19/02/2026
LENTEN 2026
1. The Simple Calendar
There are only 7 specific days during the 40 days of Lent where these rules are required:
2. What do the rules actually mean?
-Abstinence (No Meat)
Who: Everyone 14 years old and up.
The Rule: Do not eat meat from mammals (beef, pork, lamb) or birds (chicken, turkey).
What is okay: Fish, seafood, eggs, milk, and cheese are all permitted.
-Fasting (Eating Less)
Who: Adults ages 18 to 59.
The Rule: You may eat one full meal. You can also have two smaller "snacks" to maintain strength, but they cannot add up to a second full meal.
The Catch: No snacking or eating between meals is allowed on fast days.
3. Summary Checklist
Fridays: Just skip the meat. (Chicken and Beef ❌ | Fish and Eggs ✅)
Ash Wednesday & Good Friday: Skip the meat AND cut back on how much you eat.
Sundays: You are not required to fast or abstain on Sundays.
Exceptions: If you are sick, pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a medical condition (like diabetes), you are exempt from these rules.
Source:
Canon Law: (Canons 1249–1253)
Breaking Down the Canons (1249–1253)
Canon 1249: All faithful are divine-law bound to do penance. Lent is the designated time to do this together as a community.
Canon 1250: Defines the Days of Penance as every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Canon 1251: * Abstinence (no meat) is observed on all Fridays (unless a Solemnity falls on that Friday).
Fasting AND Abstinence together are observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Canon 1252: Sets the age limits:
Abstinence: Starts at age 14.
Fasting: Starts at age 18 and lasts until the beginning of age 60.
Canon 1253: Allows local Bishops to further explain or adjust how these rules are applied in their specific country.
