Lent, Fasting & the Liturgical Calendar
How do you fast during Lent?
Catholic fasting during Lent means eating one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal, with no eating between meals. This applies on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All Fridays of Lent require abstaining from meat. Catholics between ages 18 and 59 are bound by the fasting rule; all Catholics 14 and older are bound by the abstinence rule. Specific medical and pastoral exceptions apply.
What are the Catholic fasting rules?
The Church's fasting rules apply on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: one full meal and two smaller meals (which together don't equal a full meal), with no eating between meals. Abstinence from meat applies every Friday of Lent for Catholics 14 and older. Fasting applies to those ages 18–59 unless exempted by health or pastoral need. Many Catholics also voluntarily take on additional fasting practices as penance and spiritual discipline throughout Lent.
Can Catholics eat meat on Fridays during Lent?
No. Catholics 14 and older are required to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. This is a universal Church law, not merely a local custom. Outside of Lent, the Church still asks Catholics to perform some form of penance on Fridays, though the specific form varies by local episcopal conference.
When does Lent start and end?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday evening at the start of the Mass of the Lord's Supper, which opens the Easter Triduum. Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter Sunday (40 days of fasting, with Sundays excluded from the Lenten fast count). The date changes each year because Easter is a moveable feast — it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Why is it called Good Friday?
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The origin of "Good" is debated: some scholars trace it to an older sense of "good" meaning "holy" or "pious." Others suggest it evolved from "God's Friday." The name is used primarily in English; other languages use names meaning "Holy Friday" (Viernes Santo in Spanish) or "Great Friday" (in many Eastern traditions).
What are the Catholic Holy Days of Obligation in 2026?
In the United States, the Holy Days of Obligation in 2026 are: Mary, Mother of God (January 1), Ascension Thursday (moved to Sunday in most US dioceses — check your diocese), Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Immaculate Conception (December 8), and Christmas (December 25). When a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or Monday, US bishops may transfer the obligation to Sunday or dispense it entirely — check with your local diocese for current practice.
Should Catholics work on Good Friday?
Good Friday is not a Holy Day of Obligation and Catholics are not required by Church law to abstain from work. However, it is considered the most solemn day in the liturgical year, and the Church encourages Catholics to attend the afternoon Celebration of the Lord's Passion, fast and abstain from meat, and spend time in prayer and reflection. Many Catholics voluntarily take time off work when possible as a personal act of devotion.
What is the Divine Mercy Sunday indulgence?
Divine Mercy Sunday is the Second Sunday of Easter, established by Pope John Paul II in 2000. A plenary indulgence (remission of all temporal punishment due to sin) is available to Catholics who, on that day, receive Holy Communion, go to confession within 20 days before or after, pray for the Pope's intentions, and venerate the Divine Mercy image. The indulgence is connected to the revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska and the chaplet of Divine Mercy.
How do Catholics celebrate Easter?
The Catholic celebration of Easter spans the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday) and continues through 50 days of the Easter Season until Pentecost. The Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday night is the liturgical centerpiece, featuring the blessing of the Easter fire, proclamation of the Exsultet, Scripture readings, baptisms, and first Eucharist for catechumens. For an Easter resource, check out the book Living Easter.
What is the difference between a partial and plenary indulgence?
An indulgence is the remission of temporal punishment due to sin — distinct from the forgiveness of sin itself. A partial indulgence removes some temporal punishment; a plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment for sins already forgiven through confession. A plenary indulgence requires: being in a state of grace, receiving communion, going to confession within 20 days, praying for the Pope's intentions, and performing the specific indulgenced act with complete detachment from sin.
Choosing a Catholic Bible
What Catholic Bible should I buy?
For most Catholic adults, the best starting Bible is one with clear translation notes, cross-references, and study features aligned with Church teaching. Ave Maria Press publishes The AVE Catholic Notetaking Bible — designed for active engagement with wide margins for notes — and Living the Word Catholic Women's Bible, which offers lectionary-based reflections for women's study and daily reading.
Which Catholic Bible is the best?
There is no single best Catholic Bible — it depends on your purpose. The AVE Catholic Notetaking Bible — designed for study and notes — and Living the Word Catholic Women's Bible, for women's faith formation. For ease of reading, the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is the translation used at Mass in the US. All of these are approved by the Catholic Church for private use and study.
