With Lent now under way, the Archdiocese of Detroit is reminding Catholics of the guidelines for fasting on Ash Wednesday and Fridays.

The Archdiocese of Detroit highlighted Lent in a Facebook post Feb. 28, stating that while Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of total fasting, the Fridays of Lent are only days of abstinence. 

“Fasting and abstinence are two practices we observe during Lent, which tangibly and practically help us detach from worldly things, so that we can unite our suffering to Christ’s and allow Him to reign fully in our hearts,” the Archdiocese of Detroit said on Facebook.

According to the post, on fasting days, those participating limit food intake to one meal per day, with two small snacks permitted throughout the days as long as they, combined, do not exceed the quantity or quality of the meal. All individuals above the age of 18 without health restrictions are called upon to observe a full fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

On the days of abstinence, the archdiocese states individuals commit to going without meat for the day. All individuals above the age of 14 that are able to participate are called on by the church to observe abstinence each Friday.

“This Lent, as you fast and abstain, check the disposition of your heart,” the Archdiocese of Detroit wrote. “Let these small self-denials make you more ready to suffer, die, and rise with Jesus, so that through your faithful observance of Lent, you might wholeheartedly enter into the joy of the Easter season.”

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which this year fell on March 2, and will conclude with the celebration of the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 17.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes Lent as "a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter.” During Lent, Catholics seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture, serve by giving alms and practice self-control through fasting. Traditionally, Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, but the USCCB notes that we are called to practice self-discipline in other ways. The USCCB also notes that Catholics should consider the definition of "almsgiving" to include sharing of time and talents.

During Lent, many Catholics choose to either give something up or add something into their lives in an effort to become closer to God. People might give up an extravagance, such as dessert, or a bad habit, such as smoking.