Fr. Thomas’ Column
The following is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the "paschal fast" to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
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Just because we have reached the age of 60 does not mean that we should not fast, how many of us would fast for a colonoscopy? And let me tell y’all it is a much harder fast than what the Church is asking us to do. Hopefully this gives us something to think about.
I will be offering extra confessions during Holy Week:
Wednesday, April 1:
STM 5pm - 6 & 6:30pm-7:30
Thursday, April 2:
OLS 10am-11 & 5pm-6:00
“The second precept [of the Church] ("You shall confess your sins at least once a year.") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.” CCC 2042
Fr. Thomas P. Galarneault