Fast and abstinence

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nucath

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Exactly what are the requirements as far as fast and abstinence for someone who is over 59 or in ill health?
 
Over 60 and in ill health such a person has no requirement under Church law to fast at all. Hope that helps.

🙂
 
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nucath:
Exactly what are the requirements as far as fast and abstinence for someone who is over 59 or in ill health?
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I got into a heated discussion today about abstaining from meat. I thought that once a person reaches 59 then they don’t have to anymore. Well, a friend of my mother’s, who is very legalistic, said I was totally wrong. Anyone care to comment?
 
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nucath:
Exactly what are the requirements as far as fast and abstinence for someone who is over 59 or in ill health?
Click to expand...
those over 59 are not required to fast. those in ill health, pregnant, with physically demanding jobs or who otherwise should not fast are not required to fast. All Catholics over the age of 14 are required to abstain from the meat of warm blooded animals on the appointed days. It would be much rarer for their to be a medical need to avoid abstinence, so a person who is ill should be guided by their doctor. All that is needed is one’s own prudent judgement, no need for a formal dispensation. Substitute some other act of penance or self-denial.
 
Check out www.bspenance.org which is the website for the Brothers & Sisters of Penance. They follow a life of penance based on the Rule of St Francis.

Their Rules and Statutes are on the website and there is a big section relating to fasting and penance, you might find an answer there.
 
This is from the 2006 “Catholic Almanac.”
“Abstinence: Catholics in the U.S., from the age of 14 throughout life, are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday. The law forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat. Permissible are soup flavored with meat, meat gravy and sauces.”
“Fasting: Catholics in the U.S., from the day after their 18th birthday to the day after their 59th birthday, are also obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.”
It doesn’t specifically say anything in this passage about the sick or infirm, etc. but this would seem a reasonable exception to myself as well.
 
If I was 59 and in poor health ,I would consider macrobiotics
consultation with a Naturopathic Doctor.After 60 years or so
the gaseous beans must be avoided if one is not accustomed
to them by that age.They are a key component to longevity,
vitality,and generally a healthy metabolism into late life.
It would seem a shame to miss out on all that goodness.

I ask you to please not take my word as gospel
and not to accept anything I say as fact if you
cannot verify and/or validate anything I’ve written
for yourself.

“Neccessity overrides every law…Common Sense is the guide of all the virtues”

(St. Albert -Ancient Rule of Carmel)
 
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puzzleannie:
those over 59 are not required to fast. those in ill health, pregnant, with physically demanding jobs or who otherwise should not fast are not required to fast. All Catholics over the age of 14 are required to abstain from the meat of warm blooded animals on the appointed days. It would be much rarer for their to be a medical need to avoid abstinence, so a person who is ill should be guided by their doctor. All that is needed is one’s own prudent judgement, no need for a formal dispensation. Substitute some other act of penance or self-denial.
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I assume this includes poultry?
 
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