Abstinence and Fasting during Lent

Lent prepares the Christian faithful for the celebration of the great mysteries of our faith: the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. During this season, the Church invites its faithful to do practices of charity, almsgiving and penance.  Abstinence and fasting are among the penitential acts that the Church recommends. Below is a summary of penitential practices that the Catholic Church demands from its faithful during Lent.

Practice of Abstinence and Fasting during Lent

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

for 14 years old up : Abstinence from eating meat and its derivatives

for 18-59 years old : Fasting (eating only 1 full meal during the day)

* abstinence and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are not substitutable

On Fridays (inlcuding Fridays of Lent)

for 14 years old up : Abstinence from eating meat and its derivatives

In the Philippines, abstinence is substitutable by any of the following :

• exercise of piety (e.g. reading the Bible, going to Mass, praying the Holy Rosary)
• acts of charity (e.g. visiting the sick and prisoners, giving alms to the poor)
• teaching catechism

* Eventhough abstinence is substitutable during Fridays of Lent (except Good Friday), it may be better not to opt for the substitute, at least during Lent, to foster a spirit of penance.

These practices are based on the guidelines and principles provided by the sources below [1].  The texts are formal in style since they are based on Church documents.



General Principle

All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe. (Code of Canon Law 1249)

Days of Penance

The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. (Canon 1250)

Days of Obligation

Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. (Canon 1251)

Fasting

The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing approved local custom, as far as quantity and quality are concerned. (Paul VI, Apost. Const. Paenitemini, Chapter III)

The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority [those who have celebrated their 18th birthday (cf. Canon 97, 1)] until the beginning of their sixtieth year. (Canon 1252)

Abstinence

The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat. (Paul VI, Apost. Const. Paenitemini, Chapter III)

The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. (Canon 1252)

Substitution

In place of abstinence or fasting, [the Bishops’ Conference] can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and practices of piety. (Canon 1253)

Except on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday, abstinence may be substituted with exercises of piety, such as reading the Bible, going to Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Holy Rosary, or acts of charity such as visiting the sick and prisoners, giving alms to the poor, or teaching catechism. (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, Decree of 27 September 1985, Prot. No. 35/84)


True Spirit of Penance

Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance. (Canon 1252)

It is strongly desired that bishops and all pastors of souls, in addition to the more frequent use of the sacrament of Penance, promote with zeal, particularly during the Lenten season, extraordinary practices of penitence aimed at expiation and impetration. (Pope Paul VI, Apost. Const. Paenitemini, Chapter III)

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Notes

[1] I obtained this compilation of texts  from an email. I forgot now who collated them.

Related posts : 

Lent and Self-denial

Does God want us to suffer?

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