A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence

OLRL ^ | Fr. William J. Cogan

[NYer]

Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence

"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert, for the space of forty days; and was tempted by the devil.  And He ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, He was hungry."  (Luke 4:1-2)

1. What is fasting?
      Fasting means that on certain days, you may eat --
   1. One full meal with meat (unless it is also a day of abstinence)
   2. Two small meals without meat.
   3. No food between meals.

   A fast day consists of 24 hours, from midnight to midnight.  The two small meals may be only enough to maintain strength and are not to exceed the size of the one main meal.  Liquids, including milk and fruit juice, may be taken between meals, but tend to violate the spirit of the fast.

• Who is obliged to fast?
     Every Catholic over 21 and not yet 59, who is not sick, pregnant or nursing a baby.

  People doing heavy manual labor may be excused from this obligation by their pastor or confessor; also, those who work long hours.

• What kind of sin is it not to fast?
     A mortal sin, unless you are excused.

• When must you fast?
  According to the old norms:
  1. Every day in Lent, except Sundays.
  2. December 7, December 24 (or 23) and the Saturday before Pentecost.
  3. Ember Days

  Some Catholics continue this tradition.  According to the new norms, there are only 2 fast days:  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• When does Lent begin?
     On Ash Wednesday; it ends 40 days later, on the Saturday before Easter at midnight.

• When are the Ember Days?
     The Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays following September 14, December 13, Pentecost Sunday and the 1st Sunday in Lent.  Under the new norms the Ember days are no longer observed.

• What is abstinence?
     Abstinence means that on certain days you may not eat meat.

• What is meant by "meat"?
     The flesh of any warm-blooded animal or bird and the soups or gravies made from such flesh.

  Sea foods are allowed (fish, lobster, turtles, crabs, oysters, frogs, scallops, clams, and so on).

• Who is obliged to abstain from meat?
     Traditionally, every Catholic 7 years of age and over.

  According to the new norms, every Catholic 14 years of age and over is obliged to abstain.

• What kind of sin is it not to abstain?
     A mortal sin.

• On what days are you forbidden to eat meat at all?
     According to the old norms:  Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of the year (unless a Holy Day of Obligation falls on Friday), December 7 and December 24 (or 23).  Some Catholics continue this tradition.  According to the new norms:  Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent.  According to the new norms, on every Friday of the year outside Lent Catholics must either abstain from meat or do some other comparable penance, unless the Friday falls on a Holy Day of Obligation, in which case one is excused from abstinence.

• What is partial abstinence?
     Traditionally, this means that those who are obliged to abstain may eat meat only once (at the main meal) on the Wednesdays and Saturdays of Ember weeks and on the vigil of Pentecost.  Under the new norms there are no longer any days of partial abstinence.

[NYer]

According to the "new" norms, fasting and abstinence are only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. However, Canon Law has never changed the requirement to abstain on all Fridays. One may substitute an act of mercy or some other form of penance on Fridays throughout the year.

Lesson 43 of 43 - this concludes the Brief Catechism for Adults. Thank you Salvation for posting the links to the other 42 lessons and thank you all, for reading through this exercise. May God open your minds and hearts to these lessons.

[lost-and-found]

I think the most difficult day to fast (and abstain from meat) is dec 24th since that’s when most of the food for the Christmas Eve dinner gets prepared, at least in my traditional Polish family =). All those smells just keep your mouth watering all day.

[Salvation]

Thank you for your dedication in posting all 43 threads! You are to be commended.

[Salvation]

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 1: Religion
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 2: The Bible and Tradition
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 3: God and the Holy Trinity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 4: Prayer
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 5: Public Worship of God

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 6: Angels and Devils
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 7: Human Beings and the Purpose of Life
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 8: Sanctifying Grace
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 9: Heaven
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 10: Mortal and Venial Sin

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 11: Hell
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 12: Purgatory
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 13: Original Sin
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 14: Jesus Christ, Our Savior
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 15: Jesus Christ, True God and True Man

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 16: The Catholic Church is the Only True Church
A Brieft Catechism for Adults - Lesson 17: Qualities of the Catholic Church
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 18: The Pope, the Vicar of Christ
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 19: The Seven Sacraments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 20: The Sacrament of Baptism

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 21: The Sacrament of Confirmation
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 22: The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 23: The Sacrifice of the Mass
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 24: The Sacrament of Penance (Confession)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 25: How to go to Confession

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 26: Indulgences
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 27: The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 28: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 29: The Nature of Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 30: The Sins Against Marriage

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 31: The Sacrament of Matrimony
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 32: How to have a Happy Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 33: Duties of Parents Toward Their Children
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 34: The First Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 35: The Second Commandment

A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 36: The Third Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 37: The Fourth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 38: The Fifth Commandment (w / special prayer request)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 39: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 40: The Seventh and Tenth Commandments

A Brief Catechism for Adulst - Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 42: Charity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence

[Salvation]

Beginning September 1 another series will start. However, it will be posted only on weekdays — nothing on Sunday.

Stay tuned.