Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14. There is no dispensation given due to it falling on St. Valentine Day. Plan your observance for Fat Tuesday instead! Here are the rules:
Catholics age 14 and older do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Instead of meat many Catholics choose to eat fish – which is why many parishes around the country have fish fries on Fridays during Lent. These are a great opportunity for a parish community to come together to pray and fast.
On Ash Wednesday (February 14) and Good Friday (March 29), Catholics age 18 to 59 also limit the amount of food they eat. Only one full meal, and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal, are eaten. The best rule of thumb is to make sure your meals are smaller than what you would eat on a normal day – and to avoid snacks. Exemption is allowed for pregnant women and those who need regular meals for medical reasons.
“Fasting” is the word used when the amount of food eaten is limited. “Abstinence” is when you completely give something up, like meat, for a set period of time. Both “fasting” and “abstinence” play a role during Lent.
