<P> For other Latin Catholics , by the early 20th century the theoretical obligation of the penitential fast throughout Lent except on Sundays was to take only one full meal a day . In addition , a smaller meal , called a collation , was allowed in the evening , and a cup of some beverage , accompanied by a little bread , in the morning . In practice , this obligation , which was a matter of custom rather than of written law , was not observed strictly . The 1917 Code of Canon Law allowed the full meal on a fasting day to be taken at any hour and to be supplemented by two collations , with the quantity and the quality of the food to be determined by local custom . The Lenten fast ended on Holy Saturday at noon . Only those aged 21 to 59 were obliged to fast . As with all merely ecclesiastical laws , particular difficulties , such as strenuous work or illness , excused one from observance , and a dispensation from the law could be granted by a bishop or parish priest . In addition to fasting , abstinence from meat was to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays and Saturdays in Lent . A rule of thumb is that the two collations should not add up to the equivalent of another full meal . Rather portions were to be : `` sufficient to sustain strength , but not sufficient to satisfy hunger '' . The apostolic constitution Paenitemini of 17 February 1966 reduced the fasting days to two : Ash Wednesday and Good Friday , and allowed episcopal conferences to `` substitute abstinence and fast wholly or in part with other forms of penitence and especially works of charity and the exercises of piety '' . This was made part of the 1983 Code of Canon Law , which made obligatory fasting for those aged between 18 and 59 , and abstinence for those aged 14 and upward . The Irish Catholic Bishops ' Conference decided to allow other forms of Friday penance to replace that of abstinence from meat , whether in Lent or outside Lent , suggesting alternatives such as abstaining from some other food , or from alcohol or smoking ; making a special effort at participating in family prayer or in Mass ; making the Stations of the Cross ; or helping the poor , sick , old , or lonely . The Catholic Bishops ' Conference of England and Wales made a similar ruling in 1985 but decided in 2011 to restore the traditional year - round Friday abstinence from meat . The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has maintained the rule of abstention from meat on Friday only during Lent . </P>
<P> For other Latin Catholics , by the early 20th century the theoretical obligation of the penitential fast throughout Lent except on Sundays was to take only one full meal a day . In addition , a smaller meal , called a collation , was allowed in the evening , and a cup of some beverage , accompanied by a little bread , in the morning . In practice , this obligation , which was a matter of custom rather than of written law , was not observed strictly . The 1917 Code of Canon Law allowed the full meal on a fasting day to be taken at any hour and to be supplemented by two collations , with the quantity and the quality of the food to be determined by local custom . The Lenten fast ended on Holy Saturday at noon . Only those aged 21 to 59 were obliged to fast . As with all merely ecclesiastical laws , particular difficulties , such as strenuous work or illness , excused one from observance , and a dispensation from the law could be granted by a bishop or parish priest . In addition to fasting , abstinence from meat was to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays and Saturdays in Lent . A rule of thumb is that the two collations should not add up to the equivalent of another full meal . Rather portions were to be : `` sufficient to sustain strength , but not sufficient to satisfy hunger '' . The apostolic constitution Paenitemini of 17 February 1966 reduced the fasting days to two : Ash Wednesday and Good Friday , and allowed episcopal conferences to `` substitute abstinence and fast wholly or in part with other forms of penitence and especially works of charity and the exercises of piety '' . This was made part of the 1983 Code of Canon Law , which made obligatory fasting for those aged between 18 and 59 , and abstinence for those aged 14 and upward . The Irish Catholic Bishops ' Conference decided to allow other forms of Friday penance to replace that of abstinence from meat , whether in Lent or outside Lent , suggesting alternatives such as abstaining from some other food , or from alcohol or smoking ; making a special effort at participating in family prayer or in Mass ; making the Stations of the Cross ; or helping the poor , sick , old , or lonely . The Catholic Bishops ' Conference of England and Wales made a similar ruling in 1985 but decided in 2011 to restore the traditional year - round Friday abstinence from meat . The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has maintained the rule of abstention from meat on Friday only during Lent . </P>
when did the practice of giving up something for lent begin
when did the practice of giving up something for lent begin
1985
1985