Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church's rules on fasting are somewhat vague. The Church's law of fasting allows only one full meal per day but does not prohibit consuming some food in the morning and evening. Liquids are not mentioned in connection with Lenten fasts, but there is a common saying that drinks do not break a fast. Tea is allowed on fasting days outside of mealtimes, but only as medicine for those who find it conducive to health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is fasting? | Abstinence from food or drink |
| What is allowed while fasting? | Water, lemonade, soda water, ginger ale, wine, beer, coffee, tea, diluted chocolate, electuaries made of sugar, juniper berries, citron |
| What is not allowed while fasting? | Honey, milk, soup, broth, oil, or anything with the nature of food |
| What is the rule for liquids while fasting? | Liquids are allowed, but only in the usual sense of "having a drink". Liquids with notable nutritive value are not allowed. |
| What is the rule for liquids while fasting before Holy Communion? | Only water is allowed |
| What is the rule for liquids while fasting in Lent? | Any beverage is allowed |
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What You'll Learn
Tea, coffee, and chocolate are allowed during fasting
The Catholic Church's rules on fasting are fairly vague, and the Church does not explicitly forbid any kind of beverage when fasting at certain times, such as Fridays in Lent. The Church's law of fasting only allows one full meal a day but does not prohibit consuming food in the morning and evening, observing local customs.
The Church's rules on liquids during fasting are based on the idea that liquids do not break the fast. This distinction between liquids and foods that break a fast dates back to at least the Middle Ages, when a little liquid to quench thirst was permitted. However, liquids with notable nutritive value, such as milkshakes or pureed juices, are not allowed.
Tea, coffee, and chocolate are often considered medicinal and are allowed on fasting days outside of mealtimes as medicine for those who find them conducive to health. It is important to note that the spirit of fasting should always be maintained, requiring good sense and self-discipline.
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Liquids with nutritional value are not allowed
The Catholic Church's rules on fasting are somewhat vague, with the law allowing only one full meal per day but not prohibiting food consumption in the morning and evening. The Church's rules do not explicitly forbid any beverages except for when fasting before communion, which rules out all drinks besides water.
The distinction between liquids that are considered simple liquids and those that would break a fast has existed since at least the Middle Ages. Drinks with nutritional value, such as milkshakes or milk-based chocolate, are not considered pure liquids and are thus not allowed. However, combinations based on skimmed milk with coloring or special flavoring, such as chocolate milk, are considered drinks rather than food and are therefore permissible.
The interpretation of fasting rules regarding liquids has been a subject of debate, with some arguing that coffee and tea, which are listed only as medicine, should not be allowed while beer is permissible. Ultimately, the spirit of fasting should be maintained, requiring both good sense and self-discipline.
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The Church's rules on fasting are vague
The Catholic Church's rules on fasting are somewhat vague, with the law of fasting allowing only one full meal a day but not prohibiting food consumption in the morning and evening. The Church's rules do not explicitly forbid any beverages except when fasting before communion, where only water is permitted. This means that drinks like tea, coffee, and soda are allowed while fasting at other times.
The interpretation of what constitutes a "drink" during fasting is also not entirely clear. While liquids are generally understood not to break a fast, there is a distinction between liquids that aid digestion and those with notable nutritional value, such as milkshakes or pureed fruit juices, which would be considered food. The Church's rules also allow for local customs to dictate what is permitted during fasting, which can vary between places. For example, in some places, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and fish are prohibited, while in others, they are allowed.
The history of fasting in the Catholic Church has also contributed to the vagueness of the rules. The regulations today are relaxations of the stricter discipline in force during the first half of the twentieth century. The interpretation of fasting rules has evolved over time, with debates among Church leaders about what constitutes a break in the fast, such as the consumption of chocolate.
The spirit of fasting, in accordance with one's health and responsibilities, is always to be maintained, requiring good sense and self-discipline. While the Church's rules on fasting may be vague, the intention is to focus on the penitential nature of these practices rather than finding loopholes to satisfy appetites.
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Food and drink are forbidden before Holy Communion
The Catholic Church requires those receiving the Holy Eucharist to abstain from all food and drink—except water and medicine—for at least one hour before Holy Communion. This is known as a natural fast. The law of fasting also allows only one full meal per day but does not prohibit consuming some food in the morning and evening, following local custom.
The Church's rules on fasting at other times are less strict. While the Church does not explicitly forbid any beverages when fasting at other times, it is important to maintain the spirit of fasting. Liquids that are considered to aid digestion, such as milk, chocolate milk, and milkshakes, are generally not allowed. However, drinks with little nutritional value, such as water, lemonade, soda, ginger ale, wine, beer, and juice, are permitted outside of mealtimes. Tea, coffee, diluted chocolate, and electuaries (concoctions made from sugar, juniper berries, and citron) are also allowed outside of mealtimes as medicine for those who find them beneficial to their health.
The distinction between simple liquids and those that break a fast has existed since at least the Middle Ages. According to Antoine Villien's "A History of the Commandments of the Church" (1915), a little liquid to quench thirst was initially permitted because it was believed that liquids did not break the fast. This distinction has evolved over time, with various interpretations of what constitutes a liquid and whether it is allowed during fasting.
The Church's rules on fasting have undergone relaxation over the centuries. In the first half of the 20th century, the regulations were more stringent, and Catholics were more focused on adhering to the rules. Today, the Church's law of fasting allows for flexibility, taking into account individual bodily and mental dispositions, and is known as a moral or philosophical fast.
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The spirit of fasting must be maintained
The Catholic Church's rules on fasting are fairly vague, with the law of fasting allowing only one full meal a day but not prohibiting food in the morning and evening. The Church's rules on fasting before communion restrict beverages besides water, but when fasting at other times, no beverages are explicitly forbidden.
The spirit of fasting, in accordance with one's health and responsibilities, is always to be maintained. This requires good sense and self-discipline. While the Church's rules on fasting are lenient, it is important to keep in mind the penitential nature of fasting.
The rules on liquids during fasting are also vague. Liquids are never mentioned in connection with Lenten fasts, so it is unclear whether the allowance to eat a certain amount of food implies that liquids are always permitted or excluded. However, the universal understanding is that liquids do not break the fast, as long as they are not quasi-food items like milkshakes or pureed juices. Drinks with notable nutritive value, such as milk and chocolate milk, are also not allowed.
Tea is allowed during fasting as long as it is outside mealtime and taken as medicine by those who find it conducive to health. A little tea with a morsel of bread or a cracker is also allowed in the morning. However, honey, milk, soup, broth, oil, or anything else considered food is not allowed.
It is important to note that the rules and interpretations of fasting may vary across different regions and dioceses, so Catholics should refer to the Lenten regulations of their respective dioceses for perfect judgment.
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Frequently asked questions
Tea is allowed on fasting days outside of mealtimes, but only as medicine for those who find it conducive to health.
Liquids such as water, lemonade, soda, ginger ale, wine, and beer are allowed on fasting days outside of mealtimes.
Liquids that are considered to have the nature of food, such as honey, milk, soup, broth, and oil, are not allowed while fasting.
