Catholic Faith Refresher Course

"Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting and weeping and in mourning." (Joel

 DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT In the previous lesson you learned of the enonn ity of sin. You realize now the necessity of doing penance for your sins. There are many works of penance you can do. We present fast and abstinence to you because this is a penance imposed under pain of sin on all Catholics. It is not just a custom like wearing a hat or not wearing a hat in church. The Catholic Church follows the warning of Our Lord: "Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3); and she obliges us under pain of mortal sin to fast and abstain. Be sure to understand the obligation of fast and abstinence.

A. FAST AND ABSTINENCE ARE NECESSARY TO SA VE YOUR SOUL In the first lessons we asked you, "Of what should you take more care-your soul or your body?" And you saw that it was reasonable to give more effort to the care of your soul.

What leads you into sin? Itis usually your body. Frequently enough the sinner is one who has too much love for his own body, too much love of sensuous pleasure, too much love of drink. This is the age of the senses; the soul is almost forgotten. In America we have many things to please our senses, but very little for the good of our souls. We Americans have clean, comfortable homes. We have every sort of soap and beautifier for the body-for men and women alike! We have luxurious sports cars, whose motors purr like contented kittens. We have the finest in alcoholic drinks.

We cater to the tastes of our children by giving them lots of ice cream and candy and they grow up always wanting to satisfy their senses. Someone said, perhaps rightly, that Americans dig their graves with their teeth. This is the age of the senses.

What does the Bible tell us? In the Bible St. Paul says: " I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps having preached to others I myself should become a castaway. " Saint Paul, who said this, was a bishop; he was afraid of losing heaven if he did not chastise his body. The Bible warns us that the sensual man does not perceive the spiritual truths ofGod: "But the sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit ofCod. For it isfoolishness to him: and he cannot understand." (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Christ Himself fasted for our sins: " And Jesus ...was led by the spirit into the desert for the space of forty days, and was tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry." (Luke 4..1-2)

According to St. Matthew's Gospel, chapters sixteen and seventeen, Our Lord taught the Apostles about fasting and penance. Christ told them that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients, scribes and chief priests, and be put to death. But St. Peter objected. He wanted glory and pleasure. Our Lord warned the twelve Apostles on that occasion: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Then Our Lord brought them up to the mountain and He was transfigured before them ( Matthew 17). When they came down from the mountain a man fell on his knees before Our Lord and said to Him: "Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fIre, and often into the water; and I brought him to Thy disciples and they could not cure him." Christ cast the devil out of the boy. The Apostles went secretly to Christ and asked Our Lord why they could not cast out the devil. Our Lord's reply was, "But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting." ( Matthew 17..20).

Fasting and abstinence obtain for us special favors from God. The great men and women of the Old and New Testament fasted and prayed to obtain favors from God for the people. Moses, Samson, Elias, Daniel, Judith, Esther, St. John the Baptist and St. Paul fasted to get God's grace for the people. By fast and abstinence you make up the punishment due to your sins so that you will not have to suffer so long in purgatory .Fasting and abstinence lifts your mind from earthly things, so that you can put it on heavenly things. Fast and abstinence can prevent diseases caused by eating or drinking too much -ask any physician. Therefore, the laws of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church are not just peculiar customs. They are necessary aids to help us lead a good Christian life.

B. THE LAWS OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE OBLIGE YOU UNDER PAIN OF SERIOUS SIN

The Catholic Church has the power to make laws which we must obey. This power comes from Jesus Christ Himself. Christ told the Church: " Amen,1 say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound also in heaven." (Matthew 18: 18)

When the Church says we must do something under pain of mortal sin, it is a mortal sin to disobey. With the power of Jesus Christ the Church obliges us to obey these laws. Please pay close attention today so that you will understand these laws.

C. THE LAW OF FASTING The law of fasting means that on certain days an adult is pennitted only one full meal with meat, two small meals without meat, and no solids between meals. You may drink liquids such as coffee, milk, soft drinks and so forth between meals. The two small meals put together must not exceed the amount of food taken at the main meal. All Catholics over 21 years of age and not yet 59, who are not sick. pregnant or nursing a baby, or who are not excused by some other very serious reason, are obliged to fast

When must you fast? * You must fast  every day in Lent except Sundays, on December 7 (in the USA), December 24, on the day before Pentecost Sunday and on the Ember Days. You are obliged also to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in Lent. Your parish priest will remind you of these days during the year in the Sunday announcements. You can also look to your yearly calendar for the fast and abstinence days.

* Managers Note: The laws as described above and below are as of the Code of Canon Law proscribed before the Second Vatican Council, and appear as worded in the original text of these lessons.  

D. THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE

The law of abstinence means that on certain days you are not allowed to eat meat. By "meat", the Church means the flesh of any warm-blooded animal or bird, and the soups and gravies made from such flesh. You are permitted to eat sea food: lobsters, turtles, crabs, oysters, frogs, and so forth. Eggs, spaghetti, macaroni and similar dishes are not meat. Chicken, turkey or any fowl is considered meat.

* Every Catholic over seven years of age who has the use of reason must abstain from meat on ALL FRIDAYS of the year.  ( Following the Second Vatican Council, canon law was changed to permit the eating of meat on Fridays, but in place of the abstention from meat, Catholics must make some other sacrifice. *Please see Manager's Note above.)

E. THE LAWS ARE NOT DIFFICULT.  When you become a Catholic, you will realize that the Church is a kind mother. These laws of fast and abstinence are not difficult, but they bind under pain of serious sin. It is just as serious a sin to eat meat on Friday or not to fast on days of fasting, as it is to miss Mass on Sunday. If you think you should be excused from the laws of fast and abstinence, talk to the priest who is in charge of you.

Pay attention to the announcements made by the priest on Sunday; he will warn you when these days come. If a Catholic disobeys the easy laws of God's Church regarding fasting, abstinence or Mass on Sunday, he is apt to disobey the harder laws of God. A good Catholic may sin out of weakness in other things, but he will not deliberately disobey the laws explained to you today. We ask you to fast and abstain during the time of your instructions; it is part of your Christian training.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW OF THIS LESSON

I. Why is fast and abstinence necessary?                         4. When must you fast?

2. Is it a sin to violate the laws of fast and abstinence?   5. What is abstinence?

3. What is meant by fasting?                                           

6. On what days must  you abstain from meat?