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Questions / Prayer and the Church year

Why do Catholics fast and give alms in Lent?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: Why Do We Fast and Give Alms During Lent?, Catholic Answers Live, published Jun 19, 2017. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Because they’re the three oldest ways to turn your heart back to God: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. CCC 1434 Lent is the season the whole Church does it together. CCC 1438

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms of penance: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. CCC 1434

Lent is an intense time of penance for the whole Church. CCC 1438

Our words

Fasting turns you toward yourself honestly, prayer toward God, and giving toward others. Three directions, one conversion.

Next step: What is Lent?

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1434, 1438 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.