During Lent, the Church asks us to lean on three spiritual pillars: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, for our preparation for Easter. How am I to fast? The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church tells us that fasting and abstinence is mandatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and we must keep abstinence all Fridays of Lent (Canon § 1251).
Fasting consists of limiting yourself to only one main meal, which can be accompanied by two smaller meals during the day, avoiding eating any other food between these meals; abstinence consists of not eating meat of mammals and poultry, this also includes soups and creams since the flavor of meat also persists these meals as well.
It is important to understand that these acts are performed as penance, as our spiritual preparation for the most important feast of the Catholic Church: the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let us remember the words with which Jesus responded to the disciples of John the Baptist when they asked him: “How is it that your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast ” (Matthew 9:14-15).
Let us practice fasting and abstinence, not only on the days and with the food that have been required of us, but let us try to extend this penance for our spiritual purification, since the time of Lent reminds us that the bridegroom has been taken from us, and fasting during Lent is the expression of our solidarity with Jesus Christ.