Fasting in the Roman Catholic Church

[rben20]

Hello Catholics,

I was interested in starting to fast on fridays as the Church recommends but is not mandatory. The traditional way was mandatory for every friday and during lent I believe. I am doing it for personal piety. What I need help on though is what exactly it entails as I have heard different things from different people.

Please correct my understanding as need be but I believe it is only one meal (not stuff your face but moderately filling) and two light snacks for the rest of the day. No meat (chicken, red meat, pork) but products from animals are ok (eggs, milk) and fish is fine.

Is that all there is to it? Thank you

 

[PJM]

=rben20;7555303]Hello Catholics,

I was interested in starting to fast on fridays as the Church recommends but is not mandatory. The traditional way was mandatory for every friday and during lent I believe. I am doing it for personal piety. What I need help on though is what exactly it entails as I have heard different things from different people.

Please correct my understanding as need be but I believe it is only one meal (not stuff your face but moderately filling) and two light snacks for the rest of the day. No meat (chicken, red meat, pork) but products from animals are ok (eggs, milk) and fish is fine.

Is that all there is to it? Thank you

A truly wounderful IDEA:thumbsup:

The reply to your OPQ must come with two seperate definations.

The Tradition you speak of required absentence from all Meat Products every Friday. Some countries extended this [Local Bishops Option] to also include all milk products.

So refraining from all Meat products wil fulfill your “Fast.” “Obligation.”

The second understanding of “Fast” applies and a Grave Moral Obligation extends the refraining from all meats, and in addition having ONLY one full “normal” meal in a 24 hour period. This Continues to be the MANDATED Lenten Obligaion for All Catholics on "Ash-Wednsday n “God Friday.” The other Friday’s in Lent Obligate one to abstain from meat products.

There are many of us who continue the Traditional Fasting on all Friday’s.

Good luck, and God Bless you,

Pat

 

[Skeptic92]

Hello Catholics,

I was interested in starting to fast on fridays as the Church recommends but is not mandatory. The traditional way was mandatory for every friday and during lent I believe. I am doing it for personal piety. What I need help on though is what exactly it entails as I have heard different things from different people.

Please correct my understanding as need be but I believe it is only one meal (not stuff your face but moderately filling) and two light snacks for the rest of the day. No meat (chicken, red meat, pork) but products from animals are ok (eggs, milk) and fish is fine.

Is that all there is to it? Thank you

hmm not quite, its 3 meals, 1 big meal, and 2 smaller meals which combined do not equal the size of the big meal, the rest of the rules you listed are correct however.

 

[gentle_atheist]

It gets a little complicated. fisheaters.com/fasting.html

 

[ConstantineTG]

Hello Catholics,

I was interested in starting to fast on fridays as the Church recommends but is not mandatory. The traditional way was mandatory for every friday and during lent I believe. I am doing it for personal piety. What I need help on though is what exactly it entails as I have heard different things from different people.

Please correct my understanding as need be but I believe it is only one meal (not stuff your face but moderately filling) and two light snacks for the rest of the day. No meat (chicken, red meat, pork) but products from animals are ok (eggs, milk) and fish is fine.

Is that all there is to it? Thank you

From what I know it was abstinence that was asked every Friday, not specifically fasting. Not that I’m saying you shouldn’t. But fasting in itself doesn’t have specific guidelines. Some people would reduce a meal. Some would reduce all meals. Some would skip one or two meals. Some would eat nothing but crackers or bread or rice for the entire day. Its up to you and its up to what your body can take. Remember that fasting is spiritual, not physical. So the physical part really varies.

 

[Javl]

Hello Catholics,

I was interested in starting to fast on fridays as the Church recommends but is not mandatory. The traditional way was mandatory for every friday and during lent I believe. I am doing it for personal piety. What I need help on though is what exactly it entails as I have heard different things from different people.

Please correct my understanding as need be but I believe it is only one meal (not stuff your face but moderately filling) and two light snacks for the rest of the day. No meat (chicken, red meat, pork) but products from animals are ok (eggs, milk) and fish is fine.

Is that all there is to it? Thank you

Fasting is always mandatory, regardless of age. There are exceptions, such as medical condition, etc. Abstinence is not mandatory but is recommended up to the age of 60.
Fasting consists of one regular meal and two small ones that do not equal the regular meal in size or content ( usually snacks ). The true fast entails not eating at all. Water at any time does not break the fast. God Bless.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Brooklyn]

I’m usually not crazy about Wikipedia, but here is what I think is a really excellent article about fasting in the Catholic Church.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_and_abstinence_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Church

As this article states: “The purpose of fasting is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance; it in no way stems from a concept that the material world is in some sense evil.” Fasting is one of the ways in which we try to break our dependence on the material world. It is one of the hardest things I do. I fast twice a week, once for the pro life cause, and again on Friday for penance. I hate it and dread it, and I think that’s all the more reason to do it. Last year I fasted the 40 days of Lent, and after a while it really wasn’t too bad. I’m going to do it again this year, and I’m dreading it. The reason I do it even though I hate is is just as posted in the first sentence of this paraghraph: “spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance.”

Kudos to you on your proposal. God bless you.

 

[maryjk]

Fasting is always mandatory, regardless of age. There are exceptions, such as medical condition, etc. Abstinence is not mandatory but is recommended up to the age of 60.
Fasting consists of one regular meal and two small ones that do not equal the regular meal in size or content ( usually snacks ). The true fast entails not eating at all. Water at any time does not break the fast. God Bless.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

I think you have that backwards. I can’t imagine that the Church wants a baby to fast, so it can’t be mandatory, regardless of age.

I think the rules are:
Fasting age 18 to 60

Abstaining age 14 to 60

 

[Javl]

I think you have that backwards. I can’t imagine that the Church wants a baby to fast, so it can’t be mandatory, regardless of age.

I think the rules are:
Fasting age 18 to 60

Abstaining age 14 to 60

Thank you for correcting me. I should have qualified my statement. By the way, there is no age limit on fasting. I am 85 and am still obligated to fast.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[maryjk]

Thank you for correcting me. I should have qualified my statement. By the way, there is no age limit on fasting. I am 85 and am still obligated to fast.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

There is no upper age on abstinence. There is an upper age on fasting, and that age is 60. Of course that doesn’t mean that you can’t fast, just that you don’t have to.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.