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Church Documents
Fast and Abstinence
Good Friday and Ash Wednesday are the major days for fasting in general for those who have reached the age 18 and are not yet 60. Abstinence means no meat on those days for those who are age 14 [or over]. General canon law says that all Fridays are days of abstinence -- no meat -- but if you want to eat meat, you should substitute some other form of penance.
The US rules for abstinence from
meat includes all Fridays during Lent; Fast (small meals,
no snacks) + Abstinence (as in universal rules -- no meat)
on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Since the Council, the US bishops have never specified a particular
penance for the other Fridays of the year; but the universal
law still applies -- therefore it is left to the individual to
choose the form this penance takes. Since abstinence from meat
is traditional (and pretty straightforward), many Catholics observe
still this as their form of penance that is required of Catholics
on all Fridays (Canon 1250). Many, however, entirely ignore the
law of penance on Fridays.
The practice of "giving up something" for Lent is part
of this same requirement in the penitential season of Lent, though
what you have to give up is not specified.
(See also Pre-Lent and Ash Wednesday pages.)
Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the
time of Lent are penitential days and
times throughout the entire Church.
Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday
and on the Friday of the Passion
and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their
fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults
are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth
year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that
minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are
educated in an authentic sense of penance.
Canon 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to
determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence
and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence
other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises
of piety.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
1387 To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.220 Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.
1434 The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving,31 which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort at reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity "which covers a multitude of sins."32
1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice.36 These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).
1969 The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in contrast with the desire to "be seen by men."24 Its prayer is the Our Father.25
2043 The fourth precept ("You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.85
The fifth precept ("You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church") means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.86
The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities.87
USCCB "Penitential
Practices for Today's Catholics" Committee on Pastoral
Practices National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 12,
2000.
History
- Code
of Canon Law 1917 edition
The laws regarding abstinence
and fast were codified in the old (1917) Code of Canon Law, which
are abrogated by the 1983 Code; however this is where one finds
the PRECISE definitions of fast and abstinence that are now retained
as "traditional". - hhh
Here are the relevant 1917 Canons:
Canon 1250. The law of abstinence prohibits meat
and soups made of meat but not of eggs, milks, and other condiments,
even if taken from animals.
Canon 1251. 1. The law of fast prescribes that there be
only one meal a day; but it does not forbid that a little bit
[of food] be taken in the morning and the evening, observing,
nevertheless, the approved custom of places concerning the quantity
and the quality of the food.
2. It is not forbidden to mix meat and fish in the same
meal; or to exchange the evening meal with lunch.
Canon 1252. 1. The law of abstinence only must be observed
every Friday.
2. The law of abstinence together with fast must be observed
every Ash Wed, every Friday and Saturday of Lent, each of the
Ember Days, and the vigils of the Pentecost, the Assumption of
the God-bearer into heaven, All Saints, and the Nativity of the
Lord.
3. The law of fast only is to be observed on all the other
days of Lent.
4. On Sundays or feasts of precept, the law of abstinence
or of abstinence and fast or a fast only ceases, except during
Lent, nor is the vigil anticipated; likewise it ceases on Holy
Saturday afternoon.
Canon 1254. 1. The law of abstinence binds all those who
have completed seven years of age.
2. All those are bound by the law of fast from the completion
of the twenty-first year of age until the beginning of the sixtieth.
Paenitemini (Apostolic Constitution On Penance) Pope Paul VI (February 17, 1966).
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