Fasting during the Easter season

[Kateri89]

I know you’re not supposed to fast during the Easter octave, but what about the rest of the Easter season?

[chrysostom]

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM

The universal norms of the church says that any Friday that is not a solemnity is a day of abstinence from meat. Friday in the Easter Octave is a solemnity, but the rest of the Easter season Fridays are like the rest of the year.

However, as you can see in that document, the church provides for the bishops' conferences to modify the universal norms as they see fit.

If you live in England and Wales, you would need to abstain from meat today.

If you live in the USA, you don't need to abstain from meat on Fridays outside Lent. Here is a good summary of the USCCB's teaching on the matter: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm

If you want to think about the "spirituality" of Fridays in Easter, they are still considered penitential generally.

Quote

22. Friday itself remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year, a time when those who seek perfection will be mindful of their personal sins and the sins of mankind which they are called upon to help expiate in union with Christ Crucified.

23. Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

So penitence is recommended, but not required.

[Kateri89]

4 hours ago, chrysostom said:

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM

The universal norms of the church says that any Friday that is not a solemnity is a day of abstinence from meat. Friday in the Easter Octave is a solemnity, but the rest of the Easter season Fridays are like the rest of the year.

However, as you can see in that document, the church provides for the bishops' conferences to modify the universal norms as they see fit.

If you live in England and Wales, you would need to abstain from meat today.

If you live in the USA, you don't need to abstain from meat on Fridays outside Lent. Here is a good summary of the USCCB's teaching on the matter: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm

If you want to think about the "spirituality" of Fridays in Easter, they are still considered penitential generally.

So penitence is recommended, but not required.

Thanks!