Celiac Disease and Catholic Fasting

Catholic tradition calls for fasting and abstinence at certain times. But when you already have significant food restrictions, how do you approach these practices?

Here’s how I think about it.

The Church’s Requirements

Current Discipline (Latin Rite, US)

Fasting (eating less):

• Required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
• Ages 18-59
• One full meal and two smaller meals that together don’t equal a full meal

Abstinence (no meat):

• Required on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays in Lent
• Ages 14 and up
• Fish is permitted; meat is not

Who’s Exempt

Canon law exempts those whose health would be compromised:

• The sick
• Those with medical conditions affected by fasting
• Pregnant or nursing women

Does Celiac Exempt You?

From Fasting

Generally, no, celiac disease doesn’t prevent you from eating less. You can reduce quantity while still eating gluten-free.

However: If you have:

• Significant nutritional deficiencies
• Are underweight
• Are still healing
• Have blood sugar issues

, then discuss with your doctor and priest. Fasting that damages your health isn’t the point.

From Abstinence

Celiac doesn’t directly affect meat/fish abstinence. You can abstain from meat while eating GF.

Complications: If your safe protein options are limited, abstinence could be harder. Discuss with a priest if this is genuinely challenging.

The Spirit of Fasting

The point of fasting and abstinence is:

• Spiritual discipline
• Solidarity with the poor and hungry
• Penance for sin
• Making space for God

The specific form is meant to serve these goals. When health conditions complicate the usual forms, the goals remain.

Adapting the Practice

If You Can Fast Normally

If celiac doesn’t prevent normal fasting, observe it normally. Eat less GF food on fasting days. Abstain from meat on abstinence days with GF alternatives.

If Standard Fasting Is Risky

If traditional fasting could harm your health, consider:

Alternative fasting forms:

• Give up a specific food or category you enjoy
• Give up something non-food related
• Add something instead of subtracting (extra prayer, service)

Modified food fasting:

• Smaller portions but not dangerously so
• Give up snacks while keeping meals
• Give up GF treats you especially enjoy

Spiritual fasting:

• Social media
• Entertainment
• A comfortable habit

Talk to Your Priest

A priest can dispense you from fasting requirements if health warrants. He can also suggest appropriate alternatives.

This isn’t “getting out of” fasting, it’s finding a form that serves the purpose without damaging your health.

Celiac as Built-In Penance

I’ve heard people say celiac disease is enough penance. There’s some truth to this:

• Constant dietary restriction
• Social isolation around food
• Ongoing vigilance
• Physical suffering when mistakes happen

Living with celiac involves daily sacrifice. Acknowledging this isn’t self-pity, it’s recognition of reality.

But…

Using celiac as a reason to never practice any form of fasting or abstinence misses something:

• Intentional sacrifice has a different quality than involuntary restriction
• Choosing to give up something as offering to God is its own spiritual practice
• The discipline of additional sacrifice builds virtue

Both can be true: celiac involves genuine sacrifice, AND additional intentional fasting has value.

Lenten Practices with Celiac

What I’ve Done

Lent options that work:

• Give up a specific food I enjoy (chocolate, coffee, a GF treat)
• Give up alcohol
• Add: daily rosary, extra Mass attendance, charitable giving
• Add: service to others
• Fast from screens or social media

What doesn’t make sense for me:

• Fasting that would hurt my health
• Abstinence that leaves me with no safe protein options
• Anything that adds food-related anxiety to already challenging food situation

What Might Work for You

Consider:

• What do you enjoy that you could give up?
• What would create space for God?
• What would be genuinely sacrificial without being harmful?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Communion Fasting

The Eucharistic fast (one hour before receiving communion) remains in effect.

For celiacs: This is usually not a problem. We’re not eating random things anyway. Just don’t eat in the hour before receiving.

If you have medical reasons requiring more frequent eating, talk to your priest about dispensation.

Friday Penance Year-Round

In the US, Friday penance is encouraged year-round, not just Lent:

• Abstinence from meat
• OR some other penance, prayer, or charitable work

This gives flexibility. You can abstain from meat on Fridays, or substitute another practice.

A Prayer for Fasting Days

Lord, I’m already restricted in what I can eat. Now I’m choosing to restrict further, or differently, as offering to You.

Accept what I can give. Don’t let me use my condition as excuse to give nothing.

But also: accept my daily sacrifice of living with this disease. Let that count too.

Help me find the fasting that serves my soul without harming my body.

And through it all, draw me closer to You.

Amen.

The Bottom Line

Celiac disease doesn’t automatically exempt you from fasting and abstinence. But it may require adaptation.

Talk to your priest. Be honest about what you can and can’t do. Find practices that serve the spiritual purpose without damaging your health.

The point is encountering God through sacrifice, not checking a box or harming yourself.

Find what works. Offer it. Let that be enough.