Traditional Lenten Fast Practices: Meaning and Guidelines

Traditional Lenten fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps Christians grow closer to God through prayer, self-denial, and charity. In the Catholic Church, the principal rules are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday, while observing the season through the three pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting.

The meaning of traditional Lenten fasting

In the Catholic Church, fasting is a practice in self-discipline with a penitential focus. In the context of Lent, it refers to reducing food intake and limiting how many meals we have. Fasting is a spiritual exercise, and as such is primarily an action of the inner life. Authentic fasting draws us nearer to God and opens our hearts to receive his many gifts.

Fasting is also a sharp reminder that there are more important things in life than food. Authentic Christian fasting helps to release us from our attachments to the things of this world. It is often these worldly attachments that prevent us from becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. Fasting also serves as a reminder that everything in this world is passing and thus encourages us to consider life beyond death.

Try going without food for several hours and you will quickly realize how truly weak, fragile, and dependent we are. This self-knowledge strips away arrogance and fosters a loving acknowledgment of our utter dependence on God. Through the intentional sacrifice of Lent, we’re offered continual spiritual freedom from cultural insinuations associated with denial, fasting, and even “seasons.”

What’s offered to us in the message of Lent, not only the practice of observing it, is that we have a Savior who knows every struggle. And he is able to supply our needs. He is able to cleanse, renew, and show us the way to eternal life.

Why Lent lasts forty days

The sacred season of Lent, called the Great Fast by our eastern Catholic brethren, was instituted by the Apostles themselves as Dom Gueranger writes: The forty days’ fast, which we call Lent, is the Church’s preparation for Easter, and was instituted at the very commencement of Christianity.

Our blessed Lord Himself sanctioned it by fasting forty days and forty nights in the desert; and though He would not impose it on the world by an express commandment (which, in that case, could not have been open to the power of dispensation), yet He showed plainly enough, by His own example, that fasting, which God had so frequently ordered in the old Law, was to be also practiced by the children of the new…

The apostles, therefore, legislated for our weakness, by instituting, at the very commencement of the Christian Church, that the solemnity of Easter should be preceded by a universal fast; and it was only natural that they should have made this period of penance to consist of forty days, seeing that our divine Master had consecrated that number by His own fast.

It might be more accurate to say that there is the “forty day fast within Lent.” Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the time of Lent. But they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence in the Catholic rules of Lent.

The three pillars of Lent

Lent, founded upon the three pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving is the primary season of penance in the year and must be observed with the greatest strictness for the love of God who instituted this season for our healing. We are not called to do only one, but all three pillars to prepare our hearts for Christ on Easter.

Prayer

One of the main focuses of Lent is prayer. Praying through the Lenten season allows us to draw closer to our relationship with God and remembrance of what He has done for us. During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to practice self-control through fasting.

Dive into God's word in Scripture this Lent or pray the rosary with your family. Lent also has a focus on prayer and this thankfully is still seen by the many Catholics who gladly continue to pray the Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent, which has indulgences attached to them for those who meet the conditions.

The Stations of the Cross are celebrated publicly in each parish on Fridays during the Lenten season. Parishioners are urged to participate. In addition to this practice, praying the indulged prayer to the Cross each Friday in Lent should be something more Catholics rediscover.

Daily Masses during Lent are scheduled so as to facilitate the attendance and spiritual growth of the faithful. The faithful are urged to attend Mass on weekdays. Similarly, we would be remiss if we did not try to attend Holy Mass more often during this sacred season and, even for those days we cannot attend, read the prayers of the Missal since everyday of Lent has a proper Mass as Dom Gueranger points out.

Each feria of Lent has a proper Mass; whereas, in Advent, the Mass of the preceding Sunday is repeated during the week. This richness of the Lenten liturgy is a powerful means for our entering into the Church’s spirit, since she hereby brings before us, under so many forms, the sentiments suited to this holy time…

All this will provide us with most solid instruction; and as the selections from the Bible, which are each day brought before us, are not only some of the finest of the sacred volume, but are, moreover, singularly appropriate to Lent, their attentive perusal will be productive of a twofold advantage.

