For Roman Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal a day. This may or may not be accompanied by abstinence from meat when eating. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporate. The purpose of fasting is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance; it in no way stems from a concept that the material world is in some sense evil. The Catholic Church requires Catholics to observe the discipline of abstaining at various times each year, especially during Lent. Abstinence is required throughout the year on Fridays though in some areas (such as in the United States) the bishops have agreed that it is not