re:Fasting ( bread and water only?)

[lag]

I have read and heard different directions on fasting. Some say strict bread and water starting form the last meal you ate the night before.
Others say any fluid is ok as long as it is not a meal like a milk shake. Coffee ok? Crystal light?
Yet others say two small meals for breakfast and lunch. The amount of both must not be greater than one full meal. Can one eat a meal bar and divide it it two for breakfast and lunch?
What does the church say?

 

[paramedicgirl]

I have read and heard different directions on fasting.  Some say strict bread and water starting form the last meal you ate the night before.
Others say any fluid is ok as long as it is not a meal like a milk shake.  Coffee ok?  Crystal light?
Yet others say two small meals for breakfast and lunch.  The amount of both must not be greater than one full meal.  Can one eat a meal bar and divide it it two for breakfast and lunch?

What does the church say?
[/quote]

Current Church law says that Good Friday and Ash Wednesday are the major days for fasting in general for those baptized Catholics who have reached the age 18 and are not yet 60. General canon law says that all Fridays are days of abstinence – no meat – but if you want to eat meat, you should substitute some other form of penance. (Abstinence is for those aged 14 & over).

A fast day is day in which only one full meal is allowed, but in the morning and evening some food may be taken, depending on local custom. The one full meal can be taken at either noon or evening. No food should be taken between meals. Non- nourishing drinks are permitted (Black tea & coffee, flavoured waters, etc.)

Fasting on bread & water is a private devotion. Most people who do this choose either Wednesday’s & Fridays or just Fridays, and start from midnight to the following midnight. They eat small amounts of a whole grain bread and some drink tea or coffee, while others do not permit themselves to drink anything but water.