As the holy season of Lent quickly approaches, it has been noted that Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. There will not be a dispensation for Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the Lenten season - one of the holiest seasons in the Catholic tradition.
In his February 1 Column in The Catholic SUN , Bishop Lucia wrote: We need to be cognizant of the Lenten fast and abstinence because this year Ash Wednesday falls on February 14th - Valentine's Day - a day sometimes given over to elaborate meals and indulgence in desserts, chocolates and candy, but not this year! If a Catholic wants to observe this occasion, it is most appropriate the day before on Tuesday, February 13th - Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) as the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: "The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice." (#1438)
Catholic Fasting Rules for Ash Wednesday and Lenten Fridays Catholics age 14 and older do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Instead of meat many Catholics choose to eat fish - which is why many parishes around the country have fish fries on Fridays during Lent. These are a great opportunity for a parish community to come together to pray and fast. On Ash Wednesday (February 14) and Good Friday (March 29), Catholics age 18 to 59 also limit the amount of food they eat. Only one full meal, and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal, are eaten. The best rule of thumb is to make sure your meals are smaller than what you would eat on a normal day - and to avoid snacks. Exemption is allowed for pregnant women and those who need regular meals for medical reasons. “Fasting” is the word used when the amount of food eaten is limited. “Abstinence” is when you completely give something up, like meat, for a set period of time. Both "fasting” and "abstinence" play a role during Lent.