Q: Ann, Ash Wednesday is coming up and we healthy adults are obliged to fast. What are the fasting protocols?

A: Don’t eat ANYTHING from midnight to midnight, at minimum. Drink only water, preferably, or a beverage with zero caloric value.

I have no idea what the official fasting protocol of the Church is, other than it is something like three times the amount of food I would eat on a normal day – literally. So, meaningless, and a glaring commentary on the abject gluttony and softness (aka effeminacy) of the post-Christian west. Exactly like the so-called Eucharistic Fast of one hour. Utterly meaningless.

Fasting means NOT EATING FOOD for a prolonged period of time. A healthy adult should be able to go 24 hours without food with no problem. If you are stricken by not eating for 24 hours, there is something terribly, horribly wrong with you metabolically and you should see a doctor immediately.

Fasting is normal, extremely healthy and salutary, and y’all best get used to it, because it’s fixing to be part of everyone’s life whether you like it or not, sooner than we think.

Again, fasting means TO NOT EAT ANY FOOD WHATSOEVER.

I hope this helps.