St. Clare's Rule of Fasting
"The sisters are to fast at all times. But on Christmas, no matter on what day of the week it falls, they may have two meals. As for the young, the frail, and the sisters who serve outside the enclosure, the abbess may mercifully dispense them from fasting, as she sees fit. But in times of evident necessity, the sisters shall not be bound to bodily fasting." --Rule of St. Clare, Chapter III
I read that Francis felt Clare fasted excessively to the point of damaging her health and convinced her that the "true spirit of Christian mortification of the flesh did not mean literally to sacrifice one's body to the point of death, but only to 'die' to the world of desire." Scripture tells us the purpose of fasting is to help us better focus on God during times of prayer. It is something that must be done in a spirit of humility and not of pride or else its benefit is lost to us.
"The sisters are to fast at all times. But on Christmas, no matter on what day of the week it falls, they may have two meals. As for the young, the frail, and the sisters who serve outside the enclosure, the abbess may mercifully dispense them from fasting, as she sees fit. But in times of evident necessity, the sisters shall not be bound to bodily fasting." --Rule of St. Clare, Chapter III
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