Backup Friday Penance?

[KnightErrant]

Hey Everyone!

I was curious if it was okay to have a backup penance to go along with your go-to every Friday normal penance.

For example, I give up meat all year round on Fridays but I have a “back up penance” of not voluntarily listening to music (like in my car, on my laptop, etc.) also just in case I get into a situation in which it is hard to avoid eating meat or if I forget. I avoid doing the two things but in case I fail doing the one, I still have the other. Is this okay and sound or am I missing the point somehow?

Thanks!

 

[fredystairs]

I also do not eat meat on Friday all year round. Last year I got invited to a wedding that had some activities on Friday which included eating. Rather than avoid the activities I asked my priest if I could do some other penance based on the situation and he said that would be fine. If I remember correctly I ended up saying another rosary that day. But whatever additional sacrifice you feel called to.

Blessings

 

[Fauken]

I abstain from meat every Friday. If for some reason I forget or can’t, I pray a chaplet of divine mercy. I’m trying to add the Stations every Friday as well.

 

[Joe_5859]

The bishops in the U.S. have left it up to the individual to choose their own Friday penance. So it’s up to you. I don’t see anything wrong with what you have suggested.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Nothing wrong with what you’re doing, but I would say that as long as your intentions are followed and you don’t purposefully violate your penance, I wouldn’t (were I in your shoes) feel compelled to do something else.

If my intention is to not eat meat on Fridays, and I’m served a dish at an evening meal that has bits of bacon in it, for example, unbeknownst to me until I bite into it (because the name on the menu implied vegetarian and I didn’t clarify with my waiter), I would continue eating and not necessarily go out of my way to do extra or substitute penance. I might simply thank God for the meal again, and leave the incident to his divine providence, trusting he knows better than I why things happen as they do.

 

[Canvas]

A great back up sacrifice you can do (or you could make it a regular habit) is to make a charitable donation to the poor.