The basics of the precept are simple: Catholics are obliged to fast — to limit themselves to one full meal or two lighter meals — and abstain — refrain from eating meat — on certain days. Only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence.

The obligation for fasting and abstinence doesn’t fall on young children or people with health concerns, though they are encouraged to do acts of penance instead. Barring any health concerns that would present extenuating circumstances, the obligation of abstinence begins at the age of 14, and the law of fasting is binding on everyone aged 18 to 59.

In today’s super-sized, secular culture of consumption, the precept for fasting and abstinence may seem out of place. But fasting and abstinence have a long history reaching back to ancient Israel and even non-Christian traditions. In a way, the question isn’t why Catholics happen to fast and abstain, but why others don’t.

“When we fast and abstain we take attention away from ourselves.” “It isn’t meant for weight loss. The tradition is based in the idea of denying oneself to focus on something greater.”

Before the Second Vatican Council, the regulations were much more stringent than they are today. As older Catholics will remember, every Friday of the year was a day of abstinence for all, and every day during Lent was a day of fasting.

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