How to Fast During Lent

Lent is a special time during the year when the Church remembers Jesus Christ's time in the desert. He spent 40 days there preparing for His ministry, so Catholics fast for 40 days to prepare for Good Friday and Easter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Fast on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent. The Catholic Church requires that you abstain from meat and eat only one full meal on these days. You may eat up to two snacks in addition to your meal, as long as they do not equal a complete meal.

2. Add your own sacrifice to the required fast. For example, give up desserts or eating between meals. Some people give up meat for all of Lent.

3. Take up a new spiritual practice during Lent. Try saying the Rosary every day or going to daily Mass more often. Read a chapter from the Bible each night or another spiritual book.

4. Team with a friend to make sure that you both stick to your Lenten promises. Accountability makes it easier to fight temptation and encouragement will help you recover if you slip.

Tips & Warnings

• If your stomach reminds you of your hunger, take a moment to pray. Remind yourself why you are fasting and ask God for help. It is also helpful to offer your fast along with prayers for someone you love.
• Think of fasting as a gift to God. You shouldn't have another motive for fasting, such as losing weight.

[sunshyne136]

on 3/10/2009 What if your first thought was, "I might lose weight, yay!" Does this make me wretched?I am deciding to change my heart. Will my fast still count?

[arunkumar2s]

on 2/24/2009 yes, You can take one meal per day during Ash Wed and fridays. you can take when ever you prefer. what I suggest is take in the afternoon between 1 to 2. It is good to have water how much as u want. what i mean of lent is sacrifice nothing els but think deep..

[amcooremans]

on 1/26/2009 only on ash wed and fridays. you can eat it anytime. you can drink as much water as you want. yes, unless you personally decide to give up meat for the whole forty days

[isaac7]

on 1/12/2009 Hi Friends,
Can someone help me to know how to fast during Lent.
1.Do i need to take one meal per day for the whole 40 days or its on only Ash Wed and Fridays? and if so,when can I take that one meal, in the noon or in the evening?
2.Can I take water as many times in a day?
3.Am I allowed to take meat on other days except on Ash wed and Fridays during Lent period?