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Marshmallow1
Guest
I usually dont eat meat on fridays but I’m put in a situation where it would be very awkward for me not to. Is a rosary ok?
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snarflemike
Guest
I believe that would be acceptable (depending on your country, I suppose). Here is what Wikipedia says, FWIW:
For example, in some countries, the Bishops’ Conferences have obtained from Rome the substitution of pious or charitable acts for abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year
EDIT: found this: Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence | USCCB
For example, in some countries, the Bishops’ Conferences have obtained from Rome the substitution of pious or charitable acts for abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year
EDIT: found this: Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence | USCCB
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1ke
Guest
Depends on what country you are in.
Also, we are not required to abstain when that is all that is being served, when a guest in someone’s home, etc. Use your own best judgment.
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Mi_Rose
Guest
If you are in the US yes.
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paperwight
Guest
Also yes in the UK. We are not to make a fuss or embarrass or inconvenience others.
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I live in the U.S. and that’s exactly what I do.
Every Friday outside of Lent I either abstain from meat or pray an additional five decades of the Rosary.
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snarflemike
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steve-b
Guest
I also refrain from meat on Friday. I do it as an act of sacrifice and penance for sin in the world. And I also say the Rosary. As we know, There is no law that says we have to do either. I do both gladly, willingly, and freely.
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Mi_Rose
Guest
You may say a rosary visit a sick or lonely person call someone you know you should talk to give that charitable gift you have been meaaning to give or any other pentitential act.
I have many food allergies. One of them is fish. Another is shellfish.Sometiimes I eat something vegetarian and sometimes I eat leftover lamb or chicken and do another pentitential act.
I have many food allergies. One of them is fish. Another is shellfish.Sometiimes I eat something vegetarian and sometimes I eat leftover lamb or chicken and do another pentitential act.
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Bon_Croix
Guest
IF your custom is to pray a rosary every day, then praying two on Friday may be better than one.
farronwolf
New member
Lets see, one has a choice of eating a whooper or big mac or something which contains meat because they might be in a hurry, are served meat at a friends house or work luncheon, or they sit down at a seafood restaurant and eat a meal consisting of blackened fish, shrimp and lobster tail.
The fancy meal at the seafood place certainly doesn’t contain meat, but it certainly isn’t giving up anything.
Our KofC council does fish fry’s during lent at our parish, and the ones who attend and think it is an all you can eat buffet are not following the spirit of the rule.
The fancy meal at the seafood place certainly doesn’t contain meat, but it certainly isn’t giving up anything.
Our KofC council does fish fry’s during lent at our parish, and the ones who attend and think it is an all you can eat buffet are not following the spirit of the rule.
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Brendan_64
Guest
I don’t believe that is correct. Abstaining from meat on Friday was restored by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales (I’m not sure what the position is in Scotland).
“The law of the Church requires Catholics on Fridays to abstain from meat, or some other form of food, or to observe some other form of penance laid down by the Bishops’ Conference. The Bishops have decided to re-establish the practice that this penance should be fulfilled simply by abstaining from meat and by uniting this to prayer. Those who cannot or choose not to eat meat as part of their normal diet should abstain from some other food of which they regularly partake. This decision will come into effect from Friday 16 September 2011.”
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paperwight
Guest
That is true, but if you read the Briefing Notes for the Press issued at the time, it was made clear that failing to abstain did not amount to mortal sin.
I would argue that charity always trumps any rules. What was that Epistle where St. Paul instructs followers not to cause their brother to stumble by eating ‘unclean’ foods if it hurt his conscience?
It is the ‘should’ versus ‘must’ distinction again.
Or to put it another way, being considerate towards others is far more important than any feeling of righteousness engendered by keeping to a discipline.
I would argue that charity always trumps any rules. What was that Epistle where St. Paul instructs followers not to cause their brother to stumble by eating ‘unclean’ foods if it hurt his conscience?
It is the ‘should’ versus ‘must’ distinction again.
Or to put it another way, being considerate towards others is far more important than any feeling of righteousness engendered by keeping to a discipline.
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Brendan_64
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Are you arguing that it is therefore OK to disobey our bishops who have clearly made the decision that re-establishing the practice of Friday abstinence from meat?
Yes charity does trump abstinence etc, but I believe would apply in the case of a host (who was unaware of your abstinence requirements) having already prepared a dish for you and to refuse it would be hurtful to the host. I don’t think charity means that means we should simply ignore what our bishops have instructed us to do because we’d rather do something else.
The position remains that in England and Wales the Bishops Conference have decided to reintroduce the practice of Friday abstinence from meat. Should we not obey this instruction from our bishops?
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paperwight
Guest
No, I am not advocating disobedience, and a careful reading of my post would not imply that.paperwight:
Are you arguing that it is therefore OK to disobey our bishops who have clearly made the decision that re-establishing the practice of Friday abstinence from meat?
Yes charity does trump abstinence etc, but I believe would apply in the case of a host (who was unaware of your abstinence requirements) having already prepared a dish for you and to refuse it would be hurtful to the host. I don’t think charity means that means we should simply ignore what our bishops have instructed us to do because we’d rather do something else.
The position remains that in England and Wales the Bishops Conference have decided to reintroduce the practice of Friday abstinence from meat. Should we not obey this instruction from our bishops?
Left to myself, I always abstain on Fridays, but when an elderly relative completely forgot what day it was and served up meat, it didn’t bother me in the slightest to eat it and thank her wholeheartedly. I wasn’t going to pick the carrots out of the gravy and just eat those, just to make a point.
Remember the disciples in the cornfield? Church disciplines like abstinence and the Communion fast were made for man, not the other way round.
And I could add that my UK parish regularly holds Hotpot (meat stew) Suppers to raise money for the Missions, and these are generally on a Friday as that works best for the Parish Centre bookings.
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Brendan_64
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OK, I agree with most of that, but that is very different from suggesting to the OP that in the UK it is OK to say a Rosary in place of abstaining from meat on Fridays. The instruction from our bishops (in England and Wales) would indicate otherwise. I’m not sure what the position is in Scotland.
Your example about the elderly relative, I would not argue with. Charity in such situations takes precedence over abstinence rules I think.
As for the example about the disciples in the cornfield, I do not believe that that means that as individual lay-people we are free to decide which Church disciplines we follow and when.
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