Traditional Lent - Fasting & Abstinence

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Hello everybody. I’ve been tirelessly trying to find resources about the practices of Catholics during Lent prior to Vatican II, but I’m getting all sorts of mixed responses none of which are cited or sourced. I understand that the specifics of fasting and abstinence have changed a lot throughout the 2000 years of Catholicism, and even more so in the 20th century (even prior to Vatican II), but what I’m curious about is what the practice was JUST PRIOR to the council.

I already know that abstinence was practiced year round on Fridays, so what other days was abstinence practiced during Lent? Some have told me that every day but Sunday was a day of abstinence while others have told me only Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays were days of abstinence. Also, could you tell me what the significance of those particular days were?

Also, what about fasting? Was the method of fasting the same as it is today (i.e. one main meal and allowance of two smaller meals if necessary) or did fasting consist of only one meal with no smaller allowances? Furthermore, was fasting practiced only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as it is today or was it practiced every single day of Lent excepting Sundays (Again I’ve heard both accounts and don’t know which one is correct)? If only one meal was allowed, was there a particular time at which this meal was consumed (I know in the Middle Ages it was consumed at Vespers, and later on anytime after None)?

Thanks for all your help folks! 🙂
 
My suggestion would be to look in any good Roman Catholic missal. I have my 1962 Angelus Press missal right here and it lists all of the Fast & Abstinence rules for the USA, Canada and UK.

Prior to 1962, the length of time from the last meal to Communion was about 12 hours, as I recall. But my wife says there was an interim ruling for 3 hours.

Old age really is the pits. I Can’t Remember Stuff.
 
Fisheaters has a table of fasting and abstinence requirements for 1962 and now on this webpage which I believe to be accurate [except, see below], although it does not provide a source. According to that table, in 1962, Mondays through Thursdays during Lent were days of partial abstinence (meat permitted at main meal only), and the Fridays and Saturdays of Lent were days of total abstinence. Mondays through Saturdays were all fast days, with the method of fasting the same as it is today.

Whoever mentioned Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays as days of abstinence may have been thinking of Ember days. Four times a year, at or shortly before the start of each new season, the Latin Church observed three days of fast and abstinence. On Wednesday, because our Lord was betrayed on Wednesday. On Friday, because our Lord was crucified on Friday. On Saturday, because our Lord lay in the tomb on Saturday. Fisheaters seems to indicate that all three days were days of total abstinence, other websites, for example here, say that Wednesdays and Saturdays of Ember weeks were days of partial abstinence.
xixxvmcm85 said:
Hello everybody. I’ve been tirelessly trying to find resources about the practices of Catholics during Lent prior to Vatican II, but I’m getting all sorts of mixed responses none of which are cited or sourced. I understand that the specifics of fasting and abstinence have changed a lot throughout the 2000 years of Catholicism, and even more so in the 20th century (even prior to Vatican II), but what I’m curious about is what the practice was JUST PRIOR to the council.

I already know that abstinence was practiced year round on Fridays, so what other days was abstinence practiced during Lent? Some have told me that every day but Sunday was a day of abstinence while others have told me only Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays were days of abstinence. Also, could you tell me what the significance of those particular days were?

Also, what about fasting? Was the method of fasting the same as it is today (i.e. one main meal and allowance of two smaller meals if necessary) or did fasting consist of only one meal with no smaller allowances? Furthermore, was fasting practiced only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as it is today or was it practiced every single day of Lent excepting Sundays (Again I’ve heard both accounts and don’t know which one is correct)? If only one meal was allowed, was there a particular time at which this meal was consumed (I know in the Middle Ages it was consumed at Vespers, and later on anytime after None)?

Thanks for all your help folks! 🙂
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Rules for Fast for the United States - November 1958

Everyone between 21 and 59 years of age is bound to observe the law of fast. The days of fast are all the days in Lent, all days of partial abstinence except Sundays. On days of fast only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength may be taken according to each one’s need, but together they should not equal another full meal. Meat may be taken at the principal meal on a day of fast except on days of complete abstinence. Eating between meals is not permitted but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the law does not oblige. In doubt concerning fast or abstinence, consult your parish priest or confessor.

Rules of Abstinence

Everyone over 7 years of age is bound to observe the law of abstinence. Complete abstinence is to be observed on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday and the Vigils of the Immaculate Conception (December 7) and Christmas (December 24). On days of complete abstinence, meat and soup or gravy made from meat may not be used at all. Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays and the vigil of Pentecost (Saturday before). On days of partial abstinence, (which are all the days of Lent for those bound by the laws of fasting) which are not complete abstinence days or Sundays, meat and soup or gravy made from meat may be taken only once a day at the principal meal.
 
My Angelus missal has the same information as Malleus provided. Those were the regulations for the United States. It also lists the regulations that applied to the Latin Church in general, except where modified by local bishops’ conferences. Those are the regulations quoted by Fisheaters.com.
 
