Ate meat by mistake

[RosalieM]

I think you should definitely mention this in your next confession for your own peace of mind, because there are lots of different opinions it seems.

 

[rayne89]

its not a sin to eat meat on friday during lent

Eating meat by mistake is not a sin.

What you stated is not correct -we are required to abstain from meat on fridays during lent.

During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere, and it is sinful not to observe this discipline without a serious reason (physical labor, pregnancy, sickness etc.).

ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

its not a sin to eat meat on friday during lent

It’s only a sin when you do not abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent. I understand.

 

[dixieagle]

Eating meat by mistake is not a sin.

What you stated is not correct -we are required to abstain from meat on fridays during lent.

ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm

One of the posters asking about abstinence is from England, and the rules are different there (just fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday required.) We need to be aware that we’re not all posting from the US.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

One of the posters asking about abstinence is from England, and the rules are different there (just fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday required.) We need to be aware that we’re not all posting from the US.

I do not notice where people are from when answering most of the time. When posting questions it is important to say " I’m from England, my question is…" Or when reading answers they need to also notice where the person answering is from. All my answers always pertain to the United States.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Canon Laws on fasting are this:

CHAPTER II : DAYS OF PENANCE

Can. 1249 All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

 

[Harmony1988]

I ate meat on friday for the last two weeks now, for breakfast, it was only around lunch that I realized I wasn’t supposed to, I didn’t do it on purpose, it was just a mistake, if you really want to I guess you can abstain the following day too.

 

[RosalieM]

I simply can’t resist another pro-abstinence post.
Abstaining from meat makes you pay more attention to seafood, fruits and vegetables and discover new food items. It’s actually quite healthy, especially for the more mature folk who aren’t even required to abstain from meat. (Per Dr. Andrew Weil on the subject of anti-inflammatory foods to ease arthritis).
When one abstains from meat for a period of time with spiritual intentions, one does good for both soul and body.

 

[THurifer2]

I always thought you had to abstain on Good Friday and that was that. (how ignorant am I) Is the rest of the year optional? Is the lenten season an optional time to abstain? Or must I always abstain?

Matt

Canon law says that of age and Healthy catholics are to Abstain from meat on ALL Fridays of the year. The Fridays outside of lent there is an option to perform an alternative form of Penance.

But on all fridays you must perform Somthing.

I have discovered that meatless fridays is the easiest way to go.

 

[LilyM]

Eating meat by mistake is not a sin.

What you stated is not correct -we are required to abstain from meat on fridays during lent.

ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm

Doing ANYTHING AT ALL by mistake or forgetfulness (as long as it’s pure mistake or pure forgetfulness and not laziness or anything) is not a mortal sin. Full consent is required for any behaviour at all to be mortal sin, and that is missing in cases where you forget.

The ‘differing opinions’ here would seem to derive purely from scrupulosity, and can be safely ignored.

Need I remind our American brothers here that places such as UK and Australia do NOT have the requirement to abstain on Lenten Fridays? That abstinence, apart from Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, is in fact a disciplinary matter determined individually by each country’s Bishops conference? That EWTN only gives the rules for America? That America isn’t the whole world?

 

[paramedicgirl]

Doing ANYTHING AT ALL by mistake or forgetfulness (as long as it’s pure mistake or pure forgetfulness and not laziness or anything) is not a mortal sin. Full consent is required for any behaviour at all to be mortal sin, and that is missing in cases where you forget.

The ‘differing opinions’ here would seem to derive purely from scrupulosity, and can be safely ignored.

Need I remind our American brothers here that places such as UK and Australia do NOT have the requirement to abstain on Lenten Fridays? That abstinence, apart from Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, is in fact a disciplinary matter determined individually by each country’s Bishops conference? That EWTN only gives the rules for America? That America isn’t the whole world?

If I was the OP, I would ignore the opinions of everyone here, and go talk to your priest. The armchair (or keyboard) theologians here are just individual opinions, and shouldn’t take the place of proper pastoral advice.