Fast? Abstinence?
What are the Lenten Regulations of the Catholic Church?
- FASTING is diminishing the quantity of food one takes.
- DOING ABSTINENCE is refraining from meat and tasty food, but not reducing its quantity.
Both are efforts that we do in order to purify our senses and better turn our minds and hearts towards God.
On a day of Fast, only one full meal is permitted, and two smaller meals which, if added together, would not exceed the main meal in quantity. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast.
On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence.
Regulations:
1. The days of both Fast and Abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
2. The other Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.
3. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence is a serious obligation.
4. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.
5. Outside of Lent, the Fridays of the year are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance.