Certainly of interest, with regard to early Christian practice of fasting, is Point 69 of the Apostolic Canon:

Canon LXIX.

If any bishop, presbyter, or deacon, or reader, or singer, does not fast the holy Quadragesimal fast of Easter, or the fourth day, or the day of Preparation, let him be deposed, unless he be hindered by some bodily infirmity. If he be a layman, let him be excommunicated.

Not kidding, that's what is says, from about the first century.

http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/St.Pachomius/aposcanon.html

These young fundamentalists who think they are following the example of early Christianity by breaking with Catholic practices are often just following a guy with a microphone and a grudge against Rome who hasn't read a single early Christian document in Latin or even English.

jps