Meals during lent

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I just want to make sure I have it right, because this is pretty much my first time doing lent.

So, it’s two small meals and one big meal with no snacking everyday, and absolutely no meat at all every Friday until Easter, right?
 
correct, but there’s one more thing, during partial abstinence days(every day except Fridays, and ash Wednesday) you can only have meat with one meal, if you choose to at all anyways, cause we don’t have to eat meat at all,

i have also read in an older book that when we do have meat on days of partial abstinence, that we cannot have fish also in that same meal, but that was from 1899, and is probably no longer a rule, although i really don’t know…but the church doesn’t really make rules very clear other than the normal stuff we already know, if there are any other rules at all, i dunno, but we are free to do lent in the old way or not, although you can’t really say there is a “new” way, because the “new” way is merely the old way stripped down to the bare essentials,
 
kbwall said:
I just want to make sure I have it right, because this is pretty much my first time doing lent.

So, it’s two small meals and one big meal with no snacking everyday, and absolutely no meat at all every Friday until Easter, right?
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Actually, it is two small meals and one ‘regular’ meal (all meatless) on two days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This would be fasting (the two small meals and one regular meal, no snacking but liquids are allowed between) as well as abstinence. In the Latin rite in the U.S. there are (usually) only two fast days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, no meat at all every Friday until Easter, which is the ‘abstinence’ part (and the universal norm of the church is all Fridays, Lent and non-Lent, with the U.S. Catholic Bishops having an ‘indult’ from 1965 in which non-Lent Fridays may CONTINUE to be meatless, OR another penance MAY be chosen, but there is no penalty of sin according to the current interpretation of that document if non-Lent Fridays have no 'penance practice).

The best thing I can recommend for you is to go to your diocese web site.

For example in the diocese of Richmond, VA, the web site lists the Lenten requirements as set by our bishop. I would imagine most bishops would have the same or similar, but that would be the best bet.

If you’re not sure what your diocese is, Google your city and state ( for example, “Macon, GA” and “catholic diocese”. In this example, it came up “Savannah.” Then go to the Catholic diocese of Savannah, GA and search for “lenten requirements”.
 
kbwall said:
I just want to make sure I have it right, because this is pretty much my first time doing lent.

So, it’s two small meals and one big meal with no snacking everyday, and absolutely no meat at all every Friday until Easter, right?
Click to expand...
The Church in the Latin rite only requires fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Not eating meat (abstinence) is required on Ash Wednesday and every Friday until Easter.
 
EmeraldWings said:
correct, but there’s one more thing, during partial abstinence days(every day except Fridays, and ash Wednesday) you can only have meat with one meal, if you choose to at all anyways, cause we don’t have to eat meat at all,

i have also read in an older book that when we do have meat on days of partial abstinence, that we cannot have fish also in that same meal, but that was from 1899, and is probably no longer a rule, although i really don’t know…but the church doesn’t really make rules very clear other than the normal stuff we already know, if there are any other rules at all, i dunno, but we are free to do lent in the old way or not, although you can’t really say there is a “new” way, because the “new” way is merely the old way stripped down to the bare essentials,
Click to expand...
Emerald, while I know (and try to follow) the traditional ways (Wed, Friday, Saturday abstinence and daily fast through Lent) this question was asked on the Apologetics forum and most people follow the more modern (not modernist) ways.

And those do not have partial abstinence, have only two fast days, and only the Fridays of Lent for abstinence.

Considering our OP is new, wouldn’t it be best for him or her to start out with the current ‘bare bones’ requirements and then, as he/she matures in the faith, to consider the more rigorous traditions?
 
Tantum_ergo said:
Actually, it is two small meals and one ‘regular’ meal (all meatless) on two days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This would be fasting (the two small meals and one regular meal, no snacking but liquids are allowed between) as well as abstinence. In the Latin rite in the U.S. there are (usually) only two fast days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, no meat at all every Friday until Easter, which is the ‘abstinence’ part (and the universal norm of the church is all Fridays, Lent and non-Lent, with the U.S. Catholic Bishops having an ‘indult’ from 1965 in which non-Lent Fridays may CONTINUE to be meatless, OR another penance MAY be chosen, but there is no penalty of sin according to the current interpretation of that document if non-Lent Fridays have no 'penance practice).

The best thing I can recommend for you is to go to your diocese web site.

For example in the diocese of Richmond, VA, the web site lists the Lenten requirements as set by our bishop. I would imagine most bishops would have the same or similar, but that would be the best bet.

