Joshua Bennett
Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent, along with prayer and almsgiving. Catholics are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and those aged 14 and older must also abstain from meat on these days. Good Friday is part of the Easter Triduum, which marks the end of Lent, and is a day of abstinence from meat. Catholics traditionally abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, and some give up meat for all Fridays of the year. This practice dates back to the early days of the Church, as Christ died on a Friday, and Catholics participate in His sacrifice by making a sacrifice of their own.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who should fast? | The Catholic Church requires all Catholics from ages 14-59 to fast. |
| When to fast? | On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics are also encouraged to observe a voluntary fast on all weekdays of Lent. |
| What to eat during fast? | Only one full meal per day and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. |
| What to abstain from? | Meat, especially on Fridays. Some Catholics choose to eat fish instead. |
| What is the purpose? | Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent, along with prayer and almsgiving. It is a time for Catholics to make sacrifices and grow in their spiritual life. |
| What are some examples of sacrifices? | Giving up meat, sweets, coffee, or seasonings. Donating the cost of meals to Catholic Relief Services to help those in need. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
On these days of fasting, Catholics are permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals, known as 'collations', that do not add up to a full meal. This definition of fasting only applies to solid food, with no restrictions on beverages, including alcohol.
In addition to fasting, Catholics must also abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent. Some sources state that this rule applies to all Catholics over the age of 14, while others state that it applies to those aged 18-59. Those who are unable to abstain from meat due to age or health reasons are encouraged to make an alternative sacrifice or perform charitable acts.
The practice of fasting during Lent is intended to be a time of self-discipline and penance, encouraging Catholics to make sacrifices and move away from selfishness. It is a time to slow down and reflect on one's life, creating small sacrifices to make oneself more available to God.
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Fasting means limiting food intake to one meal and two smaller meals
Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent, with prayer and almsgiving being the other two. In the Catholic Church, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from something that is good, such as meat. The norm for fasting in the Catholic Church is to limit yourself to one meal per day, as well as two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. This is in accordance with Pope Paul VI's 1966 Apostolic Constitution on Penance, Paenitemini.
The only days that fasting is required of Catholics are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, Catholics are encouraged to observe a voluntary fast on all weekdays of Lent. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority until the beginning of the sixtieth year. At that age, a person is automatically excused from fasting, but they may still choose to participate if their health permits. According to the Code of Canon Law, all Latin Church Catholics are required to observe the laws of abstinence starting at the age of 14. This means that Catholics aged 14 and older do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Instead of meat, many Catholics choose to eat fish on Fridays during Lent.
Fasting and abstinence are acts of penance, in union with Christ's sacrifice on the cross, especially on Fridays, as Christ died on a Friday. Catholics can also enhance their Lenten fasting practice by giving up meals and donating the cost of those meals to Catholic Relief Services to help those in need.
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Abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent
During Lent, Catholics are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized. It is a time of spiritual formation and preparation for Easter, where Catholics seek to grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent, and it involves moderating food and lifestyle choices to remove sinful inclinations. Along with fasting, Catholics are encouraged to give something up during Lent, such as meat or other alternatives for vegetarians.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has specified norms for fasting and abstinence during Lent. Catholics aged 18 to 59 are obligated to fast, which means they are permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal. Abstinence from meat is required for Catholics aged 14 and onwards. While the practice of abstinence is not binding under sin outside of Lent, Catholics are still encouraged to make Fridays a special day of penance or choose other penitential observances.
The practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent is a form of asceticism, or self-denial, which helps Catholics grow in holiness and make sacrifices that bring them closer to God. It is a time for spiritual growth and intentionality, where Catholics reflect on their lives and make sacrifices that align with their faith. By abstaining from meat, Catholics follow a long-standing tradition and demonstrate their obedience to Church teachings.
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Fish is eaten on Fridays instead of meat
Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. This is because Good Friday is the day that Jesus died, and abstaining from the shedding and consumption of blood is seen as appropriate. However, the Church does not require Catholics to eat fish on Fridays; it is simply a common substitute for meat.
The practice of eating fish instead of meat on Fridays is rooted in the belief that Jesus humbled himself on the day he died, and so Christians should also humble themselves and abstain from meat, which is considered a food of the rich. By denying themselves meat, members of the Church enter into a similar experience as Christ, who "entered into the poverty of humanity so that our humanity might be conquered for God".
Fish have long been associated with sacred holidays, even in pre-Christian times. In Christian teaching, Jesus died on a Friday, and his death redeemed a sinful world. People have written about fasting on Fridays to commemorate this sacrifice as early as the first century.
The number of meatless days on the medieval Christian calendar, including Fridays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, as well as Advent, Lent, and other holy days, also contributed to the popularity of fish as a substitute for meat. This had a significant impact on the growth of the global fishing industry.
It is important to note that abstaining from meat is not just a Lenten practice. Catholics aged 14 and older are required to abstain from meat on all Fridays throughout the year, not just during Lent. However, on Fridays outside of Lent, Catholics can choose another type of penance instead of eating fish.
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Fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent
Pope Benedict XVI described these pillars as "specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal". Pope Francis, in his Lenten message in 2021, said:
> Fasting, prayer and almsgiving, as preached by Jesus, enable and express our conversion. The path of poverty and self-denial (fasting), concern and loving care for the poor (almsgiving), and childlike dialogue with the Father (prayer) make it possible for us to live lives of sincere faith, living hope and effective charity.
Fasting is a form of self-discipline that frees one from attachment to material things and reminds one of the suffering of Christ. It is the voluntary abstinence from certain foods or pleasures, a physical expression of one's spiritual desire for God's presence over worldly things. The Church requires all Catholics from ages 14 to 59 to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means that one should only eat one full meal and two smaller, non-full meals. Many Catholics also choose to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, with some parishes hosting fish fries to bring the community together.
Fasting is also a school of virtue, teaching us to practice moderation, temperance, and self-control. It empowers us with the moral virtue we need to withstand even greater temptation.
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