Why do we fast?

March 2, 2026
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Fasting is more than giving something up — it is making room for God. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics ages 18–59 fast (one full meal; two smaller meals not equal to a full meal). All Catholics 14 and older abstain from meat on those days and on Fridays of Lent. Fasting teaches us: • Gratitude for what we have • Solidarity with the poor • Mastery over our desires • Dependence on God When the body hungers, the soul learns to seek the Bread of Life.
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Why do we fast?

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