Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics, as are all Fridays during Lent.

For members of the Latin 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, two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal (liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals). The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards, with exceptions. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris (independent) Church . If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to hon-or the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Absti-nence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consommé, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted.

While fish, lobster and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of absti-nence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point. Abstaining from meat and other indul-gences during Lent is a penitential practice. On the Fridays of Lent, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Good Fri-day and unite ourselves with that sacrifice through absti-nence and prayer.

Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing wom-en. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.