Every year many Catholics will ask what they are not allowed to do during Lent, trying to make sure that they don't break the official rules of the Catholic Church.
In reality, Catholics are allowed to do many things during Lent, as the modern observance of the penitential season is fairly easy compared to the past.
For example, the Church used to instruct the faithful to abstain from meat on all days of Lent, not just Fridays. This was officially relaxed after Vatican II, while still preserving Fridays during Lent as meatless days.
The current Code of Canon Law lists the minimum requirements for Roman Catholics, instructing them on what they are not allowed to do during Lent.
Strictly speaking, those are the only additional "rules" that the Catholic Church gives Catholics on what they are allowed to do during Lent.
Fasting is reserved to Catholics aged 18-59, and traditionally consists of the following, as clarified by the United States Conference of Bishops.
This is generally the rule, but can be adjusted by local bishop conferences.
Besides those two basic rules, Catholics are allowed to choose their own penitential disciplines during Lent.
In addition to abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays, and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics are obligated to do some sort of penance during Lent. This is something that must be done on their own, and a local priest or spiritual director will often advise a person on their Lenten disciplines.
