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Question: When I was growing up (50's and early 60's), most Catholics that I knew abstained from meat during all of Lent, Sundays included.
Now it seems that most Catholics I know, tell me that was never the practice, that Sunday was always a day of feasting, never fasting. Most of these Catholics grew up during the late 60's to 70's.
Have Lenten Practices changed? I'm a Convert, but it seems more lax now than what I recall from the practices of Catholics I knew in my youth.

Have Lenten Practices changed? I'm a Convert, but it seems more lax now than what I recall from the practices of Catholics I knew in my youth.

Like you, I too grew up during the 50's and 60's, but was raised in a catholic family, attending catholic schools. We were taught that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were days of fast and abstinence. Throughout Lent, Fridays were always days of abstinence. I have never met any catholic who abstained for 40 days, unless it was by personal choice. (Ironically, the reason we were given for abstaining on Fridays was to encourage the sale of fish.)

It was also our practice to "give up" something of importance. For the kids, this challenge was usually in the form of candy. Our Easter baskets were always packed with all sorts of candy. Even then, I recall that sense of accomplishment, knowing that I had made it to the end without succumbing to temptation.

I also recall that during Lent, the statues in the church were covered. I haven't seen that practice in many years. On Good Friday, following afternoon services, the altar was stripped bare and the Holy Eucharist removed from the Tabernacle, leaving the door open. You are right, though, to point out that Lenten devotions were taken more seriously then than now.

As a convert, you will enjoy this story. A while back, one of the guests on Journey Home, was a couple who had just converted to catholicism. They spoke of the first Lent following their decision to convert. Though not yet catholics, they decided to follow a Lenten practice of either "giving up" or "taking on". After considerable discussion, they felt the most challenging thing to do would be to attend daily mass. After 40 days, they continued the practice, noting how much strength they had gained from the experience.

I feel Lent should be a time for personal sacrifice, and that we must be honest with ourselves in its selection. Daily mass is an excellent practice, as is time spent reading the bible or mediting on selected passages. More importantly, it is a time to reach out to others.

During Lent: Fasting is encouraged but not mandated during Lent excepting the designated days. Abstaining from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. This is different for me also than when I was growing up. I still try to fast and definitely abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays.

**Q: In addition to Ash Wednesday, are any other days during Lent days of fast or abstinence?

A: Yes. All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence. Also, Good Friday, the day on which Christ was crucified, is another day of both fast and abstinence. All days in Lent are appropriate for fasting or abstaining, but canon law does not require fasting on those days. Such fasting or abstinence is voluntary, like a freewill offering.**

When I was growing up (50's and early 60's), most Catholics that I knew abstained from meat during all of Lent, Sundays included.
Now it seems that most Catholics I know, tell me that was never the practice, that Sunday was always a day of feasting, never fasting.

At one time, yes, this was the practice. In fact it wasn't just meat.

Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday" had the purpose of being the last day of cleaning out the larder before Lent. It started as less of two week of parties than 7-10 days of eating up all the cheese, eggs, meat, etc., in storage. The dietary practices changed and became a big party. Unfortunately, it has now gotten out of hand in some places. But that's where it comes from.