Is there a place for Lenten fasting in contemporary Catholic spirituality?

First Communion is a powerful church and family ritual; no one who has been present can miss its importance for the children taking part.

At a friend’s home a few years ago, I sat across the dining table from a Muslim woman who had been born in Egypt and had lived in many cities around the world. Ramadan had recently ended; Lent would shortly begin, and fasting became a topic of conversation. She spoke knowledgeably about Islam&