“The Lenten penitential practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not intended as a covert season of self-improvement, or worse, a time of self-bashing because we are sinners (even though we are), but are instead intended to help create an ever-larger space within our hearts to love. The practices are focused on dying to self so that we are expanded in our capacity to love. We seek deeper conversion and deeper love. By denying ourselves some good, we die to ourselves a little, so that we can grow more in love of God and neighbor. We die to self to grow in love.”
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence (no meat) for Catholics.
All Catholics 18 and over should fast (excluding those who cannot fast because of health reasons, or those who are pregnant or nursing).
Fasting means you only have one full meal during the day (or you can have two small meals instead). Abstinence applies to those who are 14 years and older.
All Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.
During Lent we are preparing ourselves for Easter and for the renewal of our baptismal promises. We should make a renewed effort to set aside scheduled time for prayer and to offer up little prayers throughout the day for our continued conversion and for the conversion of others.
As we prepare for Easter and the grace that it brings, we make sacrifices and think of others rather than ourselves. We may go without little luxuries so that we can give more to those who are in need (almsgiving).
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