- Feb 5, 2002
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According to the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church, Latin Church Catholics are bound to observe fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday.
Here are some details. I am sure you know them already, but they are good to review.
FASTING: Catholics who are 18 year old and up, until their 59th birthday (when you begin your 60th year), are bound to fast (1 full meal and perhaps some food at a couple points during the day, call it 2 “snacks”, according to local custom or law – call it, two snacks that don’t add up to a full meal) on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday.
Some choose not to eat at all. Some choose, in the monastic style, to have something only in the evening.
There is no scientific formula for this. Figure it out.
ABSTINENCE: Catholics who are 14 years old and older are abound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.
In general, when you have a medical condition of some kind, or you are pregnant, etc., these requirements can be relaxed.
For Eastern Catholics there are differences concerning dates and practices. Our Eastern friends can fill us Latins in. However, in the main, Eastern Catholics observe rigorous fasting disciplines rooted in ancient practice. Great Lent includes abstinence from meat, and often dairy, eggs, wine, and oil on prescribed days. The Eucharistic fast traditionally begins at midnight. Wednesdays and Fridays are penitential. Particular Churches follow their own customs.
You should by now have a plan for your spiritual life and your physical/material mortifications and penitential practices during Lent.
You would do well to include some works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal.
I also recommend making a good confessionclose to the beginning of Lent. Let me put that another way:
GO TO CONFESSION!
Continued below.
Here are some details. I am sure you know them already, but they are good to review.
FASTING: Catholics who are 18 year old and up, until their 59th birthday (when you begin your 60th year), are bound to fast (1 full meal and perhaps some food at a couple points during the day, call it 2 “snacks”, according to local custom or law – call it, two snacks that don’t add up to a full meal) on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday.
Some choose not to eat at all. Some choose, in the monastic style, to have something only in the evening.
There is no scientific formula for this. Figure it out.
ABSTINENCE: Catholics who are 14 years old and older are abound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays of Lent.
In general, when you have a medical condition of some kind, or you are pregnant, etc., these requirements can be relaxed.
For Eastern Catholics there are differences concerning dates and practices. Our Eastern friends can fill us Latins in. However, in the main, Eastern Catholics observe rigorous fasting disciplines rooted in ancient practice. Great Lent includes abstinence from meat, and often dairy, eggs, wine, and oil on prescribed days. The Eucharistic fast traditionally begins at midnight. Wednesdays and Fridays are penitential. Particular Churches follow their own customs.
You should by now have a plan for your spiritual life and your physical/material mortifications and penitential practices during Lent.
You would do well to include some works of mercy, both spiritual and corporal.
I also recommend making a good confessionclose to the beginning of Lent. Let me put that another way:
GO TO CONFESSION!
Continued below.
