Ash Wednesday-Fast and Abstinence

Ash Wednesday-Fast and Abstinence

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The Church decrees that Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence for all adult Catholics from 14-65 years.  It is only a minimum requirement laid down by the Church, but fasting, prayer and almsgiving are essential tools in our journey of conversion of heart in this season of penance. For health reasons, the Church does not expect the sick and infirm to fast and abstain.

What does the Church mean by fasting?   The Church's expectation of fasting means to eat much less than would normally be eaten on these 2 days specifically, by eating one main meal and two light snacks. A traditional main meal dish on Ash Wednesday is either fish pie or vegetable casserole. It is highly recommended that we maintain fasting by not eating between these snacks and main meal on these two days.  Abstinence requires that we abstain from all meat and meat products.

We are entering into a holy season, a season of repentance and a season which provides us with the opportunity to have a conversion of heart.  We need therefore to not just obey the Church's decree in order to fulfil our obligation, but rather enter into it enthusiastically in the right spirit of mind and heart.