2024 Lenten regulations, admonitions for the Diocese of Jefferson City
As another Lenten journey of conversion begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, and ends with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024, Holy Mother Church calls all Catholics to a deeper spirit of penance, fasting, almsgiving and prayer, “which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others” (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1434 & 1969).
In order to foster a greater spirit of penance, of reparation for sin, to encourage self-denial, and so guide us more closely in the footsteps of Christ, Holy Mother Church reminds us of the following obligations of fast and abstinence during Lent and also admonishes us all to deeper prayer and worship.
Obligations
Abstinence — All who have celebrated their 14th birthday are bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
Fasting — Everyone, from the celebration of their 18th birthday to their 59th birthday, is bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting is generally understood to mean eating only one full meal each day. Two other partial meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken; but together they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed.
Voluntary fasting on other weekdays of Lent is highly recommended. But please note: when health or ability to work would be seriously affected, neither the obligations of fasting nor abstinence obliges.
These are minimal penitential practices and should not be lightly excused. If in doubt, please consult your parish priest.
Other recommended forms of fasting, including alcoholic drink, needless television, video games, internet use, and social entertainment, are of true spiritual value and strongly encouraged.
Almsgiving — The act of giving to the poor, in the most ancient tradition of the Church, is an expression of penance, a witness of fraternal charity and an expression of Lenten conversion.
Therefore, all Catholics are encouraged to support generously the charitable works of the whole Church — through regular stewardship to their parish and support of charities.
Prayer — In order to deepen one’s love for Christ, Catholics are urged to participate in the Sacramental life of the Church during Lent by attending daily Mass and frequenting the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
Admonitions
Baptism — “To illustrate the paschal character of Baptism, it is recommended that the sacrament be celebrated at the Easter Vigil or on a Sunday, when the Church commemorates the Resurrection of the Lord.” (Order of Baptism of Children, no. 9).
Baptisms may certainly take place during Lent, preferably on a Sunday, but any day other than Good Friday and Holy Saturday (and even then in the case of danger of death).
Confirmation — Any persons who were baptized Catholic but never catechized and who now wish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, may be confirmed by a priest at the Easter Vigil (or any other time) only if written delegation is given to the priest by the diocesan bishop.
The priest is asked to contact Bishop W. Shawn McKnight in writing well in advance of the Easter Vigil outlining the candidate’s full name; the date and church of baptism, and explain the reason for this request. Bishop McKnight will gladly consider each pastoral request on an individual basis.
Reconciliation — Lent is also a privileged time for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, including its communal celebration. Church law does not permit general absolution at communal celebrations of Reconciliation.
Regarding the Sacrament of Reconciliation for baptized adults seeking full communion with the Church, any previously baptized adult to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church should appropriately celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Easter Vigil.
Wedding Masses — Wedding Masses may not be celebrated during the Easter Triduum, on the Sundays of Lent, on Ash Wednesday or during Holy Week.
Marriages that do take place at other times during the season of Lent should be according to the proper liturgical norms and provisions, mindful of the penitential spirit of the season.
According to the instructions given in the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, the Gloria is to be sung, or at the very least, recited, at all wedding Masses, including those celebrated during Lent.
Funeral Masses — Funeral Masses may not be celebrated on Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday, nor on the Sundays of Lent. When pastoral reasons require a funeral to be celebrated on these days, a Liturgy of the Word with the Final Commendation is to be held.
Holy Saturday — Mass may not be celebrated on Holy Saturday, March 30, 2024, except the Easter Vigil, which may be celebrated only after nightfall.
Easter Duty — All Catholics who have been initiated into the Holy Eucharist are bound to receive Holy Communion worthily at least once during the Easter Season.
Of course, Catholics are encouraged to receive Holy Communion as often as possible, not only during Eastertide.
However, anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before approaching to receive Holy Communion.
Covering of crosses and images in Lent — From a rubric of the Roman Missal for the Fifth Sunday of Lent: “In the dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday of Lent may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.”
Neither the Stations of the Cross nor stained glass windows are ever veiled.
The veils are usually made of lightweight purple cloth without any decoration.
Use of Holy Water during Lent — The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has stated (3/14/03: Prot. N. 569/00/L): “This Dicastery is able to respond that the removing of Holy Water from the fonts during the season of Lent is not permitted, in particular, for two reasons:
“1. The liturgical legislation in force does not foresee this innovation, which in addition to being ‘praeter legem’ is contrary to a balanced understanding of the season of Lent, which though truly being a season of penance, is also a season rich in the symbolism of water and baptism, constantly evoked in liturgical texts.
“2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of the sacraments is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The ‘fast’ and ‘abstinence’ which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church.
“The practice of the Church has been to empty the Holy Water fonts on the days of the Sacred Triduum in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil, and it corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated (i.e., Good Friday and Holy Saturday).”
Musical Instruments during Advent and Lent — The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2011) states in no. 313:
“In advent the use of the organ and other musical instruments should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord.
“In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and feasts.”
