Lenten Rules - What are the Basics?

[ConservativeOne]

I see many discussions about giving something up for Lent but what are the basic Church fast / abstinence / age requirement rules regarding Lent? We’ve (I’ve) gotten so confused between old and newer rules - that I woke up this morning questioning myself.

 

[mswood]

These are the rules about days of fast and abstinence that my Parish put in last weeks bulletin:

The Lenten regulations regarding fast and abstinence are as follows:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.
All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence only. Church law
binds as follows:
The Law of Abstinence (not eating meat) obliges those
who have completed their 14th year.
The Law of Fast (only one full meal each day, nothing
between meals) obliges those who have
completed their 18th year until the beginning
of their 60th year.

 

[Orate_Fratres]

This is copied directly from a flyer from my parish:

Traditional Laws of Fast & Abstinence

1. Abstinence applies to all from their seventh birthday onward, and is of two kinds:

• Complete abstinence, which forbids the eating of meat, and soup or gravy made from meat.
• Partial abstinence, which permits meat, and soup or gravy made from meat, to be eaten only once a day, at the principal meal.

1. Fasting is for those from ages 18 to 59. On days of Fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other small meals without meat, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken in accordance to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
2. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, a parish priest or confessor should be consulted.
3. There is no obligation for Fast or Abstinence on a Holy Day of Obligation, even though it may fall on a Friday.
4. The Traditional Penitential days are:

• Complete abstinence on all Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, the Vigil of the Assumption, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• Partial abstinence on Ember Wednesdays, Ember Saturdays, and the Vigil of Pentecost.
• Fasting is on the weekdays of Lent, Ember Days, the Vigil of Pentecost, the Vigil of the Assumption, and the Vigil of Christmas.
• The Fast and Abstinence for the Vigil of Christmas (Dec. 24) may instead be observed on Dec. 23.

====

Current Laws of Fast and Abstinence

1. Abstinence applies to all from their fourteenth birthday. On days of abstinence, no meat is allowed.
2. Fasting binds all over 18 and under 59 years of age. On days of Fast, one full meal is allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken in accordance to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.
3. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, a parish priest or confessor should be consulted.
4. There is no obligation for Fast or Abstinence on a Holy Day of Obligation, even though it may fall on a Friday.
5. Current required Penitential days are:

• Ash Wednesday is a day of Fast and Abstinence.
• All Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.
• Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence.

===
These current regulations bind all Catholics of the Latin Rite. However, a Catholic may, if he wishes, observe the traditional regulations in a spirit of penance, mortification, and reparation. But we must always remember that the Church today has granted more freedom to Catholics to choose exactly how they will observe the Lenten season of penance. Although fasting is highly recommended, as it always has been, we must remember that the spirit of Lent is not one of pharisaical observance, but of true penance and reparation for our sins, and a fast done in a spirit of pride is an abomination to the Lord. (Is. 58:3-9, Mt. 6:16-21)

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .

1. There is no obligation for Fast or Abstinence on a Holy Day of Obligation, even though it may fall on a Friday.

. . )

Actually Canon Law states the obligation is waived on any solemnity.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Note that the Feast of St Joseph [March 19] and the Feast of the Annunciation are solemnities, though they are not days of obligation in the U.S. If they fall on a Friday, other than Good Friday, the requirement for abstinence is suspended.

If the Annunciation falls in the week before or after Easter it is transferred to the Monday of the second week of Easter; so it cannot conflict with Good Friday.

If Saint Joseph’s day falls in Holy Week it is similarly transferred. [Some one started the rumor that if it falls on Good Friday Lent is terminated at that point. Note that earliest possible date for Easter is March 22. ]