LENT 2026 – Law of Fasting

Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, Feb. 18th, 2026), opens Lent, a season of fasting, prayer, giving gifts, and having fellowship (love and missionary work).

The law of fasting binds all Catholics who are aged between 18 to 60 on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Patients are exempt from fasting. Fasting is when only one full meal is consumed per day. However, consuming little additional food twice is not prohibited. All believers who have attained the age of 14 should make amends every Friday, especially during long-term prayers. You can choose the following ways:

1. Avoid consumption of meat or other foods.

2. Avoid alcoholic beverages, smoking or entertainment.

3. Make a special effort to pray:

– Participating in the Holy Mass

– with the worship of the sacred altar sacrament

– participating in cross-country prayer on Fridays in long-distance prayer.

4. Fasting completely more than is required and giving the money thus saved to those who need it.

5. Show special care to those who are poor, sick, elderly, caring or lonely.

If a Friday prayer is neglected one Friday, it is not regarded as sin.

It should be pointed out, however, that penance is part of the lives of Christians, and they are obliged to do so, not least during the period of fasting.