Fasting

Along with prayer and almsgiving, fasting is one of the three pillars of Lent. In a message for Lent in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI described these as “specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal.” A decade earlier, St. (Pope) John Paul II described Lent as a “commitment to a new life, inspired by Gospel values,” moving away from selfishness and drawing closer to the path Christ.

That path, according to Pope John Paul II, can be summarized in the words of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, with fasting consisting of moderation in food and lifestyle as “a sincere effort to remove from our hearts all that is the result of sin and inclines us to evil.”

Fasting means only one full meal a day may be taken. Two smaller meals may be eaten to maintain physical strength but together they should not equal another full meal in quantity. Snacking between meals is not permitted.

Almsgiving

During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on “almsgiving.” This means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2462).

Almsgiving refers to giving to the poor. By giving to the poor, we make reparation for sins as we see in the poor the person of Christ Himself. Though, while not strictly almsgiving, the giving of our time to visit the sick, the elderly, or those in prison also makes reparation for sin.

In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts-not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

Current Catholic fasting and abstinence guidelines

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence. This is a serious matter within Church law. Catholics ages 18-59 are obligated to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Everyone 18 or older, and under 59 years of age, is bound to fast (do with less) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (Canon 97). On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Lent fasting rules mean that only one full meatless 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. Eating between meals (snacking) is not permitted.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.

Abstinence from meat

Abstinence forbids the eating of meat or poultry. Those who have reached the age of 14 and older are obligated to abstain on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. Those who are not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are urged to join in the discipline of abstaining to the extent that they are able.

Everyone 14 years of age or older is bound to abstain (do without) from meat on Ash Wednesday. As well as, all the Fridays of Lent and Good Friday (Canon 1250 -1253). Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals), and shellfish are permitted in the rules for Catholic Lent.

Since serves fish instead of meat, your local church fish fry is a fine option for Fridays during Lent. Because the Lent season is one rooted in penance, a modest meal at your parish is probably a better option than a lavish seafood feast at a fine restaurant.

What about vegetarians?

One traditional Catholic sacrifice is giving up meat on Fridays during Lent, but if you or someone you know is a vegetarian, Fridays in Lent are an opportunity to make an alternative sacrifice. Some vegetarians might choose to give up sweets, coffee, or seasonings on Friday instead.

Here’s a counter-cultural statement for you: sacrifice and suffering are not always negative! The genius of Catholicism helps us make sense of these things…and teaches us that making sacrifices on purpose can have immense value.

Who is exempt from fasting?

Some exceptions apply in particular circumstances. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops indicates the following exceptions on its website: “Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.

In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.” Any act of penance that would seriously hinder one’s health or the health of others would be contrary to the will of God.

Children, adults with physical and mental illness, pregnant women and those nursing are all exempt. The USCCB stresses that “common sense should prevail” and that no one should jeopardize their health to fast.

Those who are not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able. Canon Law does mention that for young children not fasting, parents should still communicate the meaning and penance.

Traditional fasting practices in the history of the Church

The Lenten fast began under the Apostles themselves and was practiced in various forms. St. Augustine in the fourth century remarked, “Our fast at any other time is voluntary; but during Lent, we sin if we do not fast.”

At the time of St. Gregory the Great at the beginning of the 7th century, the fast was universally established to begin on what we know as Ash Wednesday. While the name “Ash Wednesday” was not given to the day until Pope Urban II in 1099, the day was known as the “Beginning of the Fast.”

Historical records further indicate that Lent was not a merely regional practice observed only in Rome. It was part of the universality of the Church. Catholic missionaries brought fasting, which is an integral part of the Faith, to every land they visited.

The ancient daily fast

The rules on fasting remained largely the same for hundreds of years. Food was to be taken once a day after sunset. By midnight, the fast resumed and was terminated only after the sun had once again set on the horizon.

But relaxations were to soon begin. By the eighth century, the time for the daily meal was moved to the time that the monks would pray the Office of None in the Divine Office. This office takes place around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

As a consequence of moving the meal up in the day, the practice of a collation was introduced. It was not until the ninth century, however, that less rigid laws of fasting were introduced.

