Morals of the Church
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Article — Marc, Institutiones Morales

Article II: On the Form of Fast Prescribed by the Church

¶1222.
  1. There are three CONDITIONS which ecclesiastical fast requires: 1. abstinence from certain foods (the law of quality); 2. one meal in the day (the law of quantity); 3. the suitable hour of this meal. Each must be treated.

To be noted. a) Essentially, ecclesiastical fast consists in one meal. This is gathered from the Constitution Non ambigimus of Benedict XIV. For thus the primary end of fast is efficaciously reached, namely mortification of the flesh and diminution of the fervor of passions. Thus St. Alphonsus (III, 1030, q. 1) with St. Thomas.

b) The precept of abstinence from meats or other foods is the necessary complement of the things said above.

c) Determination of the hour of the meal is a less principal part of the whole precept.

The Commandments of GodThe law of fasting

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