Our Journey of the Apostles’ Fast Begins on Monday, June 13, 2022 and concludes on The feast day of ss. Peter & Paul on June 29, 2022.
We should always begin a fasting period with the gift of forgiveness. Sometimes we have had hurtful experiences in our life, someone has wronged us or many other things that we should not hold on to but forgive. We also may have hurt others, maybe not intentionally, that we need to ask forgiveness from them. As you pray and think about those instances, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to reveal to you the people you need to forgive and those you need to ask forgiveness from. It is always helpful to talk to your spiritual director about these things in your heart as well, and have them help guide you through the process too.
The following is a simple, helpful forgiveness prayer to guide you as you forgive and ask forgiveness from others during your prayer time.
Prayer for the Forgiveness of Others
In the Name of Jesus Christ, I forgive___ (the name of the person you are forgiving) for ___ (the offence(s) the person committed).
Once you have finished your forgiveness prayers then proceed to pray the following prayer:
Prayer: I thank you God for the gift of your mercy and forgiveness, and I ask that I be covered in your most Sacred and Precious Blood from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. I am sealed in your love, mercy and the most Precious Blood, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for Asking for Forgiveness from Others
In the Name of Jesus Christ, I ask forgiveness from ___ (the name of the person you are asking forgiveness from) for ___ (the offence(s) you committed, even if unintentionally, against the person).
Once you have finished your forgiveness prayers then proceed to pray the following prayer:
Prayer: I thank you God for the gift of your mercy and forgiveness, and I ask that I be covered in your most Sacred and Precious Blood from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. I am sealed in your love, mercy and the most Precious Blood, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Preparation Time for the Fast
We should be preparing ourselves in how we will choose to abstain or fast during this time. We should strive to think about what we need to fast from (that would be things that do not enhance our relationship with God) and what do we need to feast on (those things that bring us life and enhance our relationship with God). We need to make time in our schedule to pray, think and prepare for this fast. Please do your best to pray about what is God asking me to do with this gift of the fast of the Holy Apostles.
What is Your Action Plan for the Fast?
During your prayer and preparation time, what has God placed on your mind and heart concerning the gift of this fasting period? What small step will you make in your life that you will carry out for the rest of your life? These are a few questions to ask the Holy Spirit in prayer to guide you as you make your action plan a reality.
1. In your action plan/small step, what or how will you make time, add, or remove something in your life? What will you replace it with?
2. What challenges do you feel will help or hinder your response to the invitation from the Lord to bring you into His light more fully?
3. Be not afraid, it is not about perfection that we are seeking in our action plan, rather it is the God who created us and loves us unconditionally.