When are we really being called to FAST?

[viktor_aleksndr]

I attended a Holy Mass today an it is about fasting and abstinence. The priest said in his homily that we are only called to do fasting and abstinence twice a year; that is, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But what about every friday of the year as stated in the canon law? The Canon Law called us Catholics to fast and abstain on all fridays of the year especially on Ash Wednsday and good Friday.

Can you make some comment on this? I think what he said is incomplete for we are also called to fast on all fridays of the year except on solemnities.

 

[Hawthorne]

You may want to phrase this in the ask an apologist thread to avoid error, but here is what I think is the situation.

In the universal Church, we are called to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. In the united states, this also applies, though we are allowed to substitute another suitable act of charity or penance instead, as dietary restrictions are not exactly always penitential, due to our wealth in the USA. (Lobster, anyone?)

We are called to do a charitable or penitential act each Friday in rememberance of the death of our Lord. We are not called to fast, though it would “count” here. To be clear, we are called to abstain, but can substitute.

Why this is not taught is beyond me.