Category Archive for 'Fasts'

Obligations of Lent and Easter

The Church prescribes fasting and abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, only one full meal is allowed, in addition to which two smaller collations are permitted according to need, which,  if combined, would not be equal to a full meal.  Catholics aged 14–59 are bound to abstinence from meat;  [...]

Advent Embertide

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Gaudete Sunday are known as ‘Advent Embertide’, special penitential days which come near the beginning of the season of Winter. The Ember Day fast, although no longer strictly obligatory, is presumed in the prayers of our liturgy, and so we would encourage you to observe this laudable tradition in a [...]

Ash Wednesday, 25 February

Day of Fasting and Abstinence.  7:30 am and 7:30 pm Masses
There will be blessing and imposition of ashes at the beginning of each Mass. Parishioners are reminded that Abstinence and Fasting must be observed on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. Abstinence binds (i.e. is obligatory for) those who have completed their 14th year; the [...]

Fasting & Abstinence

As the season of Lent approaches, it is wise to remind ourselves of the Church’s requirements regarding fasting and abstinence.
General Laws of Fasting and Abstinence from the Code of Canon Law (1983)
Canon 1249 All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all [...]

Advent Embertide

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Gaudete Sunday are known as ‘Advent Embertide’, special penitential days which come near the beginning of the season of winter. The Ember Day fast, although no longer strictly obligatory, is presumed in the prayers of our liturgy, and so we would encourage you to observe this laudable tradition in a [...]

Ember Days: 24, 26 & 27 September

This Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are the autumn Ember Days. Four times a year, the Church sets aside three days to focus on God through His marvelous creation. These quarterly periods take place around the beginnings of the four natural seasons, and are each kept on a successive Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and are known [...]