Often people say that lent had more difficult practices before the changes in the 60s after Vatican II. But it's helpful to know the actual disciplines. We've listed them for you below!
Current Practice | Discipline of 1962 |
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| Days of Abstinence | - Begins on 14th birthday
- Ash Wednesday & Fridays of Lent
- Obliges abstention from flesh meat
| - Applies on one’s 7th Birthday
- Complete Abstinence:
all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas - Partial Abstinence
(meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal):
all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption - Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
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| Days of Penance | - Applies to all the Faithful
- Lent and Fridays outside of Lent
- The obligation to do penance is lifted on Fridays which are also celebrated as a solemnity.
| - Applies on one’s 7th Birthday
- Complete Abstinence:
all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas - Partial Abstinence
(meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal):
all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption - Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
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| Days of Fast | - Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive
- One full meal permitted and two other meals which, when combined, are less than a full meal
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
| - Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive
- Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday, inclusive, Ember Days and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost and the Assumption
- One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal
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| Law of Eucharistic Fast | - Under the new Code of Canon Law, the Fast for Holy Communion is one hour before the reception of the Holy Eucharist. Those who are able to maintain the previous discipline of the three-hour fast are still encouraged to do so.
| - The complete fast from all food and drink (except water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. Those who are able to maintain the midnight fast, which was the previous discipline, are still encouraged to do so.
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| Source: | Mater Dei Parish
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