all in advance. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to begin. We’ve gathered a few simple paths below—pick one, or let the Wheel of Fasting choose for you.
Because sometimes, the hardest part is deciding where to start.
Food
This is the most traditional form of fasting.
Try skipping a meal, choosing simpler food, or going without that treat you usually reach for. It’s not about punishing yourself. It’s about making space. When you feel the ache, let it draw your heart back to God, again and again.
It’s in the hunger—not the fullness—where we remember our need for God.
Noise
We live in a world that never stops talking. Notifications, headlines, playlists, opinions…it’s a constant hum that drowns out the still, small voice of God. Fasting from noise means reclaiming silence. Turn off the background music. Step away from the scroll. Let the quiet stretch long enough to feel uncomfortable.
It’s in the silence, not the noise, where God speaks.
Comfort
We build our days around little luxuries, from hot showers and soft clothes to iced coffee and climate control. None of them are bad. But over time, they can make us spiritually sluggish. Try letting a few go. Take the cold shower. Wear the scratchy sweater. Sit without the cushion. Let your body feel what it’s like to be a little less at ease.
It’s in the discomfort, not the ease, where endurance is born and love is purified.
Preference
This fast may not seem holy at first, but it’s one of the hardest. It’s letting someone else choose the restaurant. Biting your tongue instead of correcting. Saying “yes” to the thing you’d rather avoid. It might not feel like a big sacrifice, but that’s what makes it powerful. It’s in dying to self that we open the door to real love.
It’s in surrender, not preference, where humility grows and love becomes real.
DISCLAIMER: Please fast responsibly. If you have any medical conditions (such as diabetes or other concerns), are pregnant, nursing, or under the care of a physician, please choose a fast that won’t endanger your health or wellbeing. When in doubt, consult your doctor. Every offering, no matter how small, is precious in the eyes of God.
Join the Mission
For the man who said yes, for the Church he carries, let us fast and pray.
Not sure what to fast from this week?
Try the Wheel of Fasting.
With one simple spin, you’ll receive something specific, doable, and powerful when offered with love. It might not be what you expected. But it could be exactly what God wants to use.
After all, sometimes the fast you didn’t choose is the one that bears the most fruit.