What is the difference between a Catholic and Protestant Bible?
The Catholic Bible contains 73 books; most Protestant Bibles contain 66. The 7 additional books — Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch, plus additions to Daniel and Esther — are called the Deuterocanonical books by Catholics and "Apocrypha" by most Protestants. These books were included in the Greek Septuagint used by early Christians and were removed by Protestant reformers in the 16th century.
Why does the Catholic Bible have more books?
The Catholic Bible includes 7 books not found in Protestant Bibles because Catholics recognize the Deuterocanonical books as Scripture, following the canon of the Greek Septuagint — the version of the Old Testament used by Jesus and the early Church. Protestant reformers in the 16th century removed these books to align with the Hebrew canon used by post-Temple rabbinic Judaism. The Catholic Church reaffirmed the 73-book canon at the Council of Trent (1546).
What is a journaling or notetaking Bible?
A notetaking or journaling Bible is printed with extra-wide margins — typically 2–2.5 inches — specifically designed to allow readers to write notes, reflections, prayers, and cross-references directly on the page. They are popular for personal Bible study, spiritual direction, and faith journaling. Ave Maria Press offers these bibles, available in hardcover and imitation leather.
Which Catholic Bible is easiest to read?
The Good News Translation (GNT) and the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are generally considered the most accessible Catholic Bibles for everyday reading. The NABRE is the translation used at Mass in the United States and includes study notes. For a more literary reading experience that is still faithful and approved, the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) is widely regarded as clear and elegant.
Is the RSV2CE a good Catholic Bible translation?
Yes. The Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) is widely considered one of the best Catholic Bible translations for study and devotional reading. It combines literary precision with doctrinal fidelity and has received ecclesiastical approval for use in Catholic seminaries and study programs.
What translation does the Catholic Church use?
The Catholic Church uses different translations for different purposes. At Mass in the United States, the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is the approved liturgical translation. For the Liturgy of the Hours, the Grail Psalter is used for the Psalms. For catechesis and study, the Church approves several translations including the RSV2CE and Jerusalem Bible. The Latin Vulgate remains the official text for doctrinal reference.
Catholic Sacraments & Milestones
What is a good gift for a First Communion?
Meaningful First Communion gifts include a personal Bible, a journal, or a devotional book appropriate for the child's age. Ave Maria Press offers the book First Communion and Beyond as a preparation guide. A rosary, a saint's biography, or a personalized prayer book are also traditional and lasting gifts.
What is a good Confirmation gift?
Confirmation gifts should reflect the sacrament's significance as a mature commitment of faith. Ave Maria Press offers confirmation books for anyone deepening their understanding of the faith. A rosary, crucifix, or saint medal are also traditional choices.
What do you give as a Catholic wedding gift?
Catholic wedding gifts often reflect the spiritual dimension of marriage. A classic and widely-used resource is Together for Life — the most-used Catholic marriage preparation booklet in the United States.
Why do Catholics confess to a priest?
Catholics confess to a priest because Christ gave the Apostles the authority to forgive sins (John 20:22–23: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven"). The priest acts not in his own name but in the person of Christ. The Sacrament of Reconciliation also provides the grace to avoid sin in the future, not just forgiveness of past sins. The seal of confession is absolute — a priest may never reveal what is confessed under any circumstances.
Can I take Catholic Communion as a non-Catholic?
No. The Catholic Church reserves Eucharistic Communion for Catholics who are in a state of grace and who believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is not meant as exclusion but as an acknowledgment that the Eucharist is a sign of full unity in faith — a unity that does not yet exist between Catholics and other Christian denominations. Non-Catholics are welcome at Mass and are invited to receive a blessing instead of Communion by crossing their arms over their chest.
What happens at a Catholic baptism?
At a Catholic baptism, the priest or deacon pours water over the candidate's head three times (or immerses them) while saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Additional rites include anointing with chrism oil, clothing in a white garment, and presentation of a lit candle. Parents and godparents make promises to raise the child in the faith. For adults, baptism occurs at the Easter Vigil following a period of OCIA formation.
What books are used in Catholic marriage preparation?
The most widely used resource in Catholic marriage preparation in the United States is Together for Life, given to couples at their wedding ceremony as a guide to the Rite of Marriage. For pre-marriage preparation courses, couples often use programs like Formed, Engage, or For Your Marriage (USCCB).
