Breaking the fast by having two McDonald’s Fish Filets as my one meal yesterday was a very bad idea. Gluttony in my case swiftly exercised revenge. My Bride and Son had no problem with their individual Fish Filets. On the mend now, but I had to leave Mass yesterday I felt so nauseous, and I have never done that before.
I’m not sure how old you are but I think you’re a little older than me. In my dioceses, I am no longer obliged to fast.
Does yours require it still?
I stay away from eating unnatural things. Square fish is at the top of the list.
Also meals that are unnatural for the region. I once ordered saltwater fish from a restaurant in Western NY.
Never again.
Note to self: when <50 miles from the coast in New England, have fish, clams and lobster. Western NY, order steak; not on days of abstinence of course.
The Filet-O-Fish was divinely inspired! Too enjoyable for days of abstinence …
I am 67. In my diocese the fasting obligation ends at 59. I still fast, along with my Bride. I have the eye of my maternal great-great grandfather on me. He came over on a coffin ship to Newfoundland from Ireland. He would take my Mom to Mass. They would stand in the back and kneel on the stone floor. The man had to be in his eighties at the time. He scorned pews as “Protestant innovations”. Hard core Catholic. (I do love my pew though!)
Every single US diocesan source I’ve found says the obligation to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday applies if you are over 18 and under 59 years of age. I just turned 60 so technically it doesn’t apply to me anymore, but I will try to keep doing it anyway. Dear daughter wanted Little Caesar’s cheese pizza for our meal of the day so that’s what we got. Only $7 and went down just fine.
I wouldn’t chalk it up to age.
I’d chalk it up to chef Alton Brown’s observation that Americans love fried food but we entrust it’s preparation to teenagers in paper hats.
Maybe break the fast with something not from the fryer 🙁
I showed off for my bride last evening by preparing tilapia filets, dredged in whole wheat flour and breadcrumbs, then sautéed in olive oil and garlic, with a sauce of reduced diced tomatoes with basil and oregano. Not convenient but loads of fun to make and eat! Pretending to be a chef is a rewarding hobby. 😁 I realize that meal was hardly sacrificial in nature, but our usual meal for Fridays in Lent is cold tuna salad, so I give us a pass on this one.
I am 70 and still try to follow the fasting rules of today as well as the traditional practice on Vigils and Ember Days (no longer on the official calendar, sadly.) As long as one has no medical or nutritional issues to get in the way, fasting is still a good practice for both spiritual and physical health, regardless of age. To me, the modern rules are just one more unfortunate example of how the hierarchy has taken most of the rigor out of practicing the Catholic faith. I think it shows.
There I go again.
It might just be that you’ve gotten better at fasting– I’ve lost most of what appetite I ever had from decades of dieting*, and have found that if I forget to eat long enough then even an objectively normal size meal can cause serious stomach upset, especially if it’s stuff that is heavier.
We tried Culver’s fish meal last night, I know that’s less than a standard meal size, and it still sat like a lump in my stomach because my stomach hadn’t gotten any work yesterday.
We had our favorite frozen shrimp dinner at home as the crowds at restaurants was to large for the double day celebration. Dinner seemed to have fewer smaller shrimp than I remembered from last year. Shrinkflation, I guess.
I’m 93.8 and did the Ash Wednesday Fast. When I was younger (65 to 70ish) I tried doing the Jewish fast–no food at all, but I took coffee (would not have, had I been strict).
Yesteryear was a day of fasting. No food at all, only water and coffee. I attended two masses during which I had to stand. I recently turned 60 but I see no reason for anyone to stop fasting unless for medical reasons. Fasting is good for the soul and body. BTW, the “fasting” that we do today would have our ancestors both shocked and laughing at us.
“BTW, the “fasting” that we do today would have our ancestors both shocked and laughing at us.”
Good Friday my lady friend had caviar. I asked what it cost. She said : $200. Spahgetti with cheese…about $3.00
To return to physical fitness, I am currently expending between 3000 and 4000 calories per day from morning 4-mile walk, lunchtime weight lifting, and evening 15 to 20-mile stationary bike ride. This morning’s body weight was 202.4 lbs, down from 238 lbs in December, 2022. Average daily blood sugar has been between 90 and 100 mg/dl, compared to 180+ mg/dl in December, 2022. Since I am a diabetic and a recovering cardiac patient 65+ years of age, a Lenten diet would be injurious to health, and medically contraindicated.
What the USCCB calls fasting these days (one complete meal and two smaller meals that together don’t add up to the complete meal) would be considered gluttony for 80% of the world. Poor Cardinal “Diamond Tim” Dolan, because of his typical three lobster dinner, had to suffer through only one lobster each for breakfast and lunch!
