Lent Local

Lenten regulations

A young woman receives ashes during Ash Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church in Prescott, Ariz., Feb. 14, 2024. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.

In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Roman Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.

When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to the full meal, with no eating in between.

The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

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The Leaven

The Leaven is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

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  • Church teaches (via Canon Law), that Fasting is until one is 60 and one has lived 59 years. Canon Law says The “fast part” is between the ages of 18 and 60.

    “… amended to say until one completes the 17th year and then the 59th year. Semantics, but in reality its 18 to 59, but including the 59th year. An alum who @Miege in the 70s…