During fasting in the Catholic Church, Catholics are generally permitted to consume water, other non-alcoholic beverages, and small amounts of food necessary to sustain life.
The Church’s rules on fasting do not require Catholics to abstain from all food and drink but rather to abstain from certain types of food and limit their overall food intake.
For example, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics are required to fast by consuming only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal.
In addition, Catholics are also required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Therefore, while Catholics are permitted to drink water and other non-alcoholic beverages during periods of fasting, they should avoid consuming large amounts of food or indulging in rich or luxurious meals.
The purpose of fasting is to engage in self-denial and to focus on spiritual matters rather than on physical pleasures.
