Grace Thompson
Eastern Catholics follow a unique Lenten tradition, with some fasting practices differing from those of their Western counterparts. While the Latin or Western Rite begins Lent on Ash Wednesday, the Eastern Rite Churches commence two days earlier on a Monday. The Eastern Lenten season is marked by fasting and abstinence from meat and dairy products, with the first day known as Clean Monday. The duration of fasting also varies, ending earlier for the Eastern Church than its Western counterpart. This results in a difference in the celebration of Easter, with some Eastern Catholics celebrating it a week after or almost a month before their Western counterparts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fasting days | Wednesdays, Fridays, and Lent |
| Exceptions | Some Eastern Catholics eat meat and dairy on the celebration of the Annunciation |
| Black Fast | A strict fast observed by monks and devout Eastern Orthodox laity during Great Lent and three other fasting periods of the year |
| Normal Fast or "Complete Fast" | Drinking only pure water |
| Partial Fast or "Daniel Fast" | Eliminating all but one type of food or eliminating just one type of food |
| Age restrictions | Those between the ages of 21 and 60 are bound to the law of fasting, while those above 14 must observe the law of abstinence |
| Variations | Byzantine Rite Catholic parishes in the USA and abroad follow the Julian or Revised Julian calendars, which calculate the day of Easter differently from the Gregorian calendar |
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What You'll Learn
The Eastern Rite Churches
During the Eastern Lenten season, fasting and abstinence are emphasised. Traditionally, Eastern Rite Catholics abstain from meat and dairy products throughout Lent, with the first day, known as "Clean Monday", being a day of strict abstinence. They also observe meatless days on all Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. However, meat and dairy are allowed during the celebration of the Annunciation, when the Divine Liturgy is held.
The Great Lent practices are an important aspect of the Eastern Rite Churches' Lenten observance. The 40-day fasting season ends earlier for the Eastern Rite than for their Western Rite counterparts. Great Lent concludes on the Friday evening before Lazarus Saturday, which precedes Palm Sunday. However, the Eastern Rite Churches observe Holy Week as a separate intensive fast.
While some Eastern Rite Catholics strive to adhere to the stricter fasting rules of their Orthodox counterparts, their actual canonical obligations to fast and abstain are often more lenient. The specific fasting and abstinence disciplines followed by Eastern Rite Catholics depend on the particular autonomous church they belong to.
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The Latin or Western Rite
The Latin Rite is the result of the consolidation of various Western Catholic practices into what became known as the Tridentine Rite. Some variation still exists within the Latin Rite, for example, the Mozarabic Rite in Toledo, Spain, and the Ambrosian Rite in Milan and Switzerland.
The Latin Rite has a long history of attempting to exert influence over the Eastern Rites. The Latin Church's 1983 Code of Canon Law uses terms such as "a subject of an Eastern rite" and "the faithful of a specific rite" to refer to Eastern Catholics. Historically, there has been pressure on Eastern Catholics to conform to the norms of Western Christianity, practiced by the majority Latin Church, and this has resulted in some encroachment, or Latinization, of Eastern Catholic traditions. However, the Second Vatican Council emphasised that the Catholic Church values the institutions, liturgical rites, ecclesiastical traditions, and ordering of Christian life of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Council also stated that the Eastern Catholic Churches are of equal dignity to the Latin Rite, and that they enjoy the same rights and are under the same obligations.
In terms of fasting, the Latin Rite is similar to the Eastern Rites in that fasting is observed during Lent, and the U.S. Catholic bishops note that while Sundays during Lent are part of the 'Time of Lent', they are not prescribed days of fasting and abstinence. However, the Latin Rite does not have the same unique preparations for Lent that are seen in the Eastern Rites, such as Meatfare Sunday and Cheesefare Sunday.
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Fasting rules and requirements
Latin-rite Catholics
According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law, Latin-rite Catholics are required to observe abstinence from the age of 14 and fasting from the age of majority until the beginning of the sixtieth year. On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, both abstinence and fasting are required. The law of fasting allows only one full meal per day but does not prohibit consuming some food in the morning and evening, following local custom.
