The Rule of 1221 and Statutes, Chapter 3: Fasting
Article 8: Rule
From the Pasch of the Resurrection to the feast of All Saints they are to fast on Fridays. From the feast of All Saints until Easter they are to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, but still observing the other fasts enjoined in general by the Church.
Article 8: Statutes
a. All Fridays are days of fast for penitents throughout the year unless a Solemnity in the Church. From the Feast of All Saints until Easter, penitents are to fast on Wednesdays as well as Fridays. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are always days of abstinence, following Article 6 unless a Solemnity in the Church.
b.Fasting guidelines shall follow current Church law and are listed in Appendix A although the penitent may fast more and in a different manner if they wish. Questions should be referred to the penitent’s spiritual advisor or director.
c. The amount of food eaten on fast days will be particular to the individual penitent who may feel hungry but should not feel debilitated, drowsy, or ill. The penitent should consult a spiritual director or confessor, or, if needed, a physician regarding the amount of food to be eaten.
Article 9: Rule
They are to fast daily, except on account of infirmity or any other need, throughout the fast of St. Martin from after said day until Christmas, and throughout the greater fast from Carnival Sunday until Easter.
Article 9: Statutes
a. Penitents are to observe a pre-Christmas fast from November 12, the day after the Feast of St. Martin, until Christmas and a pre-Easter fast from Ash Wednesday until Easter.
b. Penitents who are guests in the homes of others, or who have been invited out to eat, are permitted to eat what is set before them unless that day is a day of fast and/or abstinence enjoined by the Church.
c. Sundays and Church Solemnities are never days of fast or abstinence. These include the Octave of Christmas, the Feasts of New Year’s, Epiphany, Annunciation, the Octave of Easter, and the Feasts of the Ascension, Assumption, All Saints, Immaculate Conception, and all other Solemnities of the Church.
d.Penitents are permitted to celebrate birthday parties, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and other special occasions unless these would fall on a fast day enjoined by the Church. Fasting and abstinence is not required at these events, but is permitted if kept invisible to others.
e. Additional exceptions to the fasting provisions of this Rule are listed under Articles 6, 10, and 11 and in Appendix A, or may be designated by an individual’s spiritual director or confessor.
Article 10: Rule
Sisters who are pregnant are free to refrain until their purification from the corporal observances except those regarding their dress and prayers.
Article 10: Statutes
a. All pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are exempt from fasting and abstinence both by the Church and the Rule.
Article 11: Rule
Those engaged in fatiguing work shall be allowed to take food three times a day from the Pasch of the Resurrection until the Dedication feast of St. Michael. And when they work for others it will be allowed them to eat everything served to them, except on Fridays and on the fasts enjoined in general by the Church.
Article 11: Statutes
a. Fatiguing work may be either physical or mental as determined by the penitent.
b.. Those engaged in fatiguing work are not bound to fast or abstain while working. They are bound to follow, however, the days of fast and abstinence enjoined by the Church unless their spiritual director or confessor exempts them.