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Fasting & Abstinence during Lent

Lent is a season of penance, and fasting and abstinence are essential means by which we celebrate the Lenten season.  The laws of the Catholic Church (canons 1251-1252 of the Code of Canon Law) on fasting and abstinence are as follows:

Abstinence: Catholics aged 14 years old and older are obliged to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting: Catholics aged 18 through 59 years old inclusive are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days of fasting, one full meal is permitted as well as two smaller meals that, if combined, would be less than a full meal.