How to Abstain During Lent

Lent lasts for 40 days, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter. These are the days leading up to the death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Many Christians all over the world abstain--refrain from eating meat--several times during Lent.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Abstain on Ash Wednesday. This is the day that kicks off the beginning of Lent. Abstaining means you can't consume meat or poultry that day. Fish is allowed. You should also fast on Ash Wednesday, which means eating only one meal, but you are allowed two small ones if you need them. All Catholics over the age of 14 are supposed to abstain.
2. Refuse meat on Fridays. Not that long ago, Catholics were not permitted to eat meat on any Friday. That rule has been relaxed to not eating meat on Fridays during Lent.
3. Observe fasting. Also recently changed, fasting used to be observed every day in Lent and some of the older Catholics still do this. This rule was amended to include only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting applies to all Catholics who are at least 18 and younger than 60.
4. Decide to give up something you like. Many Catholics, besides abstaining and fasting during Lent, also give up something they like, such as candy, pizza or alcohol. Rather than giving something up, you also can commit to doing something, like contributing a certain amount a week to the poor during Lent.
5. Remember Sundays are not considered Lent days. The 40 days that are observed don't include Sundays. These are set aside for celebrations. Therefore, if you are fasting or abstaining every day or giving up something, you can relax your restrictions on Sunday.