Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church observes fasting and abstinence (from meat) at various times each year. Fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, while abstinence is refraining from something that is good but not inherently sinful, such as meat. While there are no fasts before feast days, fasting is observed during Lent, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the vigils of Christmas, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption. Catholics are also required to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent and on all other Fridays unless it coincides with a feast day. The Eastern Catholic Churches observe their own particular laws, with some requiring abstinence from meat on all Wednesdays and Fridays.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fasting and abstinence requirements for Latin Catholics | Minimal |
| Fasting requirements for Eastern Catholic Churches | Varied |
| Age requirements for fasting | 18-59 |
| Age requirements for abstinence | 14 and older |
| Days of obligatory fasting and abstinence | Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Ember Days, Rogation Days, Fridays during Lent, and vigils of important feast days |
| Days of obligatory abstinence only | All Wednesdays and Fridays (for some churches), Saturdays (for some countries) |
| Days with no fasting requirement | Sundays and other holy days |
| Purpose of fasting | Continuing conversion, increasing virtue of chastity, aiding in contemplative prayer, making reparation for sins, enjoying feasting |
| Purpose of feasting | Worship, entering into joy, a form of becoming joy |
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What You'll Learn
- Fasting requirements vary for Latin Catholics and Eastern Catholic Churches
- Fasting is not required on Sundays and other holy days
- Fasting is important for continuing conversion, according to St. Thomas Aquinas
- Fasting requirements are relaxed compared to the 20th century
- Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent
Fasting requirements vary for Latin Catholics and Eastern Catholic Churches
Fasting and abstinence are observed by the Catholic Church at various times each year. While fasting involves reducing one's intake of food, abstinence refers to refraining from something good, such as meat. The requirements for fasting and abstinence differ between Latin Catholics and Eastern Catholic Churches.
For Latin Catholics, the norms on fasting are obligatory from ages 18 to 59. During fasting, individuals are permitted to consume one full meal and two smaller meals that do not amount to a full meal. Abstinence from meat is required for Latin Catholics from the age of 14. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence, and Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The fast on Good Friday is ideally continued until the Easter Vigil, commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus. Additionally, in the United States, Latin Catholics observe abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year.
On the other hand, members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are required to follow the specific laws of their own sui iuris Church. While some Eastern Catholics strive to adhere to the stricter rules of their Orthodox counterparts, their actual canonical obligations to fast and abstain tend to be more lenient. Eastern Christians observe two primary fasting periods: the "Great Fast" before Easter and "Phillip's Fast" before Christmas.
It is worth noting that the requirements for fasting and abstinence have evolved over time. In the early 20th century, Church law mandated fasting throughout Lent, with abstinence on Fridays and Saturdays. However, by the eve of Vatican II, these requirements had relaxed significantly, with fasting often limited to a few days annually. The current practices of fasting and abstinence are regulated by the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which allows Episcopal Conferences to propose adjustments for their territories.
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Fasting is not required on Sundays and other holy days
Fasting is an important practice in the Catholic Church, and it is often done as an act of penance and abstinence. However, it is not required on Sundays and other holy days. In fact, Catholics are canonically forbidden to fast or abstain on these days. This is because, for Catholics, feasting is a form of worship and a way to rejoice in the union with God.
The requirement for fasting and abstinence varies for Catholics depending on their location and the particular laws of their church. For example, Latin Catholics in the United States and, largely, abroad, are only required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, they can eat one meal and two snacks that do not add up to a full meal, and they must abstain from meat. The Latin Catholic Church requires abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent for those aged 14 and above.
The Eastern Catholic Churches have their own set of laws. For instance, the Armenian Catholic Church requires abstinence from meat on all Wednesdays and Fridays. Before 1983, there were additional days of required fasting and abstinence, including the Vigils of All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, and Pentecost.
While fasting is not mandatory on Sundays and other holy days, Catholics are encouraged to prepare for feast days with a period of self-denial, prayer, and fasting. This tradition is rooted in the belief that fasting increases the virtue of chastity, aids in contemplative prayer, and makes reparation for sins.
Ultimately, the Catholic Church teaches that fasting should be oriented towards the contemplation and love of God, and it is up to individuals to decide how to practice it outside of the mandatory fasting days.
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Fasting is important for continuing conversion, according to St. Thomas Aquinas
Fasting is an important practice in the Catholic Church, and St. Thomas Aquinas provides several reasons why it is important for continuing conversion.
