Fasting | Ask Fr Francis

Except for the prescribed days of fasting (in most places only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) the Church today no longer sees failure to fast as a matter of sin, since punishment alone cannot invite hearts to voluntarily go beyond the mere requirements.

The practice of the Church is that every Christian should regularly perform some acts of penance, this is for the good of the soul, but also for the reparation of sinners in the whole world. One form of this practice is abstinence and fasting.

Ask Fr Francis

Tag: Fasting

I didn’t fast sometimes on Fridays. Is it considered to be a mortal sin for not fasting on Fridays?

On the days of fasting such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics aged 18-59 in Canada are bound to fast; those 14 and older just abstinence. My mom is over 60 so she does not have to fast, but does she still need to abstain from meat?