Friday, Second Week of Lent Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. |
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age. (Genesis 37:3)
Children are not required to fast, but their parents must ensure they are properly educated in the spiritual practice of fasting. Those with medical conditions requiring a greater or more regular food intake can easily be dispensed from the requirement of fasting by their pastor. A day of abstinence is a day on which Catholics fourteen years or older are required to abstain from eating meat (under the current discipline in America, fish, eggs, milk products, and condiments or foods made using animal fat are permitted in the Western Rite of the Church, though not in the Eastern Rites.) Again, persons with special dietary needs can easily be dispensed by their pastor. |
The 40 hours fast was observed in the Early Church, marking the interval when Our Lord's body was in the tomb. This fast, from the evening of Holy Thursday, until the Easter vigil, seems to be making a comeback in a small way. Many Christians don't go to work on Good Friday, and healthy people don't need a meal just to get themselves to church on Good Friday.