Fast and Abstinence Regulation

Penance is valuable part of the practice of our faith. Jonah was instructed by God to tell the Ninevites to fast, wear sackcloth and place ashes on their bodies as an outward symbol of their inward repentance. We recall that before he began his public ministry, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness. The Holy Season of Lent is a time of penance. We are asked to respond voluntarily to the call of conversion by undertaking some good works and observing certain penitential practices. According to the law of the Church, the requirement of fasting affects all those who have celebrated their 19th birthday but have not yet celebrated their 60th birthday. The rule of fasting is that only one full meal a day may be taken in addition to two small meals taken ?to maintain sufficient strength?. Together, however, these two smaller meals should not equal a full meal. Abstinence refers to refraining from eating meat. The common estimation of the community is used to determine what falls under the category of meat. That would normally include beef, poultry, lamb and pork. The rule of abstinence binds all Catholics 14 years or older. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are to be observed as both days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays during lent should likewise be observed as days of abstinence. There is no particular legal sanction attached to failure in observance. Yet as a Catholic Christian you will not lightly hold yourself excused, however, from the Lenten fast.