Victor R. Claveau, MJ
Contrary to common misconception, abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year has never been abolished from Roman law. It was not abolished by Vatican II. It was not abolished by Pope Paul VI or Pope St. John Paul II. It was not abolished by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. It remains the universal law of the Latin Church — even if not everyone has to obey it.
Following the instructions of the Holy See, the obligation both to fast and to abstain from meat, an obligation observed under a stricter formality by our fathers in the faith, still binds on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.
Per the 1983 Code of Canon Law:
Can. 1249: “All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days Christ’s faithful are in a certain special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.”
Note: the law of fast prescribes that only one full meal a day is taken. Two lighter meals are permitted to maintain strength according to each one’s needs. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed. The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, but eggs, milk products, and condiments made from meat may be eaten Fish and cold-blooded animals may be eaten, e.g., frogs, clams, turtles, etc. (Paul VI, apostolic constitution Paenitemini, Feb. 17, 1966, ASS 58 [1966]. Np. III; CLD 6:676-678).
In the USA, Catholics who are fourteen years or older are obliged to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during the season of Lent. Observation of fasting on all weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended.
In Canada, the days of fast and abstinence are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fridays are days of abstinence, but the faithful may substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day (CCLA, 1330).
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
Can. 1250: “The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.”
Can. 1251: “Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.”
Can. 1252: “The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority,[i] until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence are taught the true meaning of penance.”
Can. 1253: “The Bishop’s conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence can be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.”
Note the reasoning: Penance is not man’s idea, but God’s.
[i] Can. 97 §1. A person who has completed the eighteenth year of age has reached majority; below this age, a person is a minor.
§2. A minor before the completion of the seventh year is called an infant and is considered not responsible for oneself (non sui compos). With the completion of the seventh year, however, a minor is presumed to have the use of reason.
Can. 98 §1. A person who has reached majority has the full exercise of his or her rights.
§2. A minor, in the exercise of his or her rights, remains subject to the authority of parents or guardians except in those matters in which minors are exempted from their authority by divine law or canon law. In what pertains to the appointment of guardians and their authority, the prescripts of civil law are to be observed unless canon law provides otherwise or unless in certain cases the diocesan bishop, for a just cause, has decided to provide for the matter through the appointment of another guardian.