I was wondering what were the rules for fasting and abstinence?

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Godisgreat23

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I wanted to know how traditional Catholicism practiced fasting and abstinence and how many days in a year?
 
Do you mean sometime in the past, or are you referring to the current rules? If you mean sometime in the past, it would help to know how far back you are talking about. 😉
 
The current rules (in the United States) require consuming no more than one large meal and two small meals on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday (for those who have reached the age of 18 and who have not reached the age of 59), abstaining from meat on the Fridays of Lent (for those who have reached the age of 14) that are not solemnities, and doing some form of penance on Fridays outside of Lent that are not solemnities (for those who have reached the age of 14).
 
CatholicRaven said:
Do you mean sometime in the past, or are you referring to the current rules? If you mean sometime in the past, it would help to know how far back you are talking about. 😉
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I’m talking about the pre-vatican II times I know the rules have changed a lot but I wanted to know what were the rules back then…
 
devoutchristian said:
The current rules (in the United States) require consuming no more than one large meal and two small meals on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday (for those who have reached the age of 18 and who have not reached the age of 59), abstaining from meat on the Fridays of Lent (for those who have reached the age of 14) that are not solemnities, and doing some form of penance on Fridays outside of Lent that are not solemnities (for those who have reached the age of 14).
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I’m aware of the current rules I think the earlier rules were strict from what I hear wanted to know why they were changed?
 
Godisgreat23 said:
I’m aware of the current rules I think the earlier rules were strict from what I hear wanted to know why they were changed?
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I may have a few details wrong but I’ll try to answer this. Meat was considered to include anything that came from an animal, so abstinence from meat meant being a Vegan who ate fish (as opposed to now where it means to be a vegitarian who eats fish). Abstinence was required on all Fridays except Holy days of obligation which were not within Lent (and it was required of all who had reached the use of reason). Partial abstinence and fast were required on all the days of Lent except Sunday (partial abstinence and fast meant no more than one large meal and two small meals, where meat could only be eaten during the one large meal). On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, all Fridays of Lent, and a few other Wednesdays full fast and abstinence were required (fast and abstinence meant the same thing as they do today, except for the differing definition of meat). Fast was only required of those over 21, with the same maximum age as today.
 
For immediately pre-Vatican II, this is the explanation of the 1962 discipline of fasting and abstinence, quoted directly from my 2013 FSSP Ordo:
Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962
  • Applies on one’s 7th birthday.
  • Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas.
  • Partial Abstinence (meat and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principle meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption.
  • Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
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Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962
  • Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive.
  • Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday inclusive, Ember Days, and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost, and the Assumption.
  • One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined are less than a full meal.
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The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: The Discipline of 1962
The complete fast from all food and drink (except water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. In the document reducing the fast to three hours, the Pope still encouraged those who were able to maintain the midnight fast which was the previous discipline.
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Don’t forget the fast rules before receiving communion.

In the 50’s it was from midnight.
Then it became 3 hours before reception
Now it is 1 hour before reception.
 
Evan said:
Don’t forget the fast rules before receiving communion.

In the 50’s it was from midnight.
Then it became 3 hours before reception
Now it is 1 hour before reception.
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Oh I didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing!
 
This is from an FSSP parish, and I think it sums up both the traditional and current fasting/abstinence rules for the Latin Church pretty well.
 
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