Is Fasting Meant to Be Private or Public? A Biblical Answer

The question of whether fasting should be private or public often arises from a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teaching and the nature of Christian discipline. The biblical and Catholic answer is clear and balanced: fasting is primarily interior and directed toward God, but it may also have legitimate public and communal expressions. Treating the issue as an either-or choice misrepresents both Scripture and Catholic teaching.

Jesus directly addressed fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. He warned against fasting for the sake of appearance, instructing His followers not to fast in order to be seen by others (Matthew 6:16–18). His concern was not with visibility itself, but with motivation. Jesus condemned fasting that seeks human approval, praise, or spiritual status. He did not condemn fasting that is known, shared, or practiced within a community for the right reasons. The issue is the heart, not the setting.

Catholic teaching follows this distinction closely. Fasting is meant to be an act of humility, repentance, and dependence on God, not a display of holiness. For this reason, Catholics are encouraged to fast discreetly and without drawing attention to themselves. The value of fasting lies in its sincerity and interior intention, not in whether others notice it.

At the same time, Scripture clearly records public and communal fasting that God accepted and even honored. In the Old Testament, entire communities fasted together in times of repentance, crisis, or intercession (Joel 2:12–15; Jonah 3:5–10; Esther 4:3). These fasts were unmistakably public, yet Scripture presents them as appropriate and effective. God did not reject them because they were visible. He responded because they were sincere.

The New Testament also shows communal fasting. The early Church fasted together while worshiping and seeking God’s guidance (Acts 13:2–3). Fasting accompanied important communal decisions and acts of ministry (Acts 14:23). These examples make it clear that fasting was not understood as an exclusively private act. It was often practiced together as part of the Church’s life.

Catholic practice reflects this biblical pattern. Certain days of fasting are observed by the whole Church, such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. These fasts are necessarily public in the sense that they are shared and known. However, even in these cases, the Church emphasizes that fasting must be practiced without comparison, judgment, or display. The communal nature of the fast does not turn it into performance. It simply unites believers in a shared act of repentance.

There is also a distinction between being visible and seeking visibility. Fasting may be known to others because of circumstances, schedules, or communal observance. That alone does not invalidate it. What Scripture condemns is fasting done for recognition, superiority, or self-righteousness. Jesus criticized those who altered their appearance to advertise their fasting (Matthew 6:16). He did not teach that fasting must be completely hidden at all times.

Catholic teaching therefore encourages a posture of discretion. Believers are not expected to announce their fasting, explain it unnecessarily, or use it as a spiritual credential. At the same time, they are not required to conceal it artificially or deny it when asked. Honesty and humility go together.

In summary, fasting is meant to be interior and God-centered, not self-promotional. It is primarily private in intention, but it can be public in practice when done communally or for legitimate reasons. Scripture and Catholic teaching reject fasting for display, not fasting that is shared. When fasting flows from repentance, humility, and desire for conversion, it honors God whether practiced privately or as part of the Church’s common life.