On Ash Wednesday, Catholics are to avoid eating meat (“abstinence”). Furthermore, Catholics should not eat more than one full meal (“fasting”). Two small meals that do not add up to an additional full meal may be eaten if necessary. Why? read more
Consider Mark 2:18–20: 18Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. read more
While Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence (as is Good Friday), every Friday during Lent is a day of abstinence (though not of fasting). The same rules for abstinence apply: All Catholics over the age of 14 must abstain from eating meat and all foods made with meat on all Fridays of Lent unless they have health reasons that prevent them from doing so. read more
Anyone can receive blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, whether Christian or not, to express their desire to grow spiritually and to turn away from their failings, their areas of weakness and brokenness, in favour of seeking the healing and wholeness that only God can give. read more