Lenten Abstinence

[Gregorian12]

Hey, I’m a Protestant preparing to become Catholic (praise God!). Anyway, I know it’s a common custom among Catholics to abstain from something during Lent. Even though I’m not yet Catholic, I still want to do this. Any suggestions on what to fast/abstain from? Should it be something I really enjoy? Also, when is it that we are not allowed to eat meat? God bless!

-Gregorian12

 

[garn9173]

Hey, I’m a Protestant preparing to become Catholic (praise God!). Anyway, I know it’s a common custom among Catholics to abstain from something during Lent. Even though I’m not yet Catholic, I still want to do this. Any suggestions on what to fast/abstain from? Should it be something I really enjoy? Also, when is it that we are not allowed to eat meat? God bless!

-Gregorian12

Best wishes on your journey to joining the Catholic Church, it’s great to have you!. Other than fasting on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday along with no meat on Friday’s during Lent, there are no rules that say you have to give something up for Lent. In fact my Deacon in his Homily last Sunday at Mass encouraged adults to NOT give something up for Lent but to be more prayerful, more patient (that’s a challenge for me, especially in drive time traffic ), more forgiving, more charitable, etc.

 

[Gregorian12]

Best wishes on your journey to joining the Catholic Church, it’s great to have you!. Other than fasting on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday along with no meat on Friday’s during Lent, there are no rules that say you have to give something up for Lent. In fact my Deacon in his Homily last Sunday at Mass encouraged adults to NOT give something up for Lent but to be more prayerful, more patient (that’s a challenge for me, especially in drive time traffic ), more forgiving, more charitable, etc.

I wasn’t aware we should fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Good to know! Is it a in not to? Also, is it a sin to eat meat on friday?

 

[garn9173]

I wasn’t aware we should fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Good to know! Is it a in not to? Also, is it a sin to eat meat on friday?

Only one “full meal” on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday and two small meals in between with no snacking throughout the day. Example this past Wednesday, I had an egg sandwhich for breakfast and a catfish fillet & fries for supper following Ash Wednesday Mass. If you have medical issues and/or pregnant, you are exempted from fasting

I would consult with your RCIA coordinator or Priest regarding if it’s a sin to eat meat on Friday’s during Lent. I’m a Catholic “revert” (born Catholic, drifted away from the Church and returned to the Church last Summer), the no meat on Friday’s during Lent will be a challenge for me. It’s “one Friday at a time for me”, made it through yesterday meatless

 

[Baggy65]

I gave up pop for lent which is tough for me because I don’t drink cofee. I have used Diet Coke as my afternoon pick-me-up and I have been missing it for just a few short days.

 

[Saintlucy]

Hey, I’m a Protestant preparing to become Catholic (praise God!). Anyway, I know it’s a common custom among Catholics to abstain from something during Lent. Even though I’m not yet Catholic, I still want to do this. Any suggestions on what to fast/abstain from? Should it be something I really enjoy? Also, when is it that we are not allowed to eat meat? God bless!

-Gregorian12

Best wishes to you on your conversion. As the others have said, you don’t have to give anything up for Lent but it is a good way to concentrate your mind on this penitential season and on the Passion and Death of our Lord.

Ash Wednesday and Good Fridays are days of fasting AND abstinence from meat and Catholics are bound by abstinence from the age of 14 and fasting and abstinence from the age of 18 until the beginning of their 60th year. Obviously if you are a vegetarian you would give up something else. In the UK we are bound to abstain on all the Fridays of the year unless they are a Solemnity. The fast is dispensed with if you are sick or do very physical work etc.

I always give up chocolate and really sweet things for Lent (you can have some on Sundays, though, as every Sunday is known as a “Little Easter” and another good thing is that you can shed a few pounds too.

 

[CatholicZ09]

You only have to both fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain on all the Fridays of Lent. It is a traditional practice; however, to give something up for Lent that has become a big part of your life. I gave up coffee and Facebook (it’s killing me!), but every time I think about my lack of both, I think of how Christ suffered in the desert for forty days and forty nights. Many people don’t give something up, but they take on something extra such as going to Confession more often, going to daily Mass, praying more, etc. I think that’s a great practice.

Welcome home to the Catholic Church!

 

[mattkubes]

OR journey through the desert with our Lord for 40 days! Figuratively, of course.

Before the current revisions in the 1983 Code, Catholics would fast every day of Lent except Sundays, eat no meat on Friday and Saturday, and meat only at the main meal on Monday-Thursday. It’s optional under the current law, but fasting has always been an important part of our Faith, and it helps connect us to those who have gone before us and kept the Faith.

 

[Paul_theApostle]

Just a few questions-

With the fasting of Ash W.,Good Fri,and Fri in lent,are we to fast from dairy products also,like eggs,milk etc?

Can we eat fish or chicken on the Fridays in lent?

From the post above i read that its optional to fast more then what the church has ruled out for us,i was wondering if there are any Catholics out there or religous people who may fast for the whole of lent or anything more then the usual days of Ash wed or Good friday?

Ive heard non Catholics say that Catholics dont fast or they eat fish on Good Fri and that is how they fast,say compared to the Orthodox who have lots of fasting seasons,and fasting for the whole of lent and advent which all of them must do except if your sick.

 

[Saintlucy]

Just a few questions-

With the fasting of Ash W.,Good Fri,and Fri in lent,are we to fast from dairy products also,like eggs,milk etc?

Can we eat fish or chicken on the Fridays in lent?

From the post above i read that its optional to fast more then what the church has ruled out for us,i was wondering if there are any Catholics out there or religous people who may fast for the whole of lent or anything more then the usual days of Ash wed or Good friday?

Ive heard non Catholics say that Catholics dont fast or they eat fish on Good Fri and that is how they fast,say compared to the Orthodox who have lots of fasting seasons,and fasting for the whole of lent and advent which all of them must do except if your sick.

Chicken and all poultry is meat but you can have dairy products and eggs.

Anyone is allowed to fast every day if they like. I’m not sure if this is a good idea and it would be best to check with a doctor first. Catholics are BOUND to fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain on the Fridays in Lent.