Acceptable Friday Fasting Practices

[Kevin12]

I actually did not know until I recently read the Catechism more closely that we are supposed to abstain on Fridays throughout the year, but that bishop’s can allow for an acceptable substitution instead of meat.

I was wondering if, for example, abstaining from caffeinated drinks would be an acceptable fast? Or are their more specific guidelines that need to be followed?

 

[Bonnie]

Yes. The point is penance. If it’s something you eat, drink, or do the other 6 days of the week, but abstain from on Friday, it can be penance. Prayer doesn’t hurt, either.

 

[devoutchristian]

There aren’t really any guidelines, other than basic standards of reasonableness, which you are the judge of in your case.

 

[KrazyKat]

:

Yes. The point is penance. If it’s something you eat, drink, or do the other 6 days of the week, but abstain from on Friday, it can be penance. Prayer doesn’t hurt, either.

That is the answer. You do not have to notify the bishop of your penance choice.

 

[thistle]

I actually did not know until I recently read the Catechism more closely that we are supposed to abstain on Fridays throughout the year, but that bishop’s can allow for an acceptable substitution instead of meat.

I was wondering if, for example, abstaining from caffeinated drinks would be an acceptable fast? Or are their more specific guidelines that need to be followed?

Fasting and abstinence are different.
Fasting applies to quantity of food and not specific food items.

In most countries abstaining from meat is not required on Fridays throughout the year but some form of penance must be done of which abstaining from meat is a choice.