Firstly, according to Aquinas, fasting is important because it increases the virtue of chastity. By restraining bodily appetites and abstaining from meat and animal products, which are most delightful to us, fasting helps to restrain the desires of the flesh. This is in line with the belief that sin occurs more readily by excess in delights, and so it is virtuous to control these desires.
Secondly, fasting aids in contemplative prayer. By reducing one's intake of food, fasting helps to raise the mind to contemplate sublime things, allowing for a deeper connection with God. This is important as Catholics believe that worship should be through both the body and the soul.
Thirdly, fasting is seen as a way to make reparation for sins. Catholics believe that all people are obliged by God to perform penance for their sins, and fasting is considered a form of penance. By fasting, individuals can make satisfaction for their sins and seek forgiveness.
In addition to these reasons, Aquinas also notes that fasting is important as it prepares individuals for feasting. While fasting is important, feasting is considered even more crucial as it is a form of worship and a way to truly enjoy the blessings God has provided. By fasting, individuals can fully appreciate the joy and celebration that come with feasting.
Overall, St. Thomas Aquinas's teachings on fasting emphasize the importance of self-control, spiritual reflection, and the ultimate enjoyment of God's blessings. By continuing to convert and grow in their faith through fasting, Catholics can deepen their relationship with God and find joy in both the fasting and feasting seasons of the liturgical calendar.
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Fasting requirements are relaxed compared to the 20th century
Fasting requirements for Catholics have indeed become more relaxed in the 21st century compared to the 20th century. In the early 20th century, Church law prescribed fasting throughout Lent, with abstinence required on Fridays and Saturdays. Some countries received dispensations; for example, in the United States, abstinence was not required on Saturdays. The other weekdays were simply days of "fasting without abstinence".
By the eve of Vatican II, fasting and abstinence requirements in numerous Catholic countries were already much more relaxed than they had been at the beginning of the 20th century. Fasting was often reduced to just four days of the year: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, the vigil of Christmas or the day before, and the vigil of either the Immaculate Conception or of the Assumption.
In 1966, Pope Paul VI significantly amended the laws of fasting through his apostolic constitution Paenitemini, affirming some practices and giving authority to national conferences of bishops around the world. He recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. He also allowed that fasting and abstinence might be substituted with prayer and works of charity. These changes were incorporated into the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which is still in effect today.
Today, the only required days of both abstinence (from meat) and fasting (one meal and two snacks that don't add up to a full meal) are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is required for people aged 18 to 59, and abstinence from age 14. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
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Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a period of preparation, self-reflection, and renewal, inviting Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and align their lives with His will. Through prayer, Catholics find comfort, hope, and strength in God's presence during their Lenten journey and beyond.
Fasting is an essential practice during Lent, as it prepares individuals to receive God more fully. By fasting, Catholics follow in the footsteps of the prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament, who fasted to prepare themselves to receive God's Word and His Spirit. Fasting also reminds Catholics that true fulfillment of their longings is not found on earth but in their heavenly home.
The practice of fasting during Lent has evolved over time. In the early 20th century, Church law prescribed fasting throughout Lent, with abstinence only on Fridays and Saturdays. Today, the norms on fasting for members of the Latin Catholic Church are obligatory from ages 18 to 59, while abstinence from meat is binding from age 14 onwards. When fasting, individuals are permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal.
In addition to fasting, Catholics may choose to observe additional penitential practices during Lent, such as giving up meals and donating the cost to those in need, as well as practicing self-discipline in other areas of their lives. These practices are not regulated by the Church but by individual conscience.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics do not fast on feast days. In fact, they are canonically forbidden to fast or abstain on Sundays and other holy days.
Catholics observe fasting and abstinence (from meat) at various times each year. The major obligatory fasting days are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is required for people ages 18 to 59, and abstinence starting at the age of 14.
Fasting is considered one of the three pillars of Lent, along with prayer and almsgiving. It is meant to help in contemplative prayer and make reparation for sins.
Fasting refers to reducing one's intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from something that is good but not inherently sinful, such as meat.
Yes, in addition to the obligatory fasting days, Catholics also observe partial abstinence and penance on certain days throughout the year, such as the Ember Days and the Rogation Days. The specific practices may vary depending on the region and the particular laws followed by each Catholic Church.
