Grace Thompson
Fasting is a common practice in many religions, and in Catholicism, it is often associated with the Lenten season. The Catholic Church requires fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with some Catholics also fasting on every Friday of the year and the whole of Lent. Fasting is seen as a way to deepen one's hunger and desire for Christ, and during Lent, it is a time for prayer, self-control, and almsgiving. While the rules of fasting have evolved over time, with some countries adopting different norms, the traditional definition of fasting in Catholicism allows for one full meal and two smaller snacks during the day. Abstinence from meat is also observed on Fridays during Lent, with some countries substituting abstinence with charitable acts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of obligatory fasting days | 2 |
| Obligatory fasting days | Ash Wednesday, Good Friday |
| Devotional fasting days | Every Friday of the year, the whole of Lent, the eve of great feast days |
| Age requirements for fasting | 18–59 |
| Age requirements for abstinence | 14+ |
| Definition of fasting | Eating one full meal and two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal |
| Definition of abstinence | Not eating meat, eggs, oil or fats and broths made from meat |
| Exceptions to fasting | Pregnant or nursing women, the physically or mentally ill |
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What You'll Learn
Obligatory fasting days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Obligatory fasting days for Catholics are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. These are the only two days of the year that Catholics are required to fast. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, which is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. During Lent, Catholics seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture, serve by giving alms, and practice self-control through fasting.
On obligatory fasting days, Catholics may eat one full meal during the day. They can also have two smaller meals, but these should not equal a full meal. In addition to fasting, Catholics must also abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This rule of abstinence from meat is binding upon Catholics aged 14 and onwards.
The norms of fasting are obligatory for Catholics aged 18 to 59. Those who are physically or mentally ill, including those with chronic illnesses, are exempt from fasting. Pregnant or nursing women are also excluded from fasting.
Good Friday, the day that Catholics remember the death of Jesus on the cross, is also a day of continued fasting until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night). This extended fast is called the "paschal fast", and it is done to honour the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare for the celebration of his Resurrection.
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Devotional fasting days: Every Friday, Lent, and feast days' eves
Devotional fasting, also known as fasting out of one's own free will rather than obligation, is observed on every Friday of the year, throughout the season of Lent, and on the eves of great feast days.
Fridays are considered special days of penitential observance throughout the year. Devotional fasting on Fridays may include abstinence from meat, and in some countries, this has been substituted with pious or charitable acts. In the past, fasting on Fridays included not eating meat, eggs, oil, fats, and broths made from meat.
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. During this time, Catholics are called to practice self-discipline and renew their baptismal commitments. In addition to fasting, some choose to give up meals and donate the cost of those meals to Catholic Relief Services to help those in need.
The eve of great feast days is another time when devotional fasting is observed. This includes the vigil of Christmas or the day before, and the vigil of the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption. These days are also known as solemnities, which are the highest-ranked celebrations in the Catholic Church.
It is important to note that the specific practices and requirements of fasting may vary based on local norms and the traditions of different Catholic Churches. For example, members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. Additionally, the norms on fasting and abstinence may differ based on age, with those under 14 or over 59 years old being exempt from certain obligations.
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Exemptions: Pregnant, nursing, ill, and over 59s
The Catholic Church requires its followers to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Fridays during Lent. Obligatory fasting is only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with the latter being the only other day of full fasting and abstinence required. However, those who are pregnant, nursing, ill, or over 59 are exempt from these requirements.
Pregnant and nursing women are exempt from fasting and abstinence requirements in the Catholic Church. This exemption ensures that women and their children remain healthy and nourished during these physically demanding times.
Illness is also a valid reason for exemption from fasting in the Catholic Church. This includes individuals with physical or mental illnesses, as well as those with chronic conditions such as diabetes. The Church encourages common sense in these situations, advising ill persons not to jeopardize their health further by fasting.
The Catholic Church also exempts individuals over the age of 59 from fasting requirements. This exemption is in place for those who are outside the age limits specified by Canon Law, which states that fasting is obligatory for Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. Pastors and parents are expected to teach the meaning of penance to those in their care who are not bound by the law of fasting due to their age.
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Eastern Catholic Churches: Great Fast, Philip's Fast
Members of the autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches 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 than those of the Orthodox. Eastern Christians view fasting as part of repentance and supporting a spiritual change of heart.
Eastern Christians observe two major times of fasting, the "Great Fast" before Easter, and "Phillip's Fast" before the Nativity. 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 are no restrictions. During the last week before the Nativity, typically meat, dairy, eggs, and oil are avoided on all days, and meals are moderate in quantity.
The Nativity Fast, or Philip's Fast, is observed by Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Orthodox Churches that use the Revised Julian calendar, which currently matches the Gregorian calendar. For those Eastern Orthodox Churches that still follow the Julian calendar, the Winter Lent does not begin until November 28 (Gregorian), which coincides with November 15 on the Julian calendar. The Ancient Church of the East fasts from dawn until dusk from December 1 to December 25 on the Gregorian calendar.
The fasting discipline varies among the various sui iuris Eastern Churches in communion with the Holy See, though in general, their rules are now less strict than those observed by the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox. In modern times, within the Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, the fast is largely kept on a voluntary basis, with the faithful allowed to determine for themselves the degree to which they wish to adhere to the traditional rules. However, abstinence from meat remains obligatory on most Fridays during the year.
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Fasting definition: One meal, two small snacks, no meat
Fasting is a practice observed by Catholics at various times throughout the year. It is rooted in the belief that all people are obliged by God to perform penance for their sins through both personal and corporeal acts.
Historically, the ordinary rule on fasting days was to take only one meal a day, usually after sunset. Over time, this shifted to a midday meal, with the addition of an evening collation (a small snack).
Today, the definition of fasting for Catholics is typically understood as consuming only one full meal during the day, along with two smaller meals that do not exceed the quantity of the full meal. This practice is specifically applicable on obligatory fasting days, which include Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
On these obligatory fasting days, as well as Fridays during Lent, abstinence from meat is also observed. Abstinence refers to refraining from something good, such as meat, and is distinct from fasting, which involves reducing one's intake of food. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms of fasting and abstinence from meat are obligatory from ages 18 to 59.
In addition to these obligatory days, there are also devotional fasting days, which are practised out of personal devotion rather than obligation. These include every Friday of the year, the whole of Lent, and the eve of great feast days.
The specific practices of fasting and abstinence can vary among different Catholic communities. For instance, members of the Eastern Catholic Churches follow the particular laws of their own sui iuris Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Obligatory fasting days for Catholics are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics also abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.
Fasting means abstaining from food. This does not necessarily mean forgoing food completely, but rather limiting the amount of food eaten or restricting the times one eats.
The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence.