If you’re not sure what your diocese is, Google your city and state ( for example, “Macon, GA” and “catholic diocese”. In this example, it came up “Savannah.” Then go to the Catholic diocese of Savannah, GA and search for “lenten requirements”.
Click to expand...
Wait, so I can just eat regularly during lent when it’s not Friday or Ash Wednesday?
 
kbwall said:
Wait, so I can just eat regularly during lent when it’s not Friday or Ash Wednesday?
Click to expand...
That is the current state in my diocese (Richmond VA) per the guidelines of the bishop. Here is what he says:
REGULATIONS FOR FAST AND ABSTINENCE
Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all 18 years of age and
older, who have not yet celebrated their 59th birthday. On a fast day one full meal is
allowed. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according 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 juices, are allowed.
Abstinence is observed by all 14 years of age and older. On days of abstinence no meat is
allowed. Note that when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does
not oblige. Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday are days of
abstinence.
Note: If a person is unable to observe the above regulations due to ill health or other
serious reasons, other suitable forms of self-denial are encouraged.
Fasting, almsgiving, and prayer are the three traditional disciplines of Lent
 
adrift said:
:yup:
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Yes. Now, that being said, this is the ‘minimum’ requirement. One is free to do ‘more’ and (traditionally speaking) in earlier times Catholics did do more. (Of course, they also lived shorter lives and had a lot less in material goods too.) However, one need not go completely overboard and endanger one’s health thinking that if it is good to fast one day one should fast ALL days, or that meals should be nothing but bread and water every day. Neither should one think that because one’s ‘normal’ meal is a 3 course banquet that this means that one can eat that banquet on a fast day!

Traditional Catholics may (and many do) adhere to an older fast tradition, more similar to that of the modern Orthodox, in which all days of Lent are fast and/or abstinence, and not only meat but milk, eggs, butter etc. are eschewed. But this is not required under the guidelines of the U.S. bishops (at least not in any diocese I have lived in or checked out!) Still, those Catholics who adhere to that stricter older fast are (usually) doing so in a fine spirit of penance. Provided they do not think ‘modern’ Catholics are slackers and wimps, and modern Catholics do not think the traditionalists are crazy oldfashioned fools, but both love and respect each other and each tries to offer penance to God from love, everything is fine.
 
This will be my first Lent as well. All my fridays are meatless and the wednesdays will be the same too. Actually, if possible, i will try to eat as less meat as possible during the entire time (3.9 to 4.25).

And for sacrifice: well…no more coca cola for me and also try to change my way of thinking, so i can live a better life and avoid sinning so much.
 
I’m so confused , so we can’t snack or eat anything else besides 1 meal and liquids on friday??? What if we need to for energy , etc. Is it a mortal sin if you decided to eat snacks, but still not consume meat? And is it OK to eat fish?
 
HNA444 said:
I’m so confused , so we can’t snack or eat anything else besides 1 meal and liquids on friday??? What if we need to for energy , etc. Is it a mortal sin if you decided to eat snacks, but still not consume meat? And is it OK to eat fish?
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Fasting is only required on Ash Wednesday…which is this week…and Good Friday. On those 2 days, you basically eat a snack for breakfast and lunch and then eat a normal dinner, but NO MEAT!!!

On ALL FRIDAYS of Lent, we abstain from eatting meat. Fish and seafood in general is okay.

You should also think of a daily sacrafice that you can make during lent. Like giving up Coffee, or Soda or desserts. I usually do a material sacrafice - this year it is NO SODA - and a spiritual goal as well. I am working on patience and tolerance.
 
HNA444 said:
I’m so confused , so we can’t snack or eat anything else besides 1 meal and liquids on friday??? What if we need to for energy , etc. Is it a mortal sin if you decided to eat snacks, but still not consume meat? And is it OK to eat fish?
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Fasting: One full meal plus two small meals with nothing in between except liquids, which may include juice or milk.

These are the rules for ***two days only ***- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Abstinence: Ash Wednesday and all Fridays are meatless. You may eat fish on meatless days. That’s it. Way easier than people think.

You are always free to do more, but there is no sin in doing the bare minimum.
 
Could you please define ‘small meal’?

Say for instace, I were to have cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch and then something big for dinner, would that be acceptable? Or would lunch and breakfast have to be smaller than that? I guess the question I’m asking is; how small is “small”?
 
kbwall said:
Could you please define ‘small meal’?

Say for instace, I were to have cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch and then something big for dinner, would that be acceptable? Or would lunch and breakfast have to be smaller than that? I guess the question I’m asking is; how small is “small”?
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My personal opinion, which probably has no real meaning to anybody but me…😉

But if you normally eat cereal for breakfast, than eating the same amount of it would not really be fasting, same for lunch.

One piece of dry toast for breakfast and maybe a 1/2 cup of soup broth with a couple of crackers or one piece of bread for lunch if you need something.

Of course if you normally have a eggs, toast, cereal, pancakes etc. then maybe your cereal would be fasting…lol

I think it’s going to be different for all of us but to me fasting, is really that…fasting. The small meals are acceptable, but to really fast from food would mean eating nothing and just sticking to clear fluids and when you are feeling those hunger pains, offer it up to our Lord and pray for lost souls:-)
 
kbwall said:
Could you please define ‘small meal’?

Say for instace, I were to have cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch and then something big for dinner, would that be acceptable? Or would lunch and breakfast have to be smaller than that? I guess the question I’m asking is; how small is “small”?
Click to expand...
My personal opinion, which probably has no real meaning to anybody but me…😉

But if you normally eat cereal for breakfast, than eating the same amount of it would not really be fasting, same for lunch.

One piece of dry toast for breakfast and maybe a 1/2 cup of soup broth with a couple of crackers or one piece of bread for lunch if you need something.

