Are Wednesdays penetential days?

[Alexander_Roman]

Yes, this is still the law in the Eastern Churches, but formally more relaxed in the EC Churches. In my parish, the priest will remind us to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and why.

The Great Fast is simply Lent. In the EC Churches, it is an ideal to fast as much as one can and one’s health will allow during that time.

All Catholic Christians in the first miillennium observed these fasts.

Alex

 

[JReducation]

Yes, this is still the law in the Eastern Churches, but formally more relaxed in the EC Churches. In my parish, the priest will remind us to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and why.

The Great Fast is simply Lent. In the EC Churches, it is an ideal to fast as much as one can and one’s health will allow during that time.

All Catholic Christians in the first miillennium observed these fasts.

Alex

Actually, they were not as strict about it in the West as in the East. This is one of several things that triggered some of the great Penitential Movements of the 1100s. By that time, these customs were long set aside and had become the customs of monks in the West and the Eastern world. Unfortunately, these penitential movements fell into heresy and the credibility of their ascetical practices suffered.

First Francis and later Dominic would soften the fast and abstinence so that it was more humane and doable. After the death of the two great Fathers, their sons and daughters would teach the fast and abstinence, but with much less severity and much greater stress on charity as a form of atonement and union with Christ. What had been presented to people was that man was corrupt and had to punish himself.

The Dominicans and Franciscans would teach that man was sinful and had to atone for his sins; however, through the fasting, abstinence and works of charity man could unite his atonement to the perfect sacrifice made by Christ Crucified. It was a much more positive message.

I believe that the reason that it fell into disuse before the 12th century in the West was because the message was almost one of hopelessness. It evolved from what the early Fathers taught and believed into a distorted message that said that unless you tortured yourself you could not go to heaven. That was never said by the early Fathers. Augustine wrote about fasting and abstinence as great acts of love inspired by the love of Christ and seeking to love him in return. Many of these penitential movements took the negative road and ended up teaching heresy instead of charity. Fasting and abstinence are part of our life of charity.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Little_One0307]

Thanks guys for posting. It sure is great to start to learn about other Churches and Traditions in the Catholic Church.

Have a great and safe weekend.

Little One0307