Part II, The Commandments: The Second Commandment of the Church

THE SECOXD COMMAXDMEXT OF THE CHURCH.

1. What does the Second Commandment of the Church oblige us to do?

The Second Commandment of the Church obliges us to observe the laws of abstinence and fasting laid down by the Church.

2. What does the law of abstinence forbid?

The law of abstinence forbids the eating of flesh meat and of broth or soup made of meat; but it permits the use of eggs, milk, cheese, and butter; also seasonings of food which are made from the fat of animals.

3. What does the law of fasting prescribe?

It prescribes that only one full meal a day may be taken. But it does not forbid a small quantity of food in the morning and evening, the quality and quantity to be regulated according to the approved custom of one's locality.

4. Is it permitted to eat both flesh and fish at the same meal on days of fasting which are not also days of abstinence?

Yes; we may eat flesh and fish at the same meal. Also, we may take the full meal in the evening and a collation in the middle of the day.

5. What days does the law of abstinence, as apart from the law of fasting, oblige us to observe?

The law of abstinence, apart from the law of fasting, obliges us to abstain on all the Fridays of the year.

6. On what days are both the laws of abstinence and of fasting to be observed?

The laws both of abstinence and of fasting are to be observed on 1. Ash Wednesday, The Fridays and Saturdays of Lent; 2. The Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of the Ember days, 3. The Vigils of Pentecost, of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Feast of All Saints and of Christmas Day.

The Forty Days of Lent are ordained in imitation of the forty days' fast of Jesus Christ, in remembrance of His bitter Passion and Death, and that we may worthily prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter. The Ember Days are ordained that the faithful may thank God for the blessings they have received in each quarter of the year; that in each season they may be reminded to do penance; and also that they may obtain of God worthy priests, these being generally the days of their ordination. By the Vigils the faithful prepare themselves for the worthy celebration of great festivals. The four weeks preceding the feast of Christmas are called the holy season of Advent. It is time of special prayer and devotion.

7. On what days is the law of fasting, apart from the law of abstinence, to be observed?

The law of fasting, apart from the law of ahstinene, is to be observed on all Week Days in Lent that have not been already mentioned. (See preceding question.)

8. Do the laws either of abstinence or fasting bind on Sundays or Holidays of obligation?

No; on Sundays and holidays of obligation neither fast nor abstinence need be observed; also the Lenten obligations of abstinence and fast end at noon on Holy Saturday, because the Lenten Season closes at the end of Mass on that day.

9. Who are bound by the laws of abstinence and of fasting?

The law of abstinence binds all who have completed their seventh year; the law of fasting binds those who have completed their twenty-first year and have not yet entered upon their sixtieth year.

10. May any persons within these ages be excused from fasting or abstinence?

Yes ; the sick, convalescent, those in feeble health, and those who would be unable properly to discharge their duties of life, if they were obliged to observe fast and abstinence, may be excused from either or both, according to circumstances.

11. What are they to do who believe they have a good reason to be excused from fulfilling the obUgations of abstinence and fasting?

They ought to apply to their confessors or Pastors for counsel.

A bishop may, for special grave local reason, in his Diocese sometimes dispense from the general laws of abstinence and fasting on particular occasions; or order a fast or abstinence to be observed which is not imposed by the general laws.

While the faith of the Church remains the same in all ages, from time to time she introduces changes in her discipline. By her discipline is meant the laws and regulations which she prescribes for her own government and for the direction of Christian life. Her disciplinary laws and precepts comprise, among other matters, Divine worship, the administering and receiving of the Sacraments, the duties of fasting and abstinence. The collection of these disciplinary regulations is called the Canon Law. Owing to the changes which time brings about in the Avays of life, habits, customs and conditions of the faithful, the Church, for the welfare of her children, introduces changes in her discipline to adapt it the better to the changed conditions. The Holy See has recently issued a complete Code of Canon Law in which is laid down some modifications of former discipline especially with regard to the laws of fasting and abstinence.

12. Is it not superstitious to abstain from certain kinds of food?

It is superstitious, if we abstain from certain food as if it were evil and nnclean in itself, as some heretics asserted ; but it is not so by any means if we do it in the spirit of obedience and penance, as the Catholic Church prescribes.

St. Paul combated this heresy (1 Tim. iv. 1-4); and also the Catholic Church has at all times combated and condemned it. God Himself forbade certain meats to the Jews (Levit. xi. 2, etc.), and the Apostles to the first Christians (Acts xv. 29). St. John the Baptist ate nothing but locusts and wild honey (Mark i. 6). Eleazar and the seven Machabean brothers, with their mother, chose to suffer the most painful death, rather than transgress the law of God by eating swine's flesh (2 Mach. vi. and vii.).

13. But does not our Saviour clearly say: 'Not that which goeth into the mouth defile th a man'?

Yes; but the disobedience which proceeds from the heart defiles hiin (Matt. xv. 11, 18), as it is proved by the fall of our first parents.

Let, however, no one believe that the breaking of the fast is only then a grievous sin when it proceeds from a contempt of

the Commandment or from a deliberate resistance to the Church. This opinion is erroneous, and has been expressly condemned by the Church (Alexand. VII. Propos. 23). Nay, there is a culpable disobedience when one knowingly and deliberately does what the Church has forbidden, even though it be neither attended with obstinacy nor contempt of the Commandment, but is done either through gluttony or through a weak complaisance to others.

14. Should we, on fasting-days, content ourselves with abstaining from food?

No; we should, according to the intention of the Church, spend these days in the spirit of penance, and sanctify them by prayer and good works (Isaias Iviii. 6,7).

Application. Respect the Commandment of fasting and abstinence as a Commandment which God Himself has given you through His Church, and consider it an honor to observe it strictly.