Fast and Abstinence

The Code of Cannon Law states that all Christ’s faithful are obliged by the Lord’s command, each in his or her own way to undertake that conversion of mind and heart called penance. In order that the faithful may join together in a common practice of penance, some days of penance are prescribed. One these days the faithful in a special way devote themselves to prayer, engage in works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence the Church prescribes.

Abstinence means not eating meat, and binds Catholics 14 years of age and older. 

Fast means limiting oneself to one full meal and two lighter meals each day, and binds Catholics from their 18^th birthday to their 59^th birthday.

For more information, please visit Women for Faith and Family at:

  http://www.wf-f.org/FastandAbstinence.html 

1. Fast from any food or drink for at least one hour before Holy Communion
2. Water does not break the fast
3. Medicines, either solid or liquid, do not break the fast
4. The elderly and the sick my receive the Eucharist without fasting
5. Those who have received the Eucharist may receive again on the same day at a Mass they are attending