A Table of Fast and Abstinence

Abstinence means only to avoid eating certain kinds of food, i.e., flesh meat (pork, beef, chicken) and their juices (e.g., broth, gravy, etc.).

All Fridays throughout the year are days of abstinence.

Fasting *includes abstinence* but also means to decrease how often (i.e., no eating before noon) and how much we eat (i.e., only one full meal per day plus a smaller meal, about one-fourth of a usual meal, if needed).

Days of fasting:

- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Advent
- Every day in Lent (Sundays excepted)
- Ember days (The Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after the 3rd Sunday in Advent, 1st Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Pentecost, and the Feast of the Holy Cross on September 14)

- The vigils of Pentecost, the Assumption, All Saints, and Christmas