THE DISCIPLINARY PRACTICE OF FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

FASTING

On days of FAST only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one's needs; but together they should not equal another full meal. Meat may be taken at the principal meal on FAST days, except on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigils of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas. Eating between meals is not permitted; but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or the ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige.

All persons over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 are obliged to observe the law of FAST. FAST days are the weekdays of Lent, the Ember Days, the Vigils of Pentecost, the Immacuate Conception and Christmas

In doubt concerning the obligation to FAST, consult your parish priest.

ABSTINENCE

COMPLETE ABSTINENCE: On days of COMPLETE ABSTINENCE meat and soup or gravy made from or with meat may not be used at all.

PARTIAL ABSTINENCE: On days of PARTIAL ABSTINENCE meat and soup or gravy made from meat mat be taken only once a day at the principal meal.

All persons over the age of 7 are bound to observe the law of ABSTINENCE. 

Days of COMPLETE ABSTINENCE include all Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the Vigils of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas, and on Holy Saturday. Days of PARTIAL ABSTINENCE are observed on the Ember Days (the designated Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at each season) and on the Vigil of Pentecost.

THE EUCHARISTIC FAST

THE CUSTOMARY EUCHARISTIC FAST is to abstain from all solid foods and alcoholic drinks for three hourse before receiving Holy Communion, and from all non-alcoholic liquids, except for water, for one hour.

THE MINIMUM EUCHARISTIC FAST is to abstain from all food and drink, except for water, for one hour before receiving Holy Communion.

THE ANCIENT EUCHARISTIC FAST is to abstain from all food and drink, including water, from midnight of the day on which one wishes to receive Holy Communion.

If Mass is in the early morning we encourage the ANCIENT EUCHARISTIC FAST. For a late morning or early afternoon Mass, we recommend the CUSTOMARY EUCHARISTIC FAST. For evening Mass or under exceptional circumstances, we permit the MINUMUM EUCHARISTIC FAST.

For the sick and aged, those who tend them, solid food and drinks may be taken up to a quarter of an hour before receiving Holy Communion. The sick, not necessarily bed-ridden, may also take genuine medicines, solid or liquid, as well as non-alcoholic drinks at any time before receiving Holy Communion.  

EMBER DAYS

The Ember Days are three days: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday appointed in the calendar at each season for the observance of prayer and abstinence. The purpose of the days is to pray for vocations to the Sacred Priesthood. The Ember Saturdays are traditional days set aside by the Church for ordinations to take place.

The Ember Days occur during the First Week of Lent, the week following the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

The Ember Days are observed as Days of Partial Abstinence.

THE LENTEN OBSERVANCE

The Church designates the time between Ash Wdnesday and Holy Saturday as a season known as Lent. It consists of 40 days on which we unite ourselvs to the sufferings of our Blessed Lord by acts of FAST, ABSTINENCE, PRAYER and ALMSGIVING.

The days of Lent are to remind us of the 40 days our Lord spent fasting and praying in the desert, where He was tempted by Satan. It marks the time of His Sacred Passion. The most solemn week of Lent is known as Holy Week. It begins with calling to mind Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we bless Palms on that day in commemoration of the triumphal procession. The last three days are known as the Sacred Triduum and are the most sacred days of the entire year. On Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) we commemorate the Last Supper and the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the establishment of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. On Good Friday we follow our lord throught the trial before Pilate and his journey to the cross on Calvary where he was crucified for our sins. On Holy Saturday we pray for Our Savior while he lies in the tomb. On Easter Sunday we joyously celebrate his Glorious Resurrection from the dead.

We spend the days of Lent in prayer, fasting and abstinence, making voluntary sacrifices, reading and studying the Scriptures, and doing acts of charity and the giving of alms to the poor and needy.