This is my first Lent as a Catholic so I have a couple of questions. First, is it ok to eat chicken on Ash Wednesday and on fridays during Lent? I am the only Catholic in a family of 6 so my wife needs to know that answer! Second, is fasting done only on Ash Wednesday or on fridays too? And what is the prescribed fast for Ash Wednesday? Thank you!
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Ash Wednesday is a day of both fast and abstinence. All rules for fasting and abstinence apply on this day.
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Abstinence means abstaining from meat, which includes red meat and poultry (so no chicken). Meat by products such as milk, eggs and cheese are permitted.
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Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only obligatory days of fast and abstinence. However, since the essential Lenten practices are fasting and prayer, it’s recommended that you find other days to fast as well. Fridays would be a good choice.
Rule of thumb, if it breathes air don’t eat it. If it “breathes” water you’re good to go.
Is that accurate? Are you saying we can eat lobster and shrimp etc.?
Yes any seafood is allowed. Although one should keep in mind the spirit as well as the letter of the rules, it might not be appropriate to have a fancy seafood meal, but say spaghetti with shrimp would be OK.
Yes you can eat Shrimp and Lobster (all shellfish) as well as all fish.
No red meat, no pork, no poultry.
The Lenten regulations regarding fast and abstinence are as follows:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.
All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence only. Church law
binds as follows:
The Law of Abstinence (not eating meat) obliges those
who have completed their 14th year.
The Law of Fast (only one full meal each day, nothing
between meals) obliges those who have
completed their 18th year until the beginning
of their 60th year.
On days of Fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken in accordance to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
Well, you can eat frogs, lizards, crocodiles, grasshoppers, and ants as well 
“Meat” is the flesh of mammals and fowl, so you can’t eat puppies, kittens, or baby seals, but can eat bugs and lizards. But seriously, all fish and shellfish are OK but beef, pork, and poultry are not kosher for us on Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. Fasting on the other hand is only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Of course you’re more than welcome (and in fact encouraged) to fast and/or abstain from meat on other days as well.
Yep, any kind of fish is fine. That is why a lot of our churches have fish frys on Fridays during lent!
Also, the standard fast is 2 smaller meals and 1 large meal. Just incase you were not sure.
C’mon down to south Louisiana. Our “sacrifice” such as it was was eating fish sticks or canned tuna. I grew up in the pre-Vatican II church. For all of my life we have been exhorted to do more because we have shrimp and oysters, etc. Let me assure you Shrimp Creole or a fried oyster poboy is NO sacrifice…or fried catfish or Trout Amandine, etc., etc., etc.
Heck, even my fish cakes made with salt cod were no sacrifice. For many, a meal of liver or kidney would be a much greater sacrifice than trout or lobster.
Well this thread just ruined my plans for dinner tonight. I now feel guilty of enjoying my dinner. I was going to go out and have a boat full of sushi. I might still do it but I’ll pick the kinds I don’t like as much. I haven’t eaten all day except a banana this morning.
The main thing today is to remember Him and what He did for us and still does for us.
Back in the day…:)…every Friday of the year was a meatless day, to give honor to the day upon which Christ died. Pancakes or waffles for supper was my kids favorite, but we often had fish & baked macaroni & cheese. My husbands favorite was a recipe I created. It was a layered Tuna casserole…Bottom layer creamed tuna (butter in a skillet, sauted onions, flour & milk to thicken, large can of tuna & simmer until all is heated through & thickened a bit). Second layer, sliced or shredded cheese, top layer…homemade biscuits (dough rolled out, sprinkle dough with rest of cheese…roll it up & slice the biscuits), bake the whole thing for about 40 minutes. My grown children still ask for this dish when the come to town for a visit. When a meatless day came once a week, one had to be creative.
Sorry, I know this is off topic…just couldn’t resist. 
I won’t do it again. 
Quick question regarding Lenten fasting. Would powdered whey protein mixed with milk be regarded in the same category as milk, such that it would not break one’s fast or count as one of the smaller meals, or would it be more like a milkshake which would?
Well, if the whey is added for a source of protein, I would say it would be in the same category as milk.
Abstinence from meat is on all Fridays of Lent and is required of Catholics aged 14 and over
Fasting (1 Meal and two half meals) is on Ash Wednesday/Good Friday and is required of Catholics aged 18 to 59.
Breaking these rules constitute a venial sin;
In some cultures Fasting/Abstinence is done every Friday of the year and the entire Triduum save Easter.
For me personally my goal for Lent is to serve more in Church, recieve Confession/Communion more frequently, give up Facebook and to consume 90% water and 10& solid food everyday of Lent in addition to the regular Lenten Regulations.
Read my Blog: teddybarboza.blogspot.com/
Since this particular thread is in the Traditional Catholic forum, abstaining from meat on all Friday’s during lent, as well as all Fridays throughout the year is the proper form of penance: See Canon Law 1250 and 1251.
Hi!
I bet you’re really putting more efforts in getting rid of playing FB.
Is it a venial sin? I was under the impression that it was mortal (I failed to observe the fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and was planning to go to Confession tomorrow…). If this could be cleared up that would be great!