Rules for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Lenten Fast, Again

This is a repeat of my post from last February, just before Ash Wednesday.  I thought it could use repeating since most people seem to forget from year to year.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.  All Catholics who have reached age 18 and are not yet 60 are required to fast on these days.  All Catholics who are age 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.

 

Fast and Abstinence Requirements for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

--Eat only one regular size meal.

--Eat two smaller meals (or less) that do not equal your main meal.

--Do not eat or snack between meals.

--Do not eat any meat, soup made with meat, gravy, or broth, or any other dish prepared with meat.

 

However, if you cannot, for health reasons, fast think of another sacrifice you can make on those days.  My son is a type 1 diabetic, he is now 19 but he can not fast.  I suggested that he "abstain" from his iPod and computer for the day.  That is a sacrifice for him.

Let's not forget the most important things to remember during Lent: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving.

 

Added 2014:  Why do Catholics fast (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent? [For a full answer go to this article at Catholic.com.]  Here are a few snippets:

"Lent bears particular relationship to the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert before entering into his public ministry (Mt 4:1-11)."

 

"Fasting is a biblical discipline that can be defended from both the Old and the New Testament."

 

"Abstinence from certain foods is also a biblical discipline."

 

"By having the sign of the cross made with ashes on their foreheads, Catholics mourn Christ's suffering on the cross and their own sins, which made that suffering necessary."

Approaching Lent

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I have posted on my blog.  Life gets so complicated and time passes too quickly.  However, we had a wonderful Friday meatless meal that I wanted to share for Lent.

Lenten Dinner 1 (for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, or any Friday meal):

Soup and Salad Menu--Serve with Sour Dough or a good crusty bread and butter

Lobster (or shrimp) Bisque (8 servings)

6 Tbls butter
6 Tbls all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
4 1/2 cups milk
1 1/4 cups chicken stock (may use vegetable stock but I have not tried it)
1/4 cup white wine
3 Tbls minced onion
3 Tbls shredded carrot
3 cups cooked lobster meat, shredded (I used frozen cooked shrimp because Lobster is almost impossible to find in the middle of Oklahoma)
1 Tbls Cognac (I used sherry because I had no cognac, it was delicious)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Prep:
In a large pan over med-high heat, melt butter and then stir in flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Slowly whisk in the milk, chicken stock, and white wine, stirring until smooth and slightly thickened.
Add onions, carrots, and lobster meat (or shrimp); simmer 10 minutes.  Stir in cognac (or sherry) and cream, heat through, and serve hot.
(original recipe can be found here)

Avocado and Romaine Salad (makes 4 servings)

1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Tbls fresh chives, chopped
1 1/3 cup avocado, chopped
3 cups chopped Romaine hearts
2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh dill weed, chopped
Balsamic vinegar dressing (below)

Toss all ingredients and drizzle with dressing.
(Original recipe here.)

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1/4 c. Balsamic Vinegar
3/4 c. Extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. brown sugar (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
garlic powder to taste

Whisk ingredients together.  Let flavors meld in the refrigerator until ready to use.  Whisk again before serving.
(Inspired by Emeril Lagasse's Simple Balsamic Vinegrette)

Divine Mercy Novena - Day One (Good Friday)

The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday.  The chaplet can be said using a regular rosary.  Each day, we pray for a different intention; then pray the chaplet.  Pray along (with the italicized words):

First Day

"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.


Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

"Proclaim to the whole world My unfathomable Mercy . . . proclaim that Mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My Hand are crowned with Mercy."

"Souls who spread the honor of My Mercy, I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a judge for them, but the Merciful Savior . . . Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My Mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My Merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace."