Well, tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Per the ol’ Code of Canon Law, all us Catholics who are between 18 and 59 are supposed to fast and participate in abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays throughout Lent. Fasting is an interesting thing; to me, fasting would seem to mean the absence of food. The Catholic Church thinks that fasting is “one full meal during the day.” And a light snacks for breakfast. And maybe a snack in the afternoon. Or in the evening. This is the kinder, gentler Church, I suppose.
According the the American Catholic, in addition to fish it’s still okay to eat eggs, milk products or condiments that are made from animal fat; chicken broth is okay, gravies are fine, sauces flavored with meat are coolio, butter, margarine, and lard – the staples of the American kitchen are “permissible,” and se can even slather even bacon drippings on our Lenten lettuce for a tasty salad – even if said dripping include bits of meat. Continue reading