It came about in 817 when the monks of the Benedictine order, who did much labor in the fields and on the farms, were allowed to take a little drink with a morsel of bread in the evening… Eventually the Church extended the new laws to the laity as well, and by the end of the medieval times they had become universal practice; everybody ate a little evening meal in addition to the main meal at noon.

Traditional abstinence from animal products

In 604, in a letter to St. Augustine of Canterbury, Pope St. Gregory the Great announced the form that abstinence would take on fast days. This form would last for almost a thousand years: “We abstain from flesh meat and from all things that come from flesh: milk, cheese, and eggs.”

When fasting was observed, abstinence was likewise always observed. Through the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, we can learn how Lent was practiced in his own time and attempt to willingly observe such practices in our own lives.

• Monday through Saturday were days of fasting.
• The meal was taken at mid-day and a collation was allowed at night, except on days of the black fast.
• All meat or animal products were prohibited throughout Lent.
• Abstinence from these foods remained even on Sundays of Lent, though fasting was not practiced on Sundays.
• No food was to be eaten at all on either Ash Wednesday or Good Friday.
• Holy Week was a more intense fast that consisted only of bread, salt, water, and herbs.
• The Lenten fast included fasting from all lacticinia (Latin for milk products) which included butter, cheese, eggs, and animal products.

From this tradition, Easter Eggs were introduced, and therefore the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is when pancakes are traditionally eaten to use leftover lacticinia. And similarly, Fat Tuesday is known as Carnival, coming from the Latin words carne levare - literally the farewell to meat.

By the fourteenth century, the meal had begun to move up steadily until it began to take place even at 12 o’clock. The change became so common it became part of the Church’s discipline.

In one interesting but often unknown fact, because the monks would pray the liturgical hour of None before they would eat their meal, the custom of calling midday by the name “noon” entered into our vocabulary as a result of the fast. With the meal moved up, the evening collation remained.

Later relaxations of the discipline

Some of the most significant changes to fasting would occur under the reign of Pope Benedict XIV who reigned from 1740 - 1758. On May 31, 1741, Pope Benedict XIV issued Non Ambiginius which granted permission to eat meat on fasting days while explicitly forbidding the consumption of both fish and flesh meat at the same meal on all fasting days during the year in addition to the Sundays during Lent.

Beforehand, the forty days of Lent were held as days of complete abstinence from meat. The concept of partial abstinence was born even though the term would not appear until the 1917 Code of Canon Law.

In 1886 Leo XIII allowed meat, eggs, and milk products on Sundays of Lent and at the main meal on every weekday [of Lent] except Wednesday and Friday in the [United States]. Holy Saturday was not included in the dispensation.

A small piece of bread was permitted in the morning with coffee, tea, chocolate, or a similar beverage. While the evening collation had been widespread since the 14th century, the practice of an additional morning collation was introduced only in the 19th century as part of the gradual relaxation of discipline.

Consequently, the Baltimore Manual published by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884 states: Only one full meal is allowed, to be taken about noon or later. Besides this full meal, a collation of eight ounces is allowed.

If the full meal is taken about the middle of the day, the collation will naturally be taken in the evening; if the full meal is taken late in the day, the collation may be taken at noon. Besides the full meal and collation, the general custom has made it lawful to take up to two ounces of bread (without butter) and a cup of some warm liquid - as coffee or tea - in the morning.

This is important to observe, for by means of this many persons are enabled - and therefore obliged - the keep the fast who could not otherwise do so. The Catechism of Father Patrick Powers published in Ireland in 1905 mentions that abstinence includes flesh meat and “anything produced from animals, as milk, butter, cheese, eggs.”

However, Father Patrick notes, “In some countries, however, milk is allowed at collation.” The United States was one of those nations whereas Ireland and others were not granted such dispensations.

Abstinence from lacticinia which included milk, butter, cheese, and eggs, was never strictly enforced in Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia because of the lack of oil and other substitute foods in those countries. The Church using common sense granted many dispensations in this matter in all countries of Europe.

People who did eat the milk foods would often, when they could afford it, give alms for the building of churches or other pious endeavors.

