Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has changed the ecclesiastical laws regulating penance over the centuries, sometimes becoming stricter and sometimes relaxing the discipline. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority until the beginning of the sixtieth year. In the early 20th century, Church law prescribed fasting throughout Lent, with abstinence only on Friday and Saturday. In 1917, Pope Benedict XV granted the faithful of countries in World War I the privilege of transferring Saturday Lenten abstinence to any other day of the week, except Friday and Ash Wednesday. In 1956, Holy Saturday was commuted from complete to partial abstinence. In 1966, Pope Paul VI promulgated a new set of regulations for fasting and abstaining, which are listed in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canons 1249-1253, and all Roman Catholics are bound to strictly observe them.
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What You'll Learn
Fasting rules in the early 20th century
In the early 20th century, Catholic fasting rules included abstinence on Fridays and Saturdays during Lent, with fasting on the other weekdays. However, countries like the United States did not require abstinence on Saturdays. Rome allowed Irish bishops to shift the Saturday obligation to Wednesday in 1918. This practice of "partial abstinence" was also seen in the United States after 1951, where meat was allowed once a day during the main meal.
The 1917 Code of Canon Law listed the days of obligatory fasting as the forty days of Lent (including Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday until noon), the Ember Days, and the vigils of Pentecost, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, All Saints, and Christmas. In the same year, Pope Benedict XV granted countries impacted by World War I the ability to shift Saturday Lenten abstinence to another day of the week, except Friday and Ash Wednesday. In 1919, Cardinal Gibbons received permission to shift Saturday Lenten abstinence to Wednesday for all bishops' dioceses in the United States.
The law of fasting bound all Catholics from the day after their 21st birthday until the completion of their 59th birthday. However, the United States lowered the obligatory fasting age to 18. The law of abstinence, which began on the day after a Catholic's 7th birthday, forbade the consumption of meat and meat broth but allowed eggs and dairy products.
During this time, fasting and abstinence requirements were relaxed in several Catholic countries compared to the start of the 20th century. By the eve of Vatican II, fasting was often limited to four days a year: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, the vigil of Christmas or the day before, and the vigil of either the Immaculate Conception or the Assumption.
In 1951, the United States bishops standardised regulations, requiring complete abstinence from meat on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the vigils of Assumption and Christmas, and Holy Saturday morning for those over seven. On the vigils of Pentecost and All Saints, meat was allowed at one meal. Fast days, for those between 21 and 59, included the weekdays of Lent, Ember Days, and the vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints, and Christmas. On these days, only one full meal was permitted, along with two meatless meals that did not equal a full meal.
In 1954, Pope Pius XII issued a decree granting bishops permission to dispense with Friday abstinence for the Feast of St. Joseph, which fell on a Friday that year. In 1955, significant changes were made to the Church's Liturgy, and in 1956, Holy Saturday was changed from complete to partial abstinence. In 1957, Pope Pius XII commuted the fast in the Universal Church on the Vigil of the Assumption to the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.
In 1959, Pope John XXIII allowed the Christmas Eve fast and abstinence to be shifted to December 23 for some nations, including Canada and the Philippines. In 1966, Pope Paul VI issued a new set of fasting and abstinence regulations through his apostolic constitution, Paenitemini, which were codified in the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
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The 1917 Code of Canon Law
The Code specified the laws of abstinence and fasting, providing precise definitions that are still considered "traditional". Canon 1250 defines abstinence as prohibiting meat and soups made of meat but allowing eggs, milk, and other condiments, even if derived from animals. Canon 1251 prescribes that during fasting, only one meal is permitted per day, but it does not forbid small amounts of food in the morning and evening, following local customs regarding quantity and quality.
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Changes in the 1950s
In the 1950s, several changes were made to the Catholic fasting rules. One significant change during this time was the introduction of evening Masses in some parishes. This change gradually led to the widespread permission for vigil (Sunday) Masses to be held on Saturday evenings. This accommodation was made to help Catholics with commitments, such as hospital workers, fulfil their "Sunday obligation."
Another notable change in the 1950s was the modification of the Eucharistic fast requirements. Before 1953, Catholics observing the Eucharistic fast were mandated to abstain from food and drink, except water, from midnight until they received Holy Communion at morning Mass. However, in 1953, Pope Pius XII issued the Apostolic constitution Christus Dominus, which reduced the fasting period to three hours from solid foods and one hour from liquids before communion. This change aimed to strike a balance between spiritual obligations and the evolving work and lifestyle patterns of the faithful.
