Please note that Ash Wednesday is a day of Fast and Abstinence. Note 29 from the Canadian Liturgical Calendar on the place of Penitential discipline within the life of the church is included below.

a) Law of the Gospel: The Church wants new emphasis to be given to the evangelical law that a follower of Christ must do penance. While the heart of penance is hatred for sin as an offence against God (CSL, no. 109b), external forms of penance are required to deepen and encourage the internal virtue.

b) Fridays are days of abstinence from meat, but Catholics may substitute special acts of charity or piety on this day.

c) Lent: The penitential character of Lent is to be maintained. On these days penance is to be considered an important requirement of the Christian life. Fulfillment of this duty involves prayer, works of piety and charity, and self-denial by fulfilling one's obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the prescribed fast and abstinence.

The Paschal Fast is observed on Good Friday and, where possible, continued through Holy Saturday.

In the Roman rite, including Canada, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and of abstinence from meat. It is in the best interests of the Church that these days be proclaimed and practised in the parish community as days of true penance. Pastors are to invite and encourage their people to do special penance on these two days.

d) Privileged forms of penance are to be recommended to the faithful, especially during Lent. These forms are privileged because they are based on the teaching of the gospels (fasting, almsgiving, prayer, works of mercy) or because of their traditional value among the people of God (abstinence from meat).

Christian fasting obtains its full meaning when we deprive ourselves of food in order to be more open for prayer, to share more in the suffering of those who are starving and to save money to give to the poor. Fasting among Christians is a penitential discipline intended to open our hearts to God and others, a means of purification and spiritual liberation, a witness of the depth of our faith.

The law of abstinence from meat binds those who are 14 and older; the law of fasting binds those from 18 to 59 years of age. Parents and educators are reminded of their duty to introduce children gradually to the understanding and practice of penance. Adult example will be the greatest influence in this matter.

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