Grace Thompson
Catholics observe the disciplines of fasting and abstinence from meat at various times each year. Fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from something that is good, like meat. Catholics are supposed to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. The Latin Catholic Church obliges those aged 18-59 to fast, and those aged 14 and above to abstain from meat. Members of the Eastern Catholic Church are obliged to follow the discipline of their own church, which may include the Great Fast before Easter and Phillip's Fast before the Nativity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Norms | For members of the Latin Catholic Church, obligatory from age 18 to 59 |
| Meals | One full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal |
| Age | Members from age 14 must observe the laws of abstinence |
| Days | Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday |
| Exceptions | Members of the Eastern Catholic Church observe their own sui iuris Church's particular law |
| Purpose | To honour the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare to celebrate his Resurrection |
| Duration | The fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday night) |
| Other practices | Abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
- Catholics observe abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent
- Fasting is obligatory for Latin Catholics aged 18-59
- Members of the Eastern Catholic Church observe the particular law of their sui iuris Church
- Fasting is meaningless without spiritual avoidance of sin
Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Catholics observe the disciplines of fasting and abstinence from meat at various times each year. Fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from something that is good, such as meat. Catholics are supposed to abstain from eating meat on Fridays, as well as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are two yearly days of obligatory fasting and abstinence for Roman Catholics. On these days, Catholics are required to fast and abstain from eating meat. Fasting means a person is permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
Lent is the 40 days before Easter when Catholics pray, fast, contemplate, and engage in acts of spiritual self-discipline. Catholics do these things to prepare for Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ and is the greatest holy day of the Christian year. During Lent, Catholics are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways, such as abstaining from meat on all Fridays.
The practice of fasting and abstinence is rooted in the biblical discipline of penance for sins. Christ expected his disciples to fast and issued instructions for how they should do so. Catholics follow this pattern by holding a partial fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent.
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Catholics observe abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent
> “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.” (Daniel 10:2-3)
The Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform penance for their sins, and that these acts of penance should be both personal and corporeal. Abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is one way that Catholics can engage in bodily penance, joining it with spiritual practices such as prayer and contemplation to prepare for the celebration of Easter.
The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from the age of 14 onwards, according to canon 1252 of the Code of Canon Law. However, the specific practices of abstinence and fasting may vary depending on the particular law of each sui iuris Church. For example, in some countries, the Bishops' Conferences have obtained permission to substitute pious or charitable acts for abstinence from meat on Fridays, except for Good Friday.
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Fasting is obligatory for Latin Catholics aged 18-59
Fasting is obligatory for Latin Catholics aged 18 to 59. This means that a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. Those who are younger or older are encouraged to understand the true meaning of penance.
Fasting is a biblical discipline that can be defended from both the Old and New Testaments. Christ expected his disciples to fast and issued instructions for how to do so. Catholics follow this pattern by holding a partial fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Abstinence from certain foods is also a biblical discipline. Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, as well as fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This is to commemorate Christ's Crucifixion on Good Friday. The only kind of flesh Catholics eat on Fridays during Lent is fish, which is a symbol of Christ.
The Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporeal. Bodily fasting is meaningless unless it is joined with a spiritual avoidance of sin.
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Members of the Eastern Catholic Church observe the particular law of their sui iuris Church
Members of the Eastern Catholic Church are obliged to observe the particular law of their sui iuris Church. While some Eastern Catholics try to follow the stricter rules of their Orthodox counterparts, their canonical obligations to fast and abstain are usually more lenient. Eastern Christians view fasting as part of repentance and supporting a spiritual change of heart. They observe two major times of fasting: the "Great Fast" before Easter and "Phillip's Fast" before Christmas.
The Great Lent Fast in Eastern Catholic Churches includes one meal a day from Monday to Friday, and abstinence from all animal products, including meat, fish with backbones, dairy products and eggs, as well as oil and wine for the entire period of Lent. Shellfish are permitted. Fasting and abstinence are maintained on Saturdays, Sundays and on the eve of special feast days, although the use of oil and wine is permitted. On important feast days, such as the Annunciation and Palm Sunday, fish may be eaten.
Eastern Catholics do not start the Great Fast suddenly. "Meatfare" and "Cheesefare" weeks help them enter into the Great Fast gradually. By Meatfare Sunday, one week before the start of Lent, Eastern Catholics will have emptied their refrigerators and pantries of meat products. By Cheesefare Sunday, they will have cleared out all egg and dairy products, ready to enter into the Great Fast that evening, after Forgiveness Vespers.
The fast period before Christmas is called Philip's Fast because it begins after the feast day of St. Philip. Specific practices vary, but on some days during the week meat, dairy products and (in some countries) oil are avoided, while on other days there is no restriction. During approximately the last week before Christmas, meat, dairy, eggs and oil are typically avoided on all days, and meals are moderate in quantity.
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Fasting is meaningless without spiritual avoidance of sin
For Catholics, fasting is a way to commemorate Christ's Crucifixion and prepare for holy days like Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. During this time, Catholics are expected to pray, fast, and engage in acts of spiritual self-discipline. However, the Catholic Church emphasizes that bodily fasting is meaningless unless accompanied by spiritual avoidance of sin.
According to the Catholic Church, all individuals are obligated to perform penance for their sins, encompassing both personal and corporeal acts. This belief is rooted in the 1966 Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini, and the 1983 Code of Canon Law. These sources outline specific requirements for fasting and abstinence, such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
Fasting, in the Catholic context, involves reducing one's intake of food. Abstinence, on the other hand, refers to refraining from something good, like meat. The discipline of abstinence extends beyond meat to include other foods and indulgences. For instance, in some traditions, meat, dairy products, and even oil are avoided on specific days during the week.
While fasting and abstinence are important practices, they are incomplete without spiritual avoidance of sin. This means that Catholics should not only focus on physical deprivation but also on cultivating a repentant heart and avoiding sinful behaviors. This inner conversion of heart is a critical aspect of the Lenten season, as Catholics strive to follow Christ's will more faithfully.
In conclusion, while fasting and abstinence are significant acts of penance in the Catholic Church, they must be accompanied by spiritual avoidance of sin to hold meaning. This spiritual component involves reflection, prayer, and a genuine desire to turn away from sin and towards God. Together, bodily fasting and spiritual avoidance of sin create a holistic approach to penance and self-discipline during important liturgical seasons.
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Frequently asked questions
The law of fasting is obligatory for Latin Catholics from the ages of 18 to 59. Members of the Eastern Catholic Church are obliged to follow the discipline of their own particular church.
When fasting, a Catholic is permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. Fasting means abstaining from meat.
Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. They also traditionally abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.
Catholics fast to commemorate Christ's Crucifixion and to prepare for holy days such as Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ.
