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JUBILEE TEACHING

Abstinence from food

JUBILEE TEACHING FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2008 | ASH WEDNESDAY

Traditionally, Catholics practiced various types of abstinence from food as a penance for sins and, therefore, a kind of cleansing, particularly before holy days, but these customs have changed over the years.

One form of abstinence involved having only one full meal per day. Another prescribed the avoidance of meat or meat-based products and flavorings. This practice was reserved for Fridays, in recognition of Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross, and explains why Catholics always ate fish on Fridays. However, it is no longer necessary to abstain from meat on Fridays, although believers may do other forms of penance to commemorate Christ’s suffering. In the United States, Catholics still avoid meat on Fridays during Lent, as well as on Ash Wednesday.

At one time, Catholics were required to fast prior to partaking of the holy Communion (usually from midnight to the following morning, until the Sunday Mass). These fasts are no longer required. Catholics usually abstain from eating one hour prior to Communion.

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Abstinence from food

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