Fasting and Abstinence Regulations

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age, but not yet 59. Those who are bound to fast may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary, to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years of age or older on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays in Lent. The determination of certain days as obligatory days of penance should not be understood as limiting the occasions for Christian penance. The spirit of the season of Lent should be maintained throughout the weeks of Lent. The obligation to observe penitential days of the Church is serious. Failure to observe individual days of penance is not necessarily considered serious. No one should be scrupulous in this regard. People should seek to do more rather than less, since fast and abstinence on the days prescribed should be considered a minimal response to the Lord's call to penance and conversion of  life.

All Catholics of the appropriate age are to fast and abstain on Good Friday. The Second Vatican Council observed: "Let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attended with uplifted and clear mind."