Sunday, holy days, fasting, and abstinence

Question 389

Which are the chief commandments of the Church?

The chief commandments of the Church are six: 1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation. 2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed. 3. To confess at least once a year. 4. To receive the Holy Eucharist during the Easter time. 5. To contribute to the support of our pastors. 6. Not to marry persons who are not Catholics, or who are related to us within the third degree of kindred, nor privately without witnesses, nor to solemnize marriage at forbidden times.

Question 390

Is it a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation?

It is a mortal sin not to hear Mass on a Sunday or a holyday of obligation, unless we are excused for a serious reason. They also commit a mortal sin who, having others under their charge, hinder them from hearing Mass, without a sufficient reason.

Question 391

Why were holydays instituted by the Church?

Holydays were instituted by the Church to recall to our minds the great mysteries of religion and the virtues and rewards of the saints.

Question 392

How should we keep the holydays of obligation?

We should keep the holydays of obligation as we should keep the Sunday.

Question 393

What do you mean by fast-days?

By fast-days I mean days on which we are allowed but one full meal.

Question 394

What do you mean by days of abstinence?

By days of abstinence I mean days on which we are forbidden to eat flesh-meat, but are allowed the usual number of meals.

Question 395

Why does the Church command us to fast and abstain?

The Church commands us to fast and abstain, in order that we may mortify our passions and satisfy for our sins.

Question 396

Why does the Church command us to abstain from flesh-meat on Fridays?

The Church commands us to abstain from flesh-meat on Fridays, in honor of the day on which our Saviour died.

Holy days and real impediments

Questions 389, 390, 391, 392

Catholics participate in Mass on Sundays and holy days and preserve worship, joy, and rest. Deliberate grave failure differs from inability through illness, caregiving, lack of a minister, or another serious cause. Holy-day lists can be transferred or adapted by episcopal conferences.

Penance of body and heart

Questions 393, 394, 395

Fasting limits food; abstinence refrains from meat or another food designated by competent authority. Universal Latin law binds fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and identifies every Friday and Lent as penitential; ages, dispensations, and local substitutions are governed by current law.

Friday remembers the Passion

Questions 396

Friday penance joins the Church's weekly rhythm to Christ's death. Abstinence is not a judgment that meat is evil; the point is shared conversion expressed through self-denial, prayer, and charity.

Isaiah 58:3–9

Isaiah rejects fasting detached from justice and joins self-denial to liberation, generosity, and care.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Mark 2:18–22

Jesus places fasting in relation to himself and shows that Christian discipline serves the presence and absence of the Bridegroom.

18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. 21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. 22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.