Proper time span for Good Friday fast

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dei_gratia15

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I’ve heard 2 different versions of this:
  1. Fast from midnight to midnight on Friday
  2. Fast starting at midnight Friday up until Saturday afternoon near the time of the vigil mass
Which one is correct? I don’t want to mess this up but I have to take a really important exam for my graduate studies Saturday morning that’s going to last 5+ hours and I’m not sure I’ll be able to focus during it if I’ve been fasting for a day and a half. Fasting does’t physically affect me too much, but mentally it drains me fast so this worries me.

I really don’t want to commit a sin on the day of the Easter vigil so thanks alot for your help!
 
dei_gratia15 said:
I’ve heard 2 different versions of this:
  1. Fast from midnight to midnight on Friday
  2. Fast starting at midnight Friday up until Saturday afternoon near the time of the vigil mass
Which one is correct? I don’t want to mess this up but I have to take a really important exam for my graduate studies Saturday morning that’s going to last 5+ hours and I’m not sure I’ll be able to focus during it if I’ve been fasting for a day and a half. Fasting does’t physically affect me too much, but mentally it drains me fast so this worries me.

I really don’t want to commit a sin on the day of the Easter vigil so thanks alot for your help!
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Option 1 is correct.
 
Remember what the requirements for the fast are:
Fasting The law of fasting requires a Catholic from the 18th Birthday [Canon 97] to the 59th Birthday * to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together would not exceed the main meal in quantity*. Such fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The fast is broken by eating between meals and by drinks which could be considered food (milk shakes, but not milk). Alcoholic beverages do not break the fast; however, they seem contrary to the spirit of doing penance.
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If it’s needed you may take collations or smaller meals that don’t equal to the amount of food of the main meal
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dei_gratia15 said:
I’ve heard 2 different versions of this:
  1. Fast from midnight to midnight on Friday
  2. Fast starting at midnight Friday up until Saturday afternoon near the time of the vigil mass
Which one is correct? I don’t want to mess this up but I have to take a really important exam for my graduate studies Saturday morning that’s going to last 5+ hours and I’m not sure I’ll be able to focus during it if I’ve been fasting for a day and a half. Fasting does’t physically affect me too much, but mentally it drains me fast so this worries me.

I really don’t want to commit a sin on the day of the Easter vigil so thanks alot for your help!
Click to expand...
You fast on Friday. That means you definitely can eat before your exam on Saturday.
 
We are only REQUIRED to fast and abstain from meat on Good Friday.

It is also optional, and laudable, to continue the fast on Holy Saturday.
 
Stephen_says said:
We are only REQUIRED to fast and abstain from meat on Good Friday.

It is also optional, and laudable, to continue the fast on Holy Saturday.
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Right. You can continue the fast on Holy Saturday and it would be an opportunity for grace that fasting gives. If you have an intense exam, that would probably be reason to not do that this year. :o
 
I agree that the fast only is required for Friday. As for the optional fast on Holy Saturday, fasting is not supposed to interfere with necessary work.

“Necessary work” explicitly includes study and exams.

So if you feel like fasting on Holy Saturday, take your test first and make sure you’re nourished well for your necessary work; and then worry about fasting the rest of the day. 🙂

Good luck on your test. St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. John Bosco, pray for us!
 
Number one is correct.

The Church though recommends extending the fast til the Easter Vigil.
 
The required fast is from midnight to midnight on Friday only. Traditionally you would fast on Holy Saturday as well, but that is no longer required in the US.
 
And as mperdiguerra pointed out, the Church has a rather loose definition of fasting. It doesn’t require you to stay away from all food for the day. It basically requires that you skip one meal. You can do more, of course, But you’re not breaking the fast by having something to eat.
 
Digitonomy said:
I would be interested in the sources for these guidelines.
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Directory on Popular Piety
Holy Saturday
  1. “On Holy Saturday, the Church pauses at the Lord’s tomb, meditating his Passion and Death, his descent into Hell, and, with prayer and fasting, awaits his resurrection”
also PASCHALIS SOLLEMNITATIS

VI. HOLY SATURDAY
  1. On Holy Saturday the Church is, as it were, at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his passion and death, and on his descent into hell,[75] and awaiting his resurrection with prayer and fasting. It is highly recommended that on this day the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer be celebrated with the participation of the people (cf. n. 40).[76] Where this cannot be done, there should be some celebration of the Word of God, or some act of devotion suited to the mystery celebrated this day.
The fasting is traditional and is recommended. It is certainly not required.
 
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