Of course if you normally have a eggs, toast, cereal, pancakes etc. then maybe your cereal would be fasting…lol

I think it’s going to be different for all of us but to me fasting, is really that…fasting. The small meals are acceptable, but to really fast from food would mean eating nothing and just sticking to clear fluids.
 
Tantum_ergo said:
Emerald, while I know (and try to follow) the traditional ways (Wed, Friday, Saturday abstinence and daily fast through Lent) this question was asked on the Apologetics forum and most people follow the more modern (not modernist) ways.

And those do not have partial abstinence, have only two fast days, and only the Fridays of Lent for abstinence.

Considering our OP is new, wouldn’t it be best for him or her to start out with the current ‘bare bones’ requirements and then, as he/she matures in the faith, to consider the more rigorous traditions?
Click to expand...
well sure, if that’s what they want, i was under the impression they wanted to do more, but as i said, we are free to do it the old way or not,
although in my opinion, it’s hardly “rigorous” to observe the daily fasting, as that part(fasting and abstinence) are only the means of getting ourselves prepared for what is really “rigorous”,
fasting and abstinence are a good and beneficial part of lent yes, but they are not the only part and not even the most important, but in the OP’s case, they are perfect for starting out,
while on the other hand, doing fasting and abstinence only 2 times during lent, that will not do much,
although don’t get me wrong, anyone is free to do it that way and it’s not useless or anything, it does do you good, but it is really a practice for younger Catholics(or spiritually younger) and as we grow spiritually, lent should go beyond those exterior practices, and move on to what they are meant to help us with, which is to turn our minds and hearts to God, think of our sins and how they offend God, and what we can do to make reparation and grow in our virtues, and of course the main idea of fasting and abstinence is to make the body subject to the spirit, so it really is good, but without the other half it doesn’t get us very far spiritually.

but i do agree, if the OP is just starting out, then they should start small, but if i could just make a suggestion, instead of doing the bare minimum(only 2 days) why not pick one or two days out of each week to fast? or however many you think you can do without getting overwhelmed,
it’s just a suggestion, and i must say, i am sorry for mentioning the traditional way without mentioning that it’s not necessary at all, but i think lent is a wonderful opportunity for us to grow spiritually, and i try to encourage a more full practice of lent, simply because it is so good for us.

ok, and also sorry to the OP for making that confusing, take care
 
Hi,

I think the fasting, and abstinence rules are made keeping cultural aspects in mind at least in our times.

I grew up in Syro Malabar Catholic rite and for us Fasting means No meals except the dinner before going to bed. Of course water or some coffee is allowed 🙂 But these days people have a light meal ! But at home it is still in the old style. Fasting every Friday is not compulsory but a great way to grow more in piety and a sign that we are growing indeed. But on Good Friday an Absolute no no to any meals till dinner and you go to bed with a very modest meal. I guess i am sounding so strict… this is the way it is practiced in my catholic circle at least.

And about the abstinence, again here in my part of the world no meat, no fish and no eggs during lent. It is also because the concept of non-vegetarian food is different from west and east! Here there are Catholics who even avoid milk and milk products. And it is not looked at as extreme or rigorous !

Though church has laid down some guidelines to educate people about the practices during lent we have to do maximum we can. We have to avoid what we like most and do it for the Love of Christ and as a sacrifice. Thats it, coupled with stations of the cross on Fridays and adoration etc!

Joe
 
I am surprised so many think they will drop dead or be unable to walk up a flight of stairs from fasting…

At my church we do a 21 day fast at the beginning of each year which just includes juices and water. No solid food is eaten at all the entire 21 days. After 4 or 5 days your stomach stops getting the “hungry” cramps and you get much energy from your body not having to use so much energy to process solids. A large number of the people in our church participate.

If you just had 1 meal a day you would have more than enough energy, you will be just fine to avoid 2 small snacks if many others all around the world get through multi day fasts on only juice and water while continuing in their normal daily tasks.

If you feel any hunger or anxiety from missing snacking through the day or eating a big meal then it is all mental. Your body is just used to consuming large volumes of food and by disciplining it by ignoring hunger pangs they will eventually stop.

My pastor does a juice and water fast every year for 40 days straight and fasts everything but water alone 1 day per week and 3 days straight Once a month. Many from the congregation follow these same practices through the year. They all live, breathe, and go to work just fine without problems. My church has followed a schedule like this for over 20 years, no deaths or illnesses. You actually feel amazing when all the toxins leave your body over the first 5 to seven day period of just being on water alone or juice and water.

Why don’t you try a 24 hour fast of only water and nothing else in honor of God, to show devotion to Him and to see that you can do it just fine and grow in the Holy Spirit much from the experience.
 
kbwall said:
Could you please define ‘small meal’?

Say for instace, I were to have cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch and then something big for dinner, would that be acceptable? Or would lunch and breakfast have to be smaller than that? I guess the question I’m asking is; how small is “small”?
Click to expand...
Small enough so that you feel hungry during the day.

You don’t have to go to extremes, but you should eat little enough that you notice your hunger.
 
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