Question about fasting ?

[Vince85]

Is there any church teaching about fasting ? What is considered a fast ? For exsample lets say you want to fast on any given day , meaning a 24 hour period. Lets say its for ash wedsday or any day in which you decide to fast. Is there a church teaching on how many meals in a 24 period that you have to obstain from in order for it to be considered a fast ?

 

[thistle]

Is there any church teaching about fasting ? What is considered a fast ? For exsample lets say you want to fast on any given day , meaning a 24 hour period. Lets say its for ash wedsday or any day in which you decide to fast. Is there a church teaching on how many meals in a 24 period that you have to obstain from in order for it to be considered a fast ?

Fasting is only required two days in a year and they are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
That means you can eat one normal meal plus two small meals that together are not more than one normal meal.

 

[Trishie]

From the Code of Canon Law
Days of Penance

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

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.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

From the **Catechism of the Catholic Church**, precepts of the Church:

"2043 The fourth precept ("You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.85 "

Fr. William J. Cogan explains in more detail:

freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1887949/posts
The priest explains the requirements with the additional comment

"According to the “new” norms, fasting and abstinence are only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, Canon Law has never changed the requirement to abstain on all Fridays. One may substitute an act of mercy or some other form of penance on Fridays throughout the year."