FASTING
In the dioceses in the United States, Catholics aged 18 through 59 are bound to fast on both Ash Wednesday (March 5) and Good Friday (April 18).
To fast means to consume one full meal a day at most, although taking of other, smaller quantities of food at the other customary mealtimes is permitted. Food and drink between meals (excepting water and medicine) is not permitted on fast days.
ABSTINENCE FROM MEAT
Catholics aged 14 and up are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.
To abstain means refraining from eating beef, veal, pork, or poultry at least, although eggs, milk products, or meat broths or condiments made from animal fat are OK. The consumption of fish and shellfish is permitted. However, it should always be kept in mind that abstinence is meant to be a penitential practice, not exchanging one delicacy for another.
EASTER DUTY
All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept is to be fulfilled during the Easter Season unless it is fulfilled, for a just cause, at some other time during the year. This period is extended to include all the weeks of Lent and the Easter Season, and extending beyond to Trinity Sunday (June 15).
LENTEN PRACTICES
The faithful are encouraged during Lent to attend daily Mass, receive Holy Communion, participate in penance services, and receive sacramental absolution; to take part in public and private exercises of piety, give generously to works of religion and charity, perform acts of kindness toward the sick, aged and the poor; to practice voluntary self-denial, especially regarding food, drink and worldly amusements; and to pray more fervently, particularly for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls this year on March 5. Ashes are to be blessed as a sign of our entry into a season of conversion, repentance, and reconciliation. Ashes are to be blessed by a bishop, priest, or deacon. Others may be associated with the clergy in the distribution of ashes.
Wedding Masses may not be celebrated on Ash Wednesday, on Sundays of Lent, during Holy Week, or during the Easter Triduum. It is also contrary to the penitential spirit of the season of Lent to celebrate elaborate weddings with an excessive number of attendants and lavish decorations.
Funeral Masses may not be celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday, nor on the Sundays of Lent. When pastoral reasons require that a funeral be celebrated on these days, only a Funeral Outside of Mass may be held.
To afford the faithful opportunities to participate in Lenten prayer services, pastors are encouraged to have such prayer services at least twice a week, including the Way of the Cross on Fridays, Exposition and Benediction, Evening Prayer and evening Masses. A homily or instruction should be included.
BLESSING OF THE OILS AND CONSECRATION OF THE CHRISM
In order to allow participation of Catholics throughout the islands, the Sacred Oils will be blessed during the Chrism Mass to be celebrated in several locations. All are encouraged to join in one of the following celebrations:
- a. Big Island: Thursday, March 27 at 6 pm, Annunciation Church, Waimea
- b. Kauai: Tuesday, April 1 at 7 pm, St. Catherine Church, Kapaa
- c. Maui: Thursday, April 3 at 7 pm, Christ the King Church, Kahului
- d. Oahu: Thursday, April 10 at 7 pm, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu
THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM
“Since Christ accomplished his work of human redemption and of the perfect glorification of God principally through his Paschal Mystery, in which by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising restored our life, the sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord shines forth as the high point of the entire liturgical year” (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, #18). Three major liturgical principles may be of help here:
- a. The Triduum may be viewed a single liturgical action that occurs over a period of three days.
- b. The Triduum is not part of Lent, but in its entirety, celebrates the Easter event.
- c. The entire focus of the Triduum is on the Triumph of the Cross and the Resurrection.
When pastoral necessity requires it, the local Ordinary may allow duplicate liturgies on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, but not the Easter Vigil.
