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Neil_Anthony
Guest
According to the movie “chocolat” it used to be mandatory to give up chocolate for lent. Now it is considered optional. Do traditional Catholics give up chocolate?
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Leon_Bloy
Guest
I don’t think that’s true. I never saw that movie, but I have heard it has some nutty things in it regarding Catholicism, which suggest a less-than-friendly attitude toward the Church.
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Neil_Anthony
Guest
Well my mother who grew up before Vatican II also thought giving up chocolate was mandatory at least for kids. So I’m not so sure.
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catholicmamajoy
Guest
Giving up sweets (including chocolate) has long been a custom of Catholics (and Orthodox) during Lent…it’s a sacrifice for many to avoid sweets during this time. As far as what was portrayed in the movie- it likely appeared to be that chocolate was “forbidden” because those in the small French town had been giving up that particular sweet during Lent for generations that no one questioned it as to being actual Church teaching or just a tradition (which is one of the themes of the movie).
It’s not really the movie that has a less-than-friendly attitude towards the Church; it’s the book on which the movie was very loosely based that was rather anti-Catholic. The movie has the antagonist as the village’s mayor and has a very sweet, compassionate young priest- it’s set in the late 1950’s. The book is set in modern times and the antagonist is an older priest.
The movie was directed by the same guy who directed “The Cider House Rules” (a movie I despise for numerous reasons), so I was quite reluctant to see “Chocolat” when it came out. I viewed it anyway and while some might be offended by it, it pales in comparison to the “less-than-friendly” attitude towards the Church in many films and I found many redeeming qualities in the story and the characters.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
If Latin Catholics followed the same fasting as the Eastern Catholics back in the day, then it is true. Because dairy is also abstained from during Lent.
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rhiannonh
Guest
I think you may have misunderstood the movie a little though I will say I never saw any anti catholic in the movie… that post shocked me slightly. having read both book and watched film since the author of the book lives in the same town as I do meant we just about all read the book! I just saw the church being used as a springboard as to why they be unwelcomed in the area… ?
…I think they used poetic licence to help give story line to why a chocolat shop would be unwelcomed in a tiny sleepy village in france…
Some Roman Catholics, namely children give up sweets, including chocolate because it is something they can relate to in terms of teaching understanding suffering.
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Splagchnizomai
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It’s a good Lenten practice for children.
I’d hope that adults would be able to find something more substantial rather than solely giving up chocolate, but it would really depend on one’s spiritual condition. As Constantine mentioned, it used to be a regular part of the Great Fast during Lent for all Catholics – not just chocolate but all dairy, as well as other things.
I’d hope that adults would be able to find something more substantial rather than solely giving up chocolate, but it would really depend on one’s spiritual condition. As Constantine mentioned, it used to be a regular part of the Great Fast during Lent for all Catholics – not just chocolate but all dairy, as well as other things.
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KCT
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I think it’s only good to give it up if you like it and eat it frequently.
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Melchior_1
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Is this the case presently, the abstaining from dairy? If yes…man, no offense, I’m glad I ain’t Eastern!
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Splagchnizomai
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Take a look at this chart to get an idea about how an EC views it …Is this the case presently, the abstaining from dairy? If yes…man, no offense, I’m glad I ain’t Eastern!
stjohnchrysostom.org/OurTraditions/Fasting.aspx
The left side is where most of us are – the right side is where the monastics are.
Also note that an EC usually discusses fasting with the priest or spiritual father personally, rather than following a general guideline.
Note that the RC Lenten Fast is a minimum guideline too. As we progress in the spiritual life, we are called on to do more. A Catholic who only fasts twice a year or abstains only on Fridays in Lent is much like a Catholic who irregularly attends Sunday Mass but makes sure to go Mass on Christmas and Easter.
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Aelred_Minor
Guest
It’s a spirit-letter distinction. I’m virtually certain there was never a law specifically against eating chocolate during Lent (and also no prohibition against dairy products at least in the 20th century). However, sweets of any sort could be seen as inappropriate for the penitential season and so patronizing a chocolate shop would not seem to be appropriate.
Of course, that movie is a giant piece of anti-Catholic garbage in general.
Of course, that movie is a giant piece of anti-Catholic garbage in general.
