This week, we're focusing on the second of those three Lenten pillars (and the one that often gets the most air time): fasting.
If you've grown up Catholic, you likely know that the two days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and you're likely familiar with the idea of trying to "work the system," figuring out what the bare minimum of the requirement is and faithfully sticking to it.
I learned recently that there really is no "bare minimum" when it comes to fasting according to the Church. We do have to do it on those two specific days, but what exactly it looks like is a little more flexible. While in the US, we typically stick to "one regular meal and two smaller meals that don't add up to that regular meal," that's not actually a rule per the Code of Canon Law. The Code of Canon Law simply says that fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
The key to fasting on those holy days is to make it penitential. There are no strict rules to follow (except the "no meat" one). As long as we remember why we're fasting (because Jesus loves us so much, He died for us (John 3:16)) and do actually fast, we're good to go. Overall, if we're anxious, we shouldn't worry as there is no defined law on what exactly Lenten fasting looks like. We don't have to be too hard on ourselves. On the other hand, if we're looking for loopholes, we're not really doing this right.
And of course, there are exepmtions - namely, those under 18 years of age, those over 59 years of age, those pregnant or nursing, and any whose health requires they not fast.
But there's more to fasting than counting calories! Many of us also take part in a self-imposed fast during Lent. More commonly, it's referred to as "What'd you give up this year for Lent?"
"Giving something up" for Lent is another form of fasting. We're spending these 40(ish) days fasting from the thing we've "given up" whether it's chocolate or TV or homework (I see you, middle school students!) or anything else! It's all part of fasting (though, you still have to actually fast - from food - on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday).
I've had many Lents where I adopted a self-imposed fast that turned out to be biting off more than I could chew or was hard to keep track of. But one year, I landed on something that was really concrete and I truly stuck to it:
I was an undergrad student with a meal plan. My weakness was fountain soda. I drank it at nearly every meal and always had it with me when I was working in the library. My senior year of college, I gave up soda for Lent. I fasted from soda on all the days of Lent except for Sundays and solemnities. It was difficult! And all the times I approached the soda fountain and poured myself a cup of water instead, I really tried to recall why I was making myself suffer: Because Jesus loves me so much.
Let me tell you - that was the most connected I'd ever felt to the Church Universal. Every day of Lent was tough because I wanted a soda. But those Sundays were like little parties. And I can't recall ever caring about the Solemnity of St. Joseph or the Annunciation more in my previous years. I truly felt connected to the Church calendar because I'd chosen something that (figuratively) hurt to fast from. Then, when I had the chance to break my fast, it felt awesome! There's nothing like partying with the Church.