Title XIV: Of Abstinence and Fast

The law of abstinence forbids eating meat and broth from meat, but not eggs, dairy foods, and any condiments even from the fat of animals.

§ 1. The law of fast prescribes that only one meal a day be had; but it does not forbid taking something of food in the morning and evening, with the approved custom of places concerning the quantity and quality of foods nevertheless observed.

§ 2. Nor is it forbidden to mix meats and fish in the same refection; nor to exchange the evening refection with lunch.

§ 1. The law of abstinence alone is to be observed on every Friday.

§ 2. The law of abstinence and fast together is to be observed on Ash Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays of Lent and the Ember Days, the vigils of Pentecost, of the God-bearer assumed into heaven, of All Saints, and of the Nativity of the Lord.

§ 3. The law of fast alone is to be observed on all the remaining days of Lent.

§ 4. On Sundays or feasts of precept the law of abstinence, or of abstinence and fast, or only of fast ceases, except during the time of Lent; nor are vigils anticipated; likewise it ceases on Holy Saturday after midday.

By these canons nothing is changed concerning particular indults, concerning vows of any physical or moral person, concerning constitutions and rules of any religion or approved institute, whether of men or women living in common even without vows.

§ 1. All who have completed the seventh year of age are held by the law of abstinence.

§ 2. All are bound by the law of fast from the completed twenty-first year of age to the begun sixtieth.