Fasting and Abstinence in the Roman Catholic Church
Overview
For Roman Catholics, fasting
is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal a day. This may or may not be accompanied by abstinence
from meat when eating.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance
for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporate. The purpose of fasting is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance; it in no way stems from a concept that the material world is in some sense evil.
The Catholic Church requires Catholics to observe the discipline of abstaining at various times each year, especially during Lent
.
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal a day. This may or may not be accompanied by abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
from meat when eating.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporate. The purpose of fasting is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance; it in no way stems from a concept that the material world is in some sense evil.
The Catholic Church requires Catholics to observe the discipline of abstaining at various times each year, especially during Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
.
