Fasting Author:Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M There are three things by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other. Fasting is the soul to prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot b... more »e separated. If you have only one of them,you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition heard, hear the petition of others.« less