During Lent, the Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting, and to giving alms. Prayer is the sacred experience and encounter with God, a moment of intentional intimacy with God. Fasting disciplines the body, killing the attractions of the human flesh and makes the human being more attentive and spiritually alert to God. Almsgiving (to give) reminds us that we cannot love God without loving the neighbor, and that for the Christian, the way to God always passes through the way to the neighbor, for God is love (1 John 4:8). The Holy Season of Lent is a reminder of God's unconditional love, the measure of God's love which is to love without measure. That is the story of Lent, namely, God's gift of his Son, for the salvation of the world. ~ Fr. Maurice

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years and older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all *Fridays of Lent.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics over the age of 18 but not yet 59. Those bound by this may only take one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

Catholics should not lightly excuse themselves from these prescribed minimal practices.

(Those who are ill, pregnant, on medication or special diets for health concerns, or those who work at extremely physical jobs may be exempt from these regulations.)

*In the United States, the bishops have asked Catholics over the age of 14 to abstain from meat on all Fridays of Lent.