The norms for the United States, established by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 1966 and reiterated in November
1973, may be summarized as follows:
Abstinence
Everyone older than 14 years of age is bound to observe the law
of abstinence. Abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays within the season of
Lent and on Ash Wednesday.
Fasting
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, everyone over 18 and up to the
beginning of their 60th year also is bound to observe the law of fast. On these
two days only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other meatless meals,
sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs,
but together they should not equal another full meal.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, therefore, are the only days of
both fast and abstinence.
It should be noted also that “the Fridays of the year outside of
Lent remain days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the
traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial
or personal penance; this may be a physical mortification or temperance or acts
of religion, charity or Christian witness.”
With regard to the seriousness of the matter, the teaching of
Pope Paul VI may be simply paraphrased: The obligation to do penance is a
serious one; the obligation to observe, as a whole or “substantially,” the
penitential days specified by the church also is serious. No one should be
scrupulous in this regard; failure to observe individual days of penance is not
considered serious; rather it is the failure to observe any penitential days at
all or a substantial number of days that must be considered serious. People
should seek to do more rather than less; fast and abstinence on the days
prescribed and works of religion and charity on the Fridays outside Lent should
be considered a minimal response to the Lord’s call to penance and conversion
of life.
The Eucharistic fast
Regular meals and solid food or liquid may be taken up to one
hour before receiving holy Communion. Water may be taken at any time; it never
breaks the fast. These regulations apply at all times, whether holy Communion
is received at Mass in the morning, afternoon or evening, or at midnight. The
elderly and those who are suffering from some illness, as well as those who
care for them, may receive the Eucharist even if within the preceding hour they
have consumed something.