The positive Law of the Church now binds the Faithful to fast and to abstain from flesh meat under pain of serious sin on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and to abstain from flesh meat on Fridays during Lent. On other days the law allows other “suitable penances” to be substituted. The former Law, though no longer binding, must still be salutary for the Faithful and pleasing to God. Catholics who follow the traditional practices voluntarily, and all who think of themselves as "traditional Catholics" should, invariably wish to follow it properly. Thus it is presented and recommended here
The following, taken directly from "The Daily Roman Missal", The Regina Press, New York, 1949, should be of assistance.
The Church's (Former) Law of Fast and Abstinence:
- The Law of Abstinence forbids the use of flesh-meat and of soup, etc., made from it. Eggs, cheese, butter and seasonings of food are permitted. The Law of Fasting forbids more than one full meal a day, and this must not be taken before noon.
- All Catholics seven years old and over are obliged to abstain. All Catholics from the completion of their twenty-first to the beginning of their sixtieth year, unless lawfully excused, are bound to fast.
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
- Abstinence alone is prescribed every Friday, unless a Holyday of Obligation falls thereon.
- Fasting and Abstinence are prescribed in the United States on the Wednesdays * and Fridays of Lent and Holy Saturday (on all other days of Lent fasting alone is prescribed and meat is allowed once a day); the Ember Days, viz., the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following the
- first Sunday of Lent
- Penecost or Whitsunday
- the 14th of September and
- the third Sunday of Advent
the Vigils of Pentecost, Assumption, All Saints and Christmas.
(WEBMASTER'S NOTE:) The celebration of the Vigil of All Saints was removed from the Calendar in 1960.
- There is no fast or abstinence if a Vigil falls on a Sunday. Whenever meat is permitted, fish may be taken at the same meal.
A dispensation is granted to the laboring classes and their families on all days of fast and abstinence, except Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Wednesday in Holy Week, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas. When any member of such a family lawfully uses this privilege, all the other members may avail themselves of it also; but those who fast may not eat meat more than once a day.
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