Why do Catholics fast during Lent?

Catholics fast during Lent as an act of penance, self-discipline, and solidarity with Christ's suffering, following an ancient practice rooted in Scripture and Church tradition. Fasting purifies the soul, weakens the power of temptation, and unites the faithful to Christ's forty-day fast in the desert, preparing them to celebrate Easter with renewed hearts.

Scriptural Foundations

The forty days of Lent consciously mirror Christ's forty-day fast, inviting the faithful to accompany him spiritually through the desert of temptation toward the glory of the Resurrection.