ORLANDO | With Lent beginning Feb. 18, it makes sense to review the rules of abstinence and recall what brought us to the current requirements.
Sixty years ago, Feb. 17, 1966, St. Pope Paul VI promulgated the apostolic constitution Paenitemini, changing the laws regulating fasting and abstinence in the Latin Church. While these observances are rooted in Scripture and tradition, the modern application of these penitential practices changed dramatically over the last century.
Many may recall, Canon 1252 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law mandated abstinence every Friday (c. 1252 §1) and fasting on all days of Lent (c. 1252 §3). It also required fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, every Friday and Saturday of Lent, each of the Ember Days, Pentecost, the Assumption, All Saints, and the Nativity of the Lord (c. 1252 §2). Nonetheless, various indults were granted in the following years which modified these requirements throughout many dioceses.
With the publication of Paenitemini, abstinence was mandated on every Friday which did not fall on a holy day of obligation. Further, fasting and abstinence were only required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The obligation of abstinence was bound to those who completed their 14th year of age and fasting to those who completed their 21st year and up until the beginning of their 60th year.
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence Nov. 18, 1966, implementing the aforementioned changes to U.S. Catholic fasting law. However, they only bound Catholics to abstain from meat every Friday during Lent, terminating the traditional law of abstinence, binding under the pain of sin, on Fridays year-round. This was permitted under Paenitemini, which allowed episcopal conferences to substitute abstinence and fasting, wholly or in part, with other forms of penitence.
This remained the norm in the U.S. until the 1983 Code of Canon Law prompted the NCCB to lower the age of fasting to the completion of the 18th year, solidifying the obligations we hold today.
Fasting means a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but they are not to equal that of a full meal. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states, “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 women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.”
As you begin this 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, join your fasting to that of the saints. St. Augustine said, “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.”
By Lucas Blackwell, Special to the Florida Catholic, February 12, 2026