In 1954, Pope Pius XII issued a special decree granting bishops the discretion to dispense with Friday abstinence during the Feast of St. This adjustment provided flexibility to Catholic practices, taking into account the diverse cultural and regional contexts.
The United States also witnessed a standardization of fasting regulations in 1951. These regulations mandated complete abstinence from meat on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the vigils of Assumption and Christmas, and Holy Saturday morning for individuals over seven years old. On specific days, such as the vigils of Pentecost and All Saints, meat consumption was permitted at only one meal. The fast days, applicable to those aged 21 to 59, included the weekdays of Lent, Ember days, and the vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints, and Christmas. During these fast days, only one full meal was allowed, accompanied by two meatless meals that did not exceed the quantity of the full meal. Eating between meals was prohibited, although milk and fruit juice were allowed. Health considerations or the ability to work could exempt individuals from these fasting obligations.
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Pope Paul VI's 1966 apostolic constitution
In 1966, Pope Paul VI promulgated a new set of regulations for fasting and abstinence through his apostolic constitution, Paenitemini. These new rules are listed in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canons 1249–1253, and apply to all Roman Catholics, who are bound to observe them strictly.
The law of abstinence refers to abstaining from meat, while the law of fasting refers to the quantity of food consumed, thus also refraining from eating between meals. The law of abstinence binds all Catholics from the day after their 14th birthday, while the law of fasting binds all adults from their 18th birthday until the midnight that completes their 59th birthday. However, at the beginning of the 60th year, a person is automatically excused from fasting requirements on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday but may still voluntarily participate.
According to Paenitemini, abstinence and fasting are required on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and, where possible, throughout Holy Saturday. The time of Lent also preserves its penitential character, with Fridays and Ash Wednesday observed as obligatory days of penance throughout the Church.
The purpose of the new canonical laws was not to weaken the practice of penance but to make it more effective. Pope Paul VI emphasised that while preserving the custom of practising penance through abstinence and fasting, the Church intends to ratify other forms of penance as well. He recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation and that fasting and abstinence be replaced with prayer and works of charity in countries with a lower standard of living.
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Current fasting rules
The Catholic Church observes the disciplines of fasting and abstinence from meat at various times each year. 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. According to the Church, all people are obliged by God to perform penance for their sins, and these acts of penance are both personal and corporeal.
The current fasting rules for Catholics are as follows:
- The law of fasting binds all adults, starting from their 18th birthday until the midnight that completes their 59th birthday.
- On fasting days, only one full meal is permitted during the day, along with two smaller meals or "collations." The two smaller meals should not equal the quantity of the main meal.
- Liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed during fasting, but eating between meals is not permitted.
- On fast days, fish and cold-blooded animals, such as frogs, clams, and turtles, may be consumed.
- Sundays throughout the year and Holy Days of Obligation outside of Lent cancel fasting and/or abstinence that may coincide with these days.
- Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence, except for Solemnities or First Class Feasts.
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence.
- Abstinence on all Fridays, while not obligatory, is "especially recommended."
- Fasting on all weekdays of Lent, though not obligatory, is "strongly recommended."
- Local bishops have the authority to grant dispensations from these rules within their dioceses.
It is important to note that the specific practices may vary among different Catholic churches and communities.
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Frequently asked questions
The first changes to the fasting rules in the Catholic Church came in 1837 when Wednesdays of Advent were abrogated as fast days in America. In 1917, Pope Benedict XV granted countries involved in World War I the privilege of transferring Saturday Lenten abstinence to any other day of the week, except Friday and Ash Wednesday.
In 1951, the Vigil of All Saints was reduced to partial abstinence for American Catholics. In 1954, Pope Pius XII issued a decree granting bishops permission to dispense with Friday abstinence for the Feast of St. Joseph. In 1955, the Church's Liturgy underwent significant changes. In 1956, Holy Saturday was commuted from complete to partial abstinence. In 1957, Pope Pius XII commuted the fast in the Universal Church on the Vigil of the Assumption to the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception. In 1959, Pope John XXIII permitted the Christmas Eve fast and abstinence to be transferred to the 23rd of December.
The current fasting rules for Catholics are outlined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, Canons 1249-1253, and were promulgated in 1966 by Pope Paul VI. The law of abstinence refers to abstaining from meat and binds all Catholics from the day after their 14th birthday. The law of fasting refers to the quantity of food taken and binds all adults from their 18th birthday until midnight on the day they turn 59.
According to Canon 1252 of the Code of Canon Law, those who have attained their majority (60 years of age) are automatically excused from fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, they may choose to participate in the fast if their health permits. Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation outside of Lent cancel fasting and/or abstinence if they coincide with a fast day.
