Sorry - I know this is an old thread I'm ressurecting, but it raises a question for me. I think I spaced out during the catechism class where fasting was explained, because I missed the part about not fasting on Saturday and Sunday. I realized while I was at a retreat, weeks ago, that the strict fast must be relaxed on Saturday and Sunday, because they fed us three times and snacks were available (this was at a monastery, too). I know, I know, I should have run to my spiritual father with this question probably, but is it the case that the fasting rule is relaxed on the weekend while the abstinence rule is not?