The Lenten Fast, current and traditional

In case you were wondering…

Every Catholic should be familiar with the 1983 Code of Canon Law that stipulates for the Church universal abstaining from meat on all Fridays inside and outside of Lent, and to fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

However, many traditional Catholics may opt to practice fasting and abstinence that was common prior to the 1983 Code, to wit:

1. Fasting and total abstinence on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays and Saturdays during Lent. Fasting and total abstinence is three meatless meals, that consist of two small meals not equaling in size the day’s main meal, and no eating between meals.

2. Fasting and partial abstinence from meat on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays other than Ash Wednesday, and Thursdays. Fasting and partial abstinence consists of three meals, two of which not equaling the day’s main meal, but meat can be eaten at the main meal. No eating between meals.

Pastoral concern and common sense, of course, should apply to any mortification of the flesh, and a reliable spiritual director should be consulted when choosing to go beyond what is required by canon law. Those who are engaged in strenuous physical labor were always considered exempt from some or most of the traditional Lenten fasting upon consultation with spiritual directors or pastors.