It’s not the 4 ounces of fried fish that’ll get you, it’s the pound of tartar sauce.
Our local McDonald’s basically went up in flames a couple of years ago. Despite still being surrounded by construction fencing and optimistic signage, like thorns around Sleeping Beauty’s castle, it has not yet risen from the ashes. It’s a 30 mile round trip to the nearest fish sandwich. I weep.
I agree with those who argue about continuing to fast even if not required. I did. I guess my point is to not fast if something worse happens. Like actually hurting your health or eating two fish fillets.
I’ve been mildly ill this week, so fasting hasn’t been a problem.
CAG wrote:
“Poor Cardinal ‘Diamond Tim’ Dolan, because of his typical three lobster dinner, had to suffer through only one lobster each for breakfast and lunch!”
It isn’t just Cardinal Dolan. There is a certain very traditional Latinist cleric well known in the blogosphere who used to post about all the wonderful fine meals of culinary excellency he ate for his dining pleasure. And yes, he is overweight. Now that said, I am certain all these clerics (especially him) are doing the Lenten Fast. Got no issue with that. Hooray! But speaking as someone whose diet was once way out of control, neither diabetes nor cardiac arterial stents are any fun. St. Paul wrote somewhere that He subjected his body. I really think a low carb, high protein and fiber diet with lots of aerobic exercise would do these clerics a world of good in subjecting their bodies, whether it’s the Lenten Season or not. And I don’t want to hear about all this Latinist Traditionalist piety if the priest (or lay person) spouting it can’t get his (or her) food intake under control. Again, I speak as one who’s been there and done that.
My routine:
4 am –> Morning Rosary and Scripture Reading
Morning meal after 4 mile walk –> eggs, turkey sausage, ham
Lunchtime meal after weight lifting –> salad, cottage cheese
Evening meal after 15 mile bike ride or 5K on the rowing machine –> steak, chicken or salmon, spinach or broccoli, non-sugar yogurt for desert
9 pm –> Evening Prayer and Scripture Reading
Bed
Subject that body regardless of the season. Otherwise, have an 800 pound gorilla pounding on your chest as you’re praying Hail Marys while your spouse drives your sorry behind to the ER at 1130 pm.
Art Deco, I will add you to my sick prayer list tonite.
“Poor Cardinal “Diamond Tim” Dolan, because of his typical three lobster dinner, had to suffer through only one lobster each for breakfast and lunch!” Tell Cardl Dolan: Lobsters are pure cholesterol.
This is my last year of mandatory fast – one more day to go! – and I feel like it’s going to lose its spiritual meaning to me next year. There are very few Church requirements for a layman. I already abstain on Fridays, so I don’t know if Lent will feel different.
Perhaps it is better that the fast does not oblige past a certain age. What we give beyond what is required is often more valuable. Generosity instead of obedience.
I love reading everyone’s fasting schedules.
I broke my Ash Wednesday midday fast with a veggie Subway sandwich.
We normally fast until midday (coffee allowed for sanity) and no meat for the Ash Wednesday and obviously Holy Week. During Lent adults and teens fast till midday, and we abstain from meat Wednesday and Fridays. We have a slight indulgence on Sunday with what we have given up for Lent. ie. 7yo will have an ice cream but understands we don’t binge on ice creams on Sunday. Realistic fasting is achievable and sanctifying.
Many Eastern rites go Vegan. Their Ash Wednesday is an Ash Monday. Although I married in the Maronite Church and baptised my children in the Maronite, I tend to follow the Roman rite. It’s the Aussie in me. (You would get it if you were Australian/Lebanese).
The most impressive Lenten penitential practice I’ve heard of recently is a faculty member at Franciscan University, who, according to Dr. Regis Martin, takes cold showers every morning (except Sundays) from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday. I have tried, and failed, to emulate this practice.
“Tell Cardl Dolan: Lobsters are pure cholesterol.”
… He knows, he’s ‘offering it up’ (with extra butter) … Truly a living saint!
“I am currently expending between 3000 and 4000 calories per day from morning 4-mile walk, lunchtime weight lifting, and evening 15 to 20-mile stationary bike ride.”
How do you do that without constant muscle soreness and always feeling like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck? Or does that just go with the territory when you hit a certain age? I exercise for about 45 minutes 3 days a week and always feel sore and stiff the next day, even when I don’t push myself really hard and take time to warm up and cool down. Could be not drinking enough water or not eating enough protein or eating too many carbs, perhaps.
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