Lenten Regulations
February 17, 2010 is Ash Wednesday, which marks
the beginning of the Season of Lent.
ABSTINENCE: All Catholics who have reached
their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following
days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
FASTING: All Catholics between their 18th and
60th birthdays are also bound to observe the Law of Fast on the following days:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a
single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may be taken
on two other occasions in the course of the day.
EASTER DUTY: After they have been initiated
into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation of
receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during
the Easter season, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time
during the year.
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED:
- RECONCILIATION: Catholics are bound by an
obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year (Canon
989).
- OTHER FRIDAYS OF THE YEAR: Catholics should
be reminded that all other Fridays of the year remain as days of penance, in
prayerful remembrance of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
- OBLIGATION: The obligation which we have as
members of the Church to do penance is a serious one. Furthermore, the
obligation to observe, as a whole or "substantially", the penitential days
specified by the Church is a serious one.
- While no one should hold himself or herself
lightly excused, one should not become unduly scrupulous. Failure to observe
individual days of penance is less serious than the failure to observe any
penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days.
AN INVITATION: In the name of peace, and in
union with the Bishops of our country, the faithful are invited
to add voluntary fasting to the practice of penance during the Fridays of the
year. Together with works of charity and service toward our neighbors, this
practice would become a sign of our commitment to conversion, reconciliation and
peace. (The Challenge of Peace, Art. 298). |
