120. Second Commandment of the Church

Our Lord Himself often fasted. He fasted forty days and forty nights before He began His public life. By Church law, all baptised persons between the ages of 18 years old completed and until the beginning of their sixtieth year, are obliged to fast; and all baptised persons who have completed the fourteenth year of age and over, are obliged to observe the abstinence days, unless excused or dispensed.

"TO FAST AND TO ABSTAIN ON THE DAYS APPOINTED."

What is a fast day?

— A fast day is a day on which only one full meal is allowed: but in the morning and evening some food may be taken, the quantity and quality of which are determined by approved local custom. The smaller meals must not be equal to the quantity of the main meal.

1. The one full meal may be taken either at noon or in the evening. Only at this meal may meat be taken; but both fish and meat may be taken at the same meal.

Fasting was a practice in the early Church. And the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them, they let them go (Acts 13:2-3).

2. Eating between meals is forbidden; drink that is not nourishing is permitted.

Liquids are permitted including milk and fruit juices, wine, soda, tea, lemonade, beer, black coffee.

Who are obliged to observe the fast days of the Church?

— All baptised persons beginning on the day after their 18th birthday and ending at midnight which completes their 59th birthday, are obliged to observe the fast days of the Church, unless they are excused or dispensed.

Pastors have the power of dispensing in particular cases, from fast or abstinence, or both, individuals as well as families. Persons excused from fasting must, however, observe abstinence unless they have also been excused from it.

Those of weak health, the sick, the convalescent, nursing women, the very poor, and those engaged in hard work are excused from fasting. One in doubt as to his duties should consult pastor or confessor.

Young people below eighteen have not done growing, and need more than one full meal daily. Those who have passed their fifty-ninth year are often weak, and have need of more than one full meal. The very poor have to work hard, and need more than one full meal to be able to do their duties. Among those who are dispensed on account of hard work are: teachers, nurses, emergency responders, administrators, etc.

What is a day of abstinence?

— A day of abstinence is a day on which we are not allowed the use of meat. On such days we are forbidden all flesh meat, but this does not apply to dairy products, eggs, or condiments and shortening made from animal fats. Flesh meat is the flesh of warm-blooded land animals, including birds and fowls.

Fish, snails, frogs, oysters, shrimps, and crabs may be taken on abstinence days, as well as milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and similar foods. Lard and the fat of any animals may be used in cooking and seasoning. On an abstinence day, unless it is also a fast day, only the quality, not the quantity, of food is regulated.

Who are obliged to observe the abstinence days of the Church?

— All baptised persons, beginning on the day after their 14th birthday, are obliged, unless they are excused or dispensed.

1. The sick and convalescent, those who do extremely hard work, and those too poor to obtain other foods are excused.

One who thinks he has sufficient reason to be excused should consult his pastor or confessor.

2. When there is a great concourse of people, or if public health is concerned, the bishop can dispense a particular locality, or even his entire diocese, from the law of fast or of abstinence, or both.

Bishops generally have faculties from the Holy See to dispense from the law of abstinence on Fridays.

Why does the Church command us to fast and to abstain?

— The Church commands us to fast and to abstain in order that we may control the desires of the flesh, raise our minds more freely to God, and make satisfaction for sin.

"I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps after preaching to others I myself should be rejected" (1 Cor. 9:27).

1. The Church does not command abstinence and fasting because she considers meat and other foods evil in themselves. We merely deny ourselves for the glory of God and the good of our souls.

A good Christian will be careful to observe the laws of fast and abstinence. One who cannot fast should do some other penance.

2. The forty days' fast observed in Lent is in imitation of Our Lord, Who fasted forty days in the desert. It is a preparation for Easter. Friday as a day of abstinence commemorates Our Lord's Passion and death.

By fasting and meditation on the sufferings of Christ, we can best induce in ourselves a proper contrition for our sins. Fast and abstinence are pleasing to God only when we also refrain from sin and engage in good works. We should honour Our Lord's passion during Lent by abstaining from worldly pleasures and amusements. We should accept trials patiently, uniting them to Our Lord's.

3. Even from merely natural motives, fast and abstinence, far from ruining the health as some people claim, on the contrary are a preservation of health. 4. Fast and abstinence should not be carried to excess to the injury of our health. Our duty to conserve our health is a law of God and of nature, and is over and above the law of the Church to fast and abstain. When the two conflict, the first prevails.

Obedience is better than sacrifice. We should always be temperate rather than eat too much ordinarily, then fast to excess on special occasions.

How can we know the days appointed for fast or abstinence?

— From the instructions of our bishops and priests.

In 1966 Pope Paul VI promulgated a new set of laws concerning fasting and abstinence. It also appeared in the 1983 new Code of Canon Law (1249-1253).

Since then, the days of fast and abstinence which all Catholics are bound to observe are: 1) Abstinence from meat or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference: All Fridays of the year unless a solemnity should fall on the Friday. 2) Fasting and Abstinence: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

However, on the account of the apostolic tradition and the venerable usage of the past ages of faith, it is strongly recommended that the faithful also observe the following days of fast and abstinence:

Days of fast highly counselled are: (a) The Ember days. These are twelve in number, being three per season, namely, the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after: the first Sunday of Lent, Pentecost, third week of September, and after the third Sunday of Advent in December. (b) All Fridays of Lent. (c) The Vigils of Pentecost, All Saints', Immaculate Conception and Christmas. 2) Days of abstinence highly counselled are: The Ember days and Vigils of Pentecost, All Saints’ Immaculate Conception and Christmas.