fasting & abstinence
rules of Fasting & Abstinence
1) All baptized Catholics, seven years of age or older, are obliged to abstain on the days appointed.
2) All baptized Catholics, ages twenty one through fifty nine, inclusive, are bound to observe the laws of fasting.
3) Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
4) When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, consult the parish priest or a confessor.
5) There is no obligation for fast or abstinence on a holy day of obligation, even though it may fall on a Friday.
6 ) There is neither fast or abstinence on Sundays or holy days of obligation.
His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, earnestly exhorts priests and faithful who are able to do so to observe the old and venerable form of the Eucharistic Fast (from foods and liquids from midnight) before Holy Communion. All those who will make use of these concessions must compensate for the good received by becoming shining examples of a Christian life and principally with works of penance and charity. (Motu Proprio of Pope Pius XII of March 19, 1957)
Source: My Catholic Faith: A Manual of Religion by the Most Reverend Louis Laravoire Morrow, S.T.D. (1958)
Traditional Days of Fast and Abstinence
The Catholic faithful are bound under pain of sin to observe the Church’s laws of fast and abstinence, unless lawfully excused or dispensed.
The days of fast appointed in the United States are:
a) The weekdays of Lent (Mon. through Sat.) up to Midnight of Holy Saturday
b) Ember Days- These are twelve in number, three per season; namely, the Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays after: the first Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, September 14 and December 13.
c) The Vigils of Pentecost, the Immaculate Conception and of Christmas
A fast day is a day on which only one full meal is allowed; but in the morning and evening some food may be taken. The food maybe sufficient to maintain strength and may be taken according to one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal.
The days of complete abstinence are:
All Fridays of the year, Ember Fridays, Ash Wednesday, and the Vigils of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas.
On days of complete abstinence meat and soup or gravy made from meat may not be used at all.
The days of partial abstinence are:
Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays and the Vigil of Pentecost.
On days of partial abstinence meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be taken only once a day at the principal meal.
Source: My Catholic Faith: A Manual of Religion by the Most Reverend Louis Laravoire Morrow, S.T.D. (1958)