Fasting, abstinence, and personal penance

Apart from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the days of abstinence every Friday of Lent, Catholics have traditionally chosen additional penitential practices for the whole time of Lent.

These practices are disciplinary in nature and often more effective if they are continuous and kept on Sundays as well. That being said, such practices are not regulated by the Church as rules for Lent, but rather by individual conscience.

Some keep their sacrifice continuously, but Sundays during Lent are not “prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.” Ultimately, it’s a personal decision.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. You can fast from TV, social media, cursing, gossip, or any other habit that doesn’t feed your soul.

No matter what your circumstances are, Lent is a powerful invitation to create small sacrifices, making yourself 100 percent available to God. When you fast, abstain from meat, or "give something up,” make sure you are doing it intentionally.

Food, drink, and other common questions

Can Catholics eat fish?

Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals), and shellfish are permitted in the rules for Catholic Lent. Since serves fish instead of meat, your local church fish fry is a fine option for Fridays during Lent.

Can Catholics eat meat on Good Friday?

On the one hand, Good Friday is part of the Easter Triduum, which marks the end of Lent. However, since Good Friday itself is a day of abstinence, it’s best to abstain from meat, as in the Fridays of Lent.

What may Catholics drink on Ash Wednesday?

Normal rules around fasting before receiving Communion (abstaining from food an hour before Mass) apply during Lent. Outside of that, there are no specific rules around liquids, so coffee, tea and soda are fine.

A smoothie that constitutes a meal would probably count as food. The Church does not specifically limit alcohol. A person’s personal discretion is best.

Does abstinence mean abstaining from sex?

No. Abstinence refers to food.

When does Lenten fasting end?

Lent ends on Holy Thursday, but Lenten fasting (and personal commitments) usually continues until Easter. Papal document Paschalis Solemnitatis recommends this in order that we “with uplifted and welcoming heart be ready to celebrate the joys of the Sunday of the resurrection.”

If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.

Regarding Holy Saturday’s fast in particular, Canon 89 of the Council in Trullo in 692 AD provides an account of the piety and devotion of the faithful of that time: “The faithful, spending the days of the Salutatory Passion in fasting, praying and compunction of heart, ought to fast until the midnight of the Great Sabbath: since the divine Evangelists, Matthew and Luke, have shown us how late at night it was [that the resurrection took place].”

That tradition of fasting on Holy Saturday until midnight would last for centuries. The time for fulfilling Easter Duty extends from the First Sunday of Lent (February 18) to Holy Trinity Sunday (May 26).

The Eucharist and reconciliation during Lent

All Catholics who have been initiated into the Holy Eucharist are bound to receive Holy Communion worthily at least once during the Easter Season. Catholics are encouraged to receive Communion as often as possible, not only during Eastertide, but throughout the liturgical year.

However, “Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to Communion” (CCC 1385.) Reconciliation Monday will be held on March 25 from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 PM in cooperation with the dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre, with confessions available throughout the day.

Making the fast intentional and safe

Have you ever been on a diet and focused so much on what you could not eat that you completely lost interest in what you could? Then it left you wondering why you even chose that plan? This potentially negative mental association influenced your outcome and shaped your perspective of the desired process.

Be encouraged! Loyola Press shares, “This year’s Lent can be different. It will take an openness to God’s grace. A deep desire to receive what is being offered us. And a few signs and symbols to help us stay focused throughout the season. Lent will no longer feel like a burden, but rather a blessing.”

On that note, knowing what are the rules for Catholic Lent makes more sense when we accept the heart of the season: to focus on growing closer to God. It is too easy to let another Lenten season slip by without really thinking about the life we want to live.

It is too easy to just let life happen to us. We don’t sit down of­ten enough and think about how we are living. We often spend more time planning our annual vacations than we spend planning our lives. Lent is a wonderful time to slow down and get really intentional.

It is important to note that any act of penance that would seriously hinder one’s health or the health of others would be contrary to the will of God. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.

Lent as preparation for Easter

We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ. In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

These practices help us to remember the merciful love and compassion that God shows all people. The observance of Lent is the very badge of Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice.

By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should men grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God’s glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls.

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