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Aelred_Minor
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Here you go too far. A Catholic who only goes to mass on Chrismas and Easter is (ignoring highly unlikely scenarios) failing to meet his or her obligations regarding mass attendance, like someone who fasts on Good Friday but not on Ash Wednesday. The equivalent (except in places with different rules like England) to only fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and only abstaining on Fridays in Lent would be only attending mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. More fasting, perhaps more abstinence, and more frequent, even daily, mass attendance are to be encouraged, but are not required.
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Joe_5859
Guest
Sorry, that’s not true. Catholics are required to go to Mass every Sunday. Canon Law only requires fasting on two days a year.
Yes, it is the minimum, and yes, it is certainly good to do more, but the two situations are not analogous. Not attending Mass every Sunday is a mortal sin. Only fasting on the required days is not a mortal sin. Big difference.
Now, if you wanted to compare it to only going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist once a year (which is the minimum set out isn Canon Law), then that would be a more apt comparison.
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ByzCathCantor
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Guidelines are typically published by the bishops.
Here’s an example: bcchnh.org/regulations-for-the-season.html
Only exceptions for good cause / dispensations would have to be discussed with one’s priest or superior (if a member of an order).
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utah_rose
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Splagchnizomai
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More apt comparison accepted!
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Splagchnizomai
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Duly noted! My local ECC parish needs to publish these in accordance to our bishop. Thank you!
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teresadeavila
Guest
Personally, for me, giving up chocolate and sweets is pure torture - makes sense for me to give it up during Lent. 
I somehow got in a conversation about eating right/healthy and weightloss and a priest said, “Well, Lent fasting is coming up so that will help!” 
In all seriousness, fasting and abstinence is peninential in nature - but there are many other acts of penance - prayer, acts of self-denial, almsgiving and works of personal charity. Attending Mass daily or several times a week, praying the rosary, making the way of the cross, attending the parish evening prayer service, teaching the illiterate to read, reading to the blind, helping at a soup kitchen, visiting the sick and shut-ins and giving an overworked mother a break by baby-sitting—all of these can be even more meaningful and demanding than simply abstaining from meat on Friday. See americancatholic.org/features/lent/faqle9902.asp
I somehow got in a conversation about eating right/healthy and weightloss and a priest said, “Well, Lent fasting is coming up so that will help!” In all seriousness, fasting and abstinence is peninential in nature - but there are many other acts of penance - prayer, acts of self-denial, almsgiving and works of personal charity. Attending Mass daily or several times a week, praying the rosary, making the way of the cross, attending the parish evening prayer service, teaching the illiterate to read, reading to the blind, helping at a soup kitchen, visiting the sick and shut-ins and giving an overworked mother a break by baby-sitting—all of these can be even more meaningful and demanding than simply abstaining from meat on Friday. See americancatholic.org/features/lent/faqle9902.asp
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ConstantineTG
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Thats the ideal. I can’t say everyone follows them, but that is the ideal. Its a pretty strict fast, you’re essentially a vegan for 40 days (for those who don’t know the difference between a vegetarian from a vegan, vegans don’t eat anything that remotely touches an animal. So no cow’s milk, no eggs, no animal fat). Although animals without backbones are allowed (shrimp, squid, locusts) but even fish is to be abstained save for Great Feasts within Lent, such as Annunciation, and Sundays.Is this the case presently, the abstaining from dairy? If yes…man, no offense, I’m glad I ain’t Eastern!
I will say this, I don’t think I will go that much this Lent.
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maryray
Guest
It seems sense to me to give up something for Lent that will help me to focus on the serious and penitential meaning of the season. I do eat chocolate occasionally but giving it up for Lent would be so much easier for me than giving up my one glass of wine on a Friday night after a busy week of work and family commitments. Consequently- the wine is obviously what I will need to give up for Lent- hopefully setting that money saved aside for SCIAF. If I eat a chocolate or two during Lent I don’t feel that’s a problem because I want to try to keep to the spirit not to the letter of the fast and since there is in fact no obligation on us western catholics to give up anything extra other than meat on Fridays and the Ash Wed and Good Friday fast. What a deep and positive opportunity for penance, reflection and preparation for Easter we might miss, if we focus only on what we MUST give up instead of what will bring us closer to our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection. Let us pray for help, strength and grace to make hopeful and helpful choices and to draw closer to Him this Lent. God Bless!
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