Lenten Regulations

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics from fourteen to fifty-nine years old on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday by all Catholics who are eighteen years of age and not yet fifty-nine. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

The special paschal fast and abstinence is prescribed for Good Friday and encouraged for Holy Saturday.

The season of Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. The liturgy prepares the catechumens for the celebration of the paschal mystery by the several stages of Christian initiation: it also prepares the faithful, who recall their baptism and do penance in preparation for Easter. (General Norms for the Liturgical Year, #27)

By the threefold discipline of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, the church keeps Lent from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. All the faithful and the catechumens should undertake serious practice of these three traditions. Failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days must be considered serious.

On weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and self-imposed observances of fasting. In light of the grave human needs which weigh on the Christian conscience in all seasons, we urge particularly during Lent, generosity to local, national, and world programs of sharing of all things needed to translate our duty to penance into a means of implementing the rights of the poor to their part of our abundance, (U.S. Bishops' statement on penitential observances, 1966.)