Chemnitz on the Final Purpose of Fasting

Fasting per se and on its own account is not worship of God.  But if fasting is joined to repentance and prayer, that is, if fasting is ordered to this end, that the flesh may be coerced, subjugated, and reduced to servitude, lest it contend against the spirit and hinder and disturb its actions either by its willfulness or its indifference, but that we have a body obedient and fit for spiritual things and for the performance of its duties, that the mind be admonished and become more fit for spiritual desires, so that the spirit may be able the more ardently and willingly to give and devote itself to repentance, prayer, and other exercises of piety, if fasting is practiced to this end, then finally it is pleasing to God. (Examination of the Council of Trent, Vol. 4, p 263-264)

Chemnitz on Fasting

Fasting is abstinence from food and renunciation of bodily delights until such a time when both the body has been castigated and the mind humbled.  (All Quotes here and previous from Volume 4 of Examination of the Council of Trent, pp 258-263)

Chemnitz on Fasting

3.  Scripture shows that fasting also includes the affliction of the flesh or castigation of the body, and humbling of the mind.

Chemnitz on Fasting

2. Fasting is when we do not abstain altogether from lunch or dinner but remove something when we lunch or dine, either in the quantity or the quality of the food, or do not take as much or also as rich as cold be done even while maintaining temperance.