Here’s my two cents, from books dated 1923 and 1953. 🙂

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The Church Law of Abstinence and Fast
  1. The Law of Abstinence forbids the use of flesh meat and of the juice thereof (soup, etc.). Eggs, cheese, butter and seasonings of food are permitted. The Law of Fasting forbids more than one full meal a day, but does not forbid a small amount of food in the morning and in the evening.
  2. All Catholics seven years old and over are obliged to abstain. All Catholics from the completion of their twenty-first year to the beginning of their sixtieth year, unless lawfully excused, are bound to fast.
  3. Abstinence is prescribed every Friday, unless a holy-day falls thereon. Fasting and abstinence are prescribed in the United States on the Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent and Holy Saturday forenoon (on all other days of Lent fasting is prescribed and meat is allowed once a day), the Ember days, viz.: the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following the first Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, or Whitsunday, the 14th of September, and the third Sunday of Advent; the vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints and Christmas. There is no fast or abstinence if a vigil falls on a Sunday. Whenever meat is permitted, fish may be taken at the same meal. A dispensation is granted to the laboring classes and their families on all days of fast and abstinence except Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Wednesday in Holy Week, Holy Saturday forenoon, and the vigil of Christmas. When any member of such a family lawfully uses this privilege all the other members may avail themselves of it also; but those who fast may not eat more than once a day.
pp. 44-45 of “My Prayer-Book: Happiness in Goodness: Reflections, Counsels, Prayers, and Devotions” by Rev. F. X. Lasance. The introduction by Father Lasance is dated May 24, 1908; the Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D., Censor Librorum; the Imprimatur: Patrick J. Hayes, D.D., Archbishop of New York; New York, August 2, 1923.

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II. Fasting and Abstinence-Days

ABSTINENCE – Everyone over seven years of age is bound to observe the law of abstinence.

Complete abstinence is to be observed on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, the Vigils of the Assumption and Christmas, and on Holy Saturday morning. On days of complete abstinence meat, and soup or gravy made from meat, may not be used at all.

Partial abstinence is to be observed on Ember Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the Vigils of Pentecost and All Saints. On days of partial abstinence meat and soup or gravy made from meat made from meat may be taken only once a day at the principal meal.

FAST – Everyone over 21 and under 59 years of age is also bound to observe the law of fast. Fast days are the weekdays of Lent, Ember Days, Vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints and Christmas.

On days of fast only one full meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs; but together they should not equal another full meal.

Meat may be taken at the principal meal on a day of fast except on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, and the Vigils of the Assumption and Christmas.

Eating between meals is not permitted; but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.

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.

pp. 472-473 of “Saint Joseph Sunday Missal: A Simplified Arrangement of Praying the Mass on all Sundays and Feast Days with a Treasury of Prayers” ,edited by Rev. Hugo H. Hoever, S.O.Cist., Phd. The Nihil Obstat: John M. Fearns, S.T.D., Censor Librorum; the Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, D.D., Archbishop of New York; June 4, 1953.

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There’s also a table regarding Eucharistic Fast for the Laity from the 1953 book. If someone’s interested in that, I’d be happy to post that for you. 🙂
 
The post with the information from 1958 is correct, although I would make a slight correction that fast was also prescribed for the Vigils of Christmas and the Immaculate Conception (which were complete abstinence days).

The document is called “(Regulations) on Fast and Abstinence in the Dioceses of the United States of America” an you can probably find an English translation in a 1958 or 1959 American ecclesiastical or canonical periodical. The formula is substantially identical to the earlier one, as given in 1953 (previous post) and proposed in 1956 except that Holy Saturday is reckoned as the full day due to the new Easter Vigil, and fasting on the Vigil of the IC replaces fasting on the Vigil of the Assumption, according to a decree of the Congregation of the Council in 1957.

Also, although it is not fully relevant, the regulations given for 1953 and earlier did not bind on the whole United States. Due to the ecclesiastical history of the different Provinces, each often had their own different indults and legislation and the 1956/8 formula was among the first to go towards a uniform rule for all.
 
I still can’t nail down just what to observe on the feasts of St. Joseph and the Annunciation. I know that current law dispenses from abstinence for Joseph this year, but my Angelus Press missal notes that solemnities outside of Lent occasion this dispensation. Furthermore, no one ever seems to address fasting on these solemnities. My assumption would be that if no one mentions a relaxation I ought to presume that fasting still holds; on the other hand, fasting on a great feast like the Annunciation seems rather out of character. Any help on traditional guidelines?
 
Andreas,

Dom Gueranger’s “The Liturgical Year” mentions the feast days in relation to Lent, both in the East and West. . . but doesn’t give specifics as far as I know! Maddening, isn’t it?

Have you looked at Gueranger?

VC
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
I still can’t nail down just what to observe on the feasts of St. Joseph and the Annunciation. I know that current law dispenses from abstinence for Joseph this year, but my Angelus Press missal notes that solemnities outside of Lent occasion this dispensation. Furthermore, no one ever seems to address fasting on these solemnities. My assumption would be that if no one mentions a relaxation I ought to presume that fasting still holds; on the other hand, fasting on a great feast like the Annunciation seems rather out of character. Any help on traditional guidelines?
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Both St Joseph and the Annunication were “I Class” in 1962, and normally, (I can’t think of an exception, but there may well be), feasts that were considered “I Class” then (and still in the EF) are called “Solemnities” in the OF. I recall that St Patrick’s Day was an oddity in some places. In New York, and Boston, e.g., the bishop traditionally gave a dispensation. I don’t recall any such thing for St Joseph, but I don’t believe it was necessary anyway. By their nature, I Class Feasts (or Solemnities) are celebrations and are non-penatential. In other words, the Church considers them Feast Days.

FWIW, in the East and Orient, both days (depending on the Particular Church), are specifically excluded from the fast. And that is from time immemorial. It’s not a recent adaptation.
 
The two traditional calendars that I have for the year 2010 both have a fish for the Feast of St.Joseph indicating that abstinence is still observed.

Is this a mistake?
 
corsair said:
Prior to 1962, the length of time from the last meal to Communion was about 12 hours, as I recall. But my wife says there was an interim ruling for 3 hours.
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It was Pius XII in Sacram Communionem in 1958 where the Eucharistic fast was globally reduced to 3 hours.
 
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