Eastern Catholics
Eastern Catholics observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. While some try to follow the stricter rules of their Orthodox counterparts, their actual canonical obligations are usually much more lenient. The traditional Byzantine fast for Great Lent includes one meal a day from Monday to Friday and abstinence from all animal products, including meat, fish with backbones, dairy products, eggs, wine, and oil. Shellfish are permitted. Fasting and abstinence are maintained on Saturdays and Sundays but loosened to permit the use of oil and wine. On important feast days, such as the Annunciation and Palm Sunday, fish may be eaten.
Other traditions
In addition to the specific fasting rules of different churches, there are other traditions and requirements associated with Catholic fasting:
- Solidarity with the poor: Choosing to be hungry is seen as a way to show solidarity with those who are victims of hunger.
- Growth in virtue: By engaging in smaller sacrifices, individuals can grow in their ability to make larger sacrifices and resist temptations.
- Almsgiving: Fasting is often accompanied by almsgiving, with Catholics enhancing their Lenten fasting practice by donating the cost of meals to those in need.
- "Keep your eyes on your own plate": Individuals are advised to focus on their fasting rules and not judge others' practices.
- Accepting food in charity: It is considered important to accept any food offered in charity, regardless of one's fasting rules.
- Penance: Fasting is seen as a form of penance, reminding people of past wrongs and identifying with those who are suffering.
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The Eucharistic Fast
Historically, the Eucharistic Fast involved abstaining from food and drink before receiving the Holy Communion. This practice was observed by early Christians, as evidenced by the writings of Hippolytus in the Apostolic Tradition, where he instructs believers to partake of the Eucharist before eating anything else. The Eucharistic Fast was later codified at the Synod of Hippo in 393 and the Synod of Carthage a few years later. St. Augustine also attested to the universality of fasting before receiving Holy Communion.
Over time, the duration of the Eucharistic Fast varied, with some sources mentioning a one-hour fast before Communion, while others observed a longer period of fasting from the night before. In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII encouraged frequent Communion and made changes to the Eucharistic Fast, allowing for more frequent reception of Holy Communion.
Today, the specific fasting practices may vary among different Catholic communities and countries. For example, in England and Wales, Catholics are expected to abstain from eating meat on Fridays, a practice that has been observed for centuries. Similarly, in Canada, the days of fast and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with Fridays being days of abstinence from meat. In the United States, while there is no universal requirement, Friday remains a special day of penance, with abstinence from flesh meat being emphasized.
Overall, the Eucharistic Fast in the Catholic Church has undergone changes and adaptations over time, with the current practices being more relaxed compared to the past. The specific regulations vary depending on the local customs and traditions of each Catholic community.
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The Black Fast
In the 20th century, the Black Fast was practised by Christians in Ireland on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In Western Christianity, many monastics still retain this practice, although it is voluntarily undertaken by laypeople, especially on Good Friday. In Anglican Communion, the Black Fast is observed on "the two great Prayer Book fast days", Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In Classical Pentecostalism, the Black Fast involves complete abstinence from food or water.
Some Eastern Catholics perform the Black Fast on Fridays during Lent, especially on Good Friday. In the Lutheran Churches, Good Friday has been historically kept by many believers as a day to observe the Black Fast. The Black Fast is also practised by Eastern Orthodox devout Christians and monks during Great Lent and the three other fasting periods of the year: the Dormition Fast, Nativity Fast, and the Apostles' Fast.
In addition to the Lenten Black Fast, some devout Christians also fast for 40 straight hours, ending at Easter Mass. This fast is even stricter than the Black Fast, but water and medication are still allowed.
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Frequently asked questions
Eastern Catholics are obliged to follow the discipline of their own particular church. While some Eastern Catholics try to follow the stricter rules of their Orthodox counterparts, the actual canonical obligations of Eastern Catholics to fast and abstain are usually much more lenient.
During the Eastern Lenten season, fasting comes to the fore. Traditionally, Eastern Catholics abstain from meat and dairy products during Lent, and the first day of Great Lent is also known as "Clean Monday". The 40-day fasting season ends earlier for the Eastern Church than it does for the Western Church.
The Black Fast is a strict form of fasting where those undertaking it consume no food or water during the day and then break the fast after sunset with prayer, water, and a vegetarian meal devoid of meat, eggs, and dairy products. Some Eastern Catholics perform the Black Fast on Fridays during Lent, especially on Good Friday.
