What Does Fasting & Abstinence Mean? (Regarding Lent)

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Alex_H

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Hi, I am currently in the process of converting to the Catholic Church. I’m new to this so please forgive my questions.

*Fasting * – Does that mean not eating at all? Or does that mean not eating red meat?
*Fasting * – When am I supposed to fast? Is it just on Fridays, or every day, or every day except Sunday?
Abstinence– What am I supposed to abstain from? When should I abstain from it?

Also, am I supposed to “give up” something in addition to red meat?

I will call my church as soon as they open so I can get some clarification but if you want to answer, go ahead. 🙂
 
Fasting obliges all Catholics between 18-59. It means two small meals and one larger meal that does not equal the two small meals together. So, for example, you could eat scrambled eggs and a piece of toast with strawberry jam for breakfast, for lunch a bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich but for supper you could choose to only eat an apple or a small garden salad.

Abstinence means no meat (beef, pork, chicken) but FISH is allowed. This obliges all Catholics over 14.

Since i am over 18, today im probably eating tomato soup for lunch. Not sure about supper, but my breakfast will be a banana and a protein drink.
 
Alex_H said:
Hi, I am currently in the process of converting to the Catholic Church. I’m new to this so please forgive my questions.

*Fasting * – Does that mean not eating at all? Or does that mean not eating red meat?
*Fasting * – When am I supposed to fast? Is it just on Fridays, or every day, or every day except Sunday?
Abstinence– What am I supposed to abstain from? When should I abstain from it?

Also, am I supposed to “give up” something in addition to red meat?

I will call my church as soon as they open so I can get some clarification but if you want to answer, go ahead. 🙂
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Fasting is only required on two days a year - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and as the other poster said it means one normal meal plus two smaller meals that together do not exceed one normal meal.

Abstinence is not eating meat, meat being defined as follows:

MEAT. The flesh of animals and birds eaten by human beings, as understood in Church law. Its prohibition on days of abstinence and fast has a spiritual value, going back to the Old Testament and practiced since apostolic times. “The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat” (Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini, Norm III, 1).

Fasting and abstinence is required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstinence is also required on all other Fridays during Lent.
 
I know you are only asking about Lent, but wanted to be clear that abstinence from meat (or some other penitential act) is required on ALL Fridays of the year. It is only during Lent that the choice of a substitute to abstinence of meat is removed. And that depends on your country. Some countries have returned to the traditional practice requiring abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year.

I just wanted to mention it because people think about the 6 weeks of Lent, but forget the obligations for the other 46/47 Fridays of the year.
 
Here’s the guidelines from my diocese (Arlington) to include Fridays throughout the year.

arlingtondiocese.org/worship/worship_fasting.aspx

I have to admit, every year I get confused as to what a good example of a meal at lunch would be. Breakfast is not too problematic (yogurt, or a fruit), but by lunchtime I’m hungrier but I don’t want to eat too much (equaling a full meal). My wife is having a can of soup but I personally think this is a meal (am I wrong?). She normally has soup with a side of vegies and/or fruit, but she’s eliminating those.

By the way, welcome home, Alex. 🙂
 
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