What are the exact dates of required Fasting?

[Marina14]

One of the Precepts of the Church is to keep all of the days of Fasting…which are when officially? I can’t find the specific dates in the CCC or any where else for that matter.

 

[Tietjen]

One of the Precepts of the Church is to keep all of the days of Fasting…which are when officially? I can’t find the specific dates in the CCC or any where else for that matter.

In the United States of America all the days of Lent; the Fridays of Advent (generally); the Ember Days; the vigils of Christmas and Pentecost, as well as those (14 Aug.) of the Assumption; (31 Oct.) of All Saints, are now fasting days. {{ From the Catholic Encyclopedia - Fast. }}

 

[Joannm]

In the United States of America all the days of Lent; the Fridays of Advent (generally); the Ember Days; the vigils of Christmas and Pentecost, as well as those (14 Aug.) of the Assumption; (31 Oct.) of All Saints, are now fasting days. {{ From the Catholic Encyclopedia - Fast. }}}

You are quoting the Catholic Encyclopedia which is quite dated. The official days of fasting, are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On those days we are to eat only one full meal but can have two smaller ones plus no meat. Fridays during Lent are days of abstinance, which means no meat. Other Fridays are still considered days of penance but there is no longer a specific rule to abstain from meat. The other days no longer carry an obligation to fast or abstain from meat.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Abstaining from meat is a form of fasting. I have learned, through watching EWTN… that all Friday’s of the year (not just during Lent)… it is still recommended that we abstain from meat. However, we can dispense with this… IF… we accomplish some work of mercy, in its place (caring for the elderly, visiting the sick or imprisoned, etc.).

According to the experts at EWTN… this rule never changed… but was misinterpreted by many, after Vatican II. Most Catholics (in the U.S., at least) just assume that we no longer have to abstain on Fridays, because that is what we were taught… as kids. But apparently, it’s not quite correct. The facts were either omitted… or not emphasized, that we must perform some work of mercy in its place. I’m sure that much more on the subject can be found at their question and answer site. EWTN.com. Hope this helps.

 

[Andruschak]

One of the Precepts of the Church is to keep all of the days of Fasting…which are when officially? I can’t find the specific dates in the CCC or any where else for that matter.

My copy of OUTLINES OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH, published by the Leaflet Missal Company, copyright (c) 2000 states that, in the USA, the only required days for fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Of course, if you want to fast more then that, for good reasons, go ahead. Just make sure it is not Spiritual Pride and a desire to be admired, or an excuse to look down on those who fast only the prescribed two days a year. As Jesus kept pointing out, penance done to impress others becomes its own reward.

My own OPINION (not endorsed by my cats) is that fasting more then the required two days should be talked out with a Priest or Spiritual Directer, to make sure your motives are true.

In my case, at age 63, I also got a medical checkup from my Physician, and guidelines to follow to make sure I do not damage my health. As a 1221 penitent, I have been fasting since 12 November, which fast ends tomorrow. My cats are totally unimpressed by my efforts, and that’s the way it should be

I follow the Constitutions of the Confraternity of Penitents, which clearly states that “The amont of food eaten on fast days will be particular to the individual penitent who should feel hungry but not debilitated, drowsey, or ill. The penitent should consult a spiritual director, confessor, or, if needed, a physician regarding the amount of food to be eaten.”

 

[Tietjen]

You are quoting the Catholic Encyclopedia which is quite dated. The official days of fasting, are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On those days we are to eat only one full meal but can have two smaller ones plus no meat. Fridays during Lent are days of abstinance, which means no meat. Other Fridays are still considered days of penance but there is no longer a specific rule to abstain from meat. The other days no longer carry an obligation to fast or abstain from meat.

The OP requested something official from the Church regarding fasting. I had searched for something official, yet was only able to come up with the article found in the Catholic Encyclopedia. Technically, you are probably correct, in saying that Catholics are only “required” to observe a fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; however, I think that you will agree that throughout Church history (and even today) we are called to fast more than these minimums. Of course, in today’s society, that is almost unheard of; however, it was/is hardly the intent of the Church to have its laity go on believing that fasting is only meant to be done twice a year. In addition to the two times mentioned above, we are to likewise fast a minimum of 1 hour prior to receiving Holy Communion. Besides this, we are encouraged to fast for the many various petitions we wish to offer to God. As another poster has correctly stated, we are to fast privately and not for the world to see. Moreover, as far as using “quite dated” material as a source for drawing closer to God, if one dismisses “dated” material concerning Church teachings simply because it is no longer modern, then one might be able to dismiss sacred Scripture as it is some 2000 years dated. So, in conclusion, I suppose what I am saying is that we should be careful as to what we dismiss based on the age of the teaching and that we should not write off fasting as some old fashion form of penance. Observe required days of fasting, but do not think for an instant that fasting along with prayer is not still pleasing to God.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

CODE OF CANON LAW

CHAPTER II.
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.

 

[Andruschak]

I follow the Constitutions of the Confraternity of Penitents, which clearly states that “The amont of food eaten on fast days will be particular to the individual penitent who should feel hungry but not debilitated, drowsey, or ill. The penitent should consult a spiritual director, confessor, or, if needed, a physician regarding the amount of food to be eaten.”

Website of the Confraternity of Penitents

penitents.org