fast and abstinence are the traditional means of preparing for festivals and solemnities of the Church. the Lenten fast was prescribed, and is still required on Ash Wed. and Good Friday, optional on other weekdays of Lent, but some penitential practice during Lent and all Fridays of the year is still required. Now we abstain from meat only on those 2 days above and the Fridays of Lent. There used to be a presecribed Advent fast and abstinence as well, but that discipline was relaxed a long time ago. However, the penitential aspect of Advent should be retained in voluntary penitential acts, especially in avoiding celebratory actions before the actual feast of Christmas.
Caution: for a person who is ill or cannot fast and abstain because of health concerns, these disciplines are never obligatory, and may be actively discouraged, i.e. for a diabetic. For those of us which chronic medical conditions, adhering to the dietary restrictions imposed by our doctors itself constitutes a fast.
Please call the Catholic Church nearest to you and ask for someone to visit you. Even if you are not a member and cannot receive communion, most parishes have a ministry to visiting the sick and shut-ins. If you reside in the parish boundaries they will be happy to visit you, even if you are not Catholic.
Ferial days just meant, in the old calendar, days on which no feast or memorial was celebrated.