Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obliga
tory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. 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.
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.
More information on fast and abstinence can be found below.
Current Practice
Days of Abstinence
Begins on 14th birthday
Ash Wednesday & Fridays of Lent
Obliges abstention from flesh meat
Days of Penance
Applies to all the Faithful
Lent and Fridays outside of Lent
The obligation to do penance is lifted on Fridays which are also celebrated as a solemnity.
Days of Fast
Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive
One full meal permitted and two other meals which, when combined, are less than a full meal
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Law of Eucharistic Fast
Under the new Code of Canon Law (1983), the Fast for Holy Communion is one hour before the reception of the Holy Eucharist. Those who are able to maintain the previous discipline of the three-hour fast are still encouraged to do so.
Discipline of 1962
Days of Abstinence
Applies on one’s 7th Birthday
Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas
Partial Abstinence (meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption
Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Days of Penance
Applies on one’s 7th Birthday
Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas
Partial Abstinence (meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption
Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Days of Fast
Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive
Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday, inclusive, Ember Days and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost and the Assumption
One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal
Law of Eucharistic Fast
The complete fast from all food and drink (except water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. Those who are able to maintain the midnight fast, which was the previous discipline, are still encouraged to do so.
