<P> During World War II special permission was given to local ordinaries to dispense the faithful from these rigorous daily requirements and this permission was extended again in 1949 . In light of these dispensations the Uniform Norms 1951, and Modification 1956 for the US included a paragraph which exhorted the faithful to be generous in performing additional voluntary works of Christian perfection . </P> <P> It seems the wide spread custom of taking on voluntary penance began in the 1950s . Prior to this people were satisfied fulfilling the demanding norms of Lent . Since these new voluntary acts are not required, it would seem the faithful can do whatever they want, but choosing to do penance on a Sunday is clearly not in the spirit of Catholic Tradition . </P> <P> Contemporary legislation is rooted in the 1966 Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini . He recommended that fasting be appropriate to the local economic situation, and that all Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain . He also allowed that fasting and abstinence might be substituted with prayer and works of charity, although the norms for doing so were to be set down by the Episcopal Conferences . </P> <P> Current practice of fast and abstinence is regulated by Canons 1250--1253 of the 1983 code . They specify that all Fridays throughout the year, and the time of Lent are penitential times throughout the entire Church . All adults (those who have attained the' age of majority', which is 18 years in canon law) are bound by law to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday until the beginning of their sixtieth year . All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence on all Fridays unless they are solemnities, and again on Ash Wednesday; but in practice this requirement has been greatly reduced by the Episcopal Conferences because under Canon 1253, it is these Conferences that have the authority to set down the local norms for fasting and abstinence in their territories . (However, the precept to both fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is usually not dispensed from .) </P>

What is the reason for no meat during lent