Laws of Fasting and Abstenence

Please refresh your memory as to the laws of fasting and abstinence prior to the start of the Lenten season.

Below are the descriptions of both the current laws and the laws of the discipline of 1962.


Laws of Days of Abstinence: Current Practice

  • Begins on one’s 14th birthday
  • Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent
  • Obliges abstention from flesh meat

Laws of Days of Penance: Current Practice

  • Applies to all the Faithful
  • Lent and Fridays outside of Lent

Laws of Days of Fast: Current Practice

  • Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive
  • One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken, which, when combined, are less than a full meal
  • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

The obligation to do penance is lifted on Fridays which are also celebrated as a solemnity.  The following is a list of the Solemnities in the new Rite which can fall on a Friday:

  • January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
  • January 6: Solemnity of the Epiphany
  • March 19: Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary
  • March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation
  • June 24: Solemnity of st. John the Baptist
  • June 29: Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul
  • August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption
  • November 1: Solemnity of All Saints
  • December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
  • December 25: Solemnity of Christmas
  • Principal patron of a place (city, state, nation)
  • Dedication of a particular church and the anniversary
  • The Title, founder or principal patron of a religious order or congregation

The Law of the Eucharistic Fast: Current Legislation

Under the new Code of canon Law, the Fast for Holy Communion is one hour before the reception of the Holy Eucharist.  Thos who are able to maintain the previous discipline of the three hour fast are still encouraged to do so.

Laws of Days of Abstinence: The Discipline of 1962

  • 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 and soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at the principal meal): all the days of Lent, the ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday and the Vigils of Pentecost and the Assumption
  • Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation

Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962

  • 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

Laws of Fast: The Discipline of 1962

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.

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