Abstinence from meat

[Julie_de_Sales]

This might be a scrupulous question, but here it goes: today I ate rice after I removed some pieces of chicken breast that were sitting on top. I’m also sure that some of the juice from the meat has got into the rice, but it didn’t taste any different.

So, this counts as having eaten meat or not? Thanks.

 

[Joe_5859]

This might be a scrupulous question, but here it goes: today I ate rice after I removed some pieces of chicken breast that were sitting on top. I’m also sure that some of the juice from the meat has got into the rice, but it didn’t taste any different.

So, this counts as having eaten meat or not? Thanks.

Yes, you are being scrupulous.

 

[pianistclare]

The sacrificial offering of “no meat” is the point.
For many people, eat is a luxury very much desired and enjoyed. To give it up is to sacrifice something. It’s not so much about the meat in our present culture (because so many people avoid meat for health reasons) but about the sacrifice. So long as what you do is a bit uncomfortable or inconvenient, you have sacrifice.
People who don’t eat a lot of meat are not really sacrificing, they don’t partake anyway. For them, they should give up something that is more of a true sacrifice.
Yes, you are being scrupulous. Focus on the One whom you sacrifice more, and do whatever you do for Him.
God bless you.

 

[Julie_de_Sales]

Thank you for your answers, I’m at peace now.

 

[Joe_5859]

Thank you for your answers, I’m at peace now.

Good.

It’s not even Lent yet either.

 

[agentlank]

Um, by my account some form of penance “should” still take place on Fridays. Excerpt taken from usccb.org. You can also find information on this topic at the other links listed below. The US Bishops did not revoke or remove the mandate they modified it to be more with the times.

1. Friday itself remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year, a time when those who seek perfection will be mindful of their personal sins and the sins of mankind which they are called upon to help expiate in union with Christ Crucified.

1. Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

1. Among the works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance which we especially commend to our people for the future observance of Friday, even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence binding under pain of sin, as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday, we give first place to abstinence from flesh meat.We do so in the hope that the Catholic community will ordinarily continue to abstain from meat by free choice as formerly we did in obedience to Church law.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm

ewtn.com/expert/answers/fast_and_abstinence.htm

canonlawmadeeasy.com/2009/03/05/are-catholics-supposed-to-abstain-from-meat-every-friday/

 

[Joe_5859]

Um, by my account some form of penance “should” still take place on Fridays. Excerpt taken from usccb.org. You can also find information on this topic at the other links listed below. The US Bishops did not revoke or remove the mandate they modified it to be more with the times.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.cfm

ewtn.com/expert/answers/fast_and_abstinence.htm

canonlawmadeeasy.com/2009/03/05/are-catholics-supposed-to-abstain-from-meat-every-friday/

Note how they say it: “should” and “urge”. They also describe it as “voluntary self-denial” no longer “binding under pain of sin.” They do not say “required” or “mandated.” Not to discourage people from penance, of course. It is a good thing to do on every Friday.

The OP is in Europe, though, so her situation may be different.

 

[agentlank]

Good catch on original poster being in Europe. If that is the case I don’t know what their rules are but would the below not still hold true? Just trying to understand for myself as well.

The Church for her part has specified certain forms of penance, both to ensure that the Catholic will do something, as required by divine law, while making it easy for Catholics to fulfill the obligation. Thus, the 1983 Code of Canon Law specifies the obligations of Latin Rite Catholics [Eastern Rite Catholics have their own penitential practices as specified by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches].

Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Can. 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

ewtn.com/expert/answers/fast_and_abstinence.htm

 

[EmeraldOak]

My understanding is that no this does not count. You would have to actually chew or ingest the meat for it to count. Here is what the USCCB has to say about it. “*Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs — all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted.”
*
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm