Eating meat on Friday

[sandy_bartow]

Are we supposed to abstain from eating on *all * Fridays, not just during Lent, or is it ok to eat meat on Fridays, just not during Lent. I have heard conflicting views on this subject for years. What is the correct answer?

 

[Cristiano]

If you look at the Code of Canon Law (1984) you will see that we are supposed to abstain from meat every Friday. However, there are some exemptions associated with age and physical needs. There are further allowances that can be granted by the Bishops but those, still according to the Code of Canon Law, require other forms of penitential sacrifice. My understanding is that in the United States such an allowance was made for the old CCL (1917) and that it has been assumed still valid for the present CCL even if it has not been ratified by the Bishops.

The bottom line is that people think that we do not have to abstain from meat anymore, and that is in contradiction of the CCL. I think that the individual Bishops should take the opportunity to remind people of that the Friday of abstinence is about and to issue clear guidelines, that is happening now in the UK.

 

[tee_eff_em]

:twocents:
Jimmy Akin has in depth analysis on this issue: Since Tomorrow Is Friday . . . and More On Friday Penance.

tee

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I’ve eaten meat on occasion on Fridays outside Lent and substituted another penance. It is my understanding that this is permitted.

 

[prodigal-sun]

Abstaining from meat on Friday is suprisingly difficult. I highly recommend it to all!

Peace!

 

[Tyleben]

Why is this an issue at all? We are not under the Abrahamic Convanent anymore. We have the right to excercise our liberties as we choose. This is an example of a debate that has long kept fundamentalist and evangelicals at odds.

Paul makes it clear that we can eat what we want, when we want; however, it must be tempered with sensitivity to those who are weak in the area. For example, drinking a beer is permitted, but if you are with someone who struggled with an addiction to alcohol, the correct thing to do for you, in those circumstances is to not drink a beer; so you don’t cause your friend to stumble.

1st Corinthians 6:12, 1st Corinthians 8:13

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

 

[Cristiano]

Abstaining from meat on Friday is surprisingly difficult. I highly recommend it to all!

Peace!

Have you tried to follow the real eastern fast for the Dormition of Mary? It is only a couple of weeks and it is impossible to follow for an old Latin Catholic.

 

[Cristiano]

Why is this an issue at all? We are not under the Abrahamic Convanent anymore. We have the right to excercise our liberties as we choose. This is an example of a debate that has long kept fundamentalist and evangelicals at odds.

Paul makes it clear that we can eat what we want, when we want; however, it must be tempered with sensitivity to those who are weak in the area. For example, drinking a beer is permitted, but if you are with someone who struggled with an addiction to alcohol, the correct thing to do for you, in those circumstances is to not drink a beer; so you don’t cause your friend to stumble.

1st Corinthians 6:12, 1st Corinthians 8:13

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

I think that you are missing the point that Jesus gave us a Church with the power to bind and to loose and that we must obey the Church because is guided by God and not by man. I think that a person should truly feel guilty to disobey God.

 

[Belloc_Fan]

Why is this an issue at all? We are not under the Abrahamic Convanent anymore. We have the right to excercise our liberties as we choose. This is an example of a debate that has long kept fundamentalist and evangelicals at odds.

Paul makes it clear that we can eat what we want, when we want; however, it must be tempered with sensitivity to those who are weak in the area. For example, drinking a beer is permitted, but if you are with someone who struggled with an addiction to alcohol, the correct thing to do for you, in those circumstances is to not drink a beer; so you don’t cause your friend to stumble.

1st Corinthians 6:12, 1st Corinthians 8:13

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

The Church retains the right to call for fasts. Jesus is clear about this in places like Mark 2:20, and the Church practiced this from the very beginning (Acts 13:2, etc.). The OP’s question is whether or not the Church has called for a mandatory fast on Fridays.

Paul’s not really dealing with fasting in 1 Corinthians 8, but with having sensitivity towards people who are easily scandalized by things like a Christian eating pork (your example of drinking a beer is apt - that’s the modern equivalent). But Paul still kept fasts in towns where they were discerning who should be the presbyters (e.g., Acts 14:23).

The Friday fast the OP was asking about, if you’re curious, is to constantly remind us of Good Friday. We give up one tiny thing (generally meat) on Fridays as a reminder that on Good Friday, Jesus gave up everything for us. Also, what’s given up is “carne,” flesh meat, so it also symbolizes giving up the sins of the flesh. (That’s why fish is okay, by the way). Do you still object to it?

 

[jantoniello]

Why is this an issue at all? We are not under the Abrahamic Convanent anymore. We have the right to excercise our liberties as we choose. This is an example of a debate that has long kept fundamentalist and evangelicals at odds.

Paul makes it clear that we can eat what we want, when we want; however, it must be tempered with sensitivity to those who are weak in the area. For example, drinking a beer is permitted, but if you are with someone who struggled with an addiction to alcohol, the correct thing to do for you, in those circumstances is to not drink a beer; so you don’t cause your friend to stumble.

1st Corinthians 6:12, 1st Corinthians 8:13

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

We do have the right to choose, and the Church affirms this. The Church merely recommends that one should fast or abstain so as to unite themselves to the sufferings of the Crucified.

Your saying “we can eat what we want, when we want” is ambiguous and leaves open the question of gluttony.

The act of penance is a very old tradition, one with a deep theological history (see New Theological Movement’s page on this)

 

[prodigal-sun]

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

Of course it is not a sin to eat meat or anything for that matter, you are missing the point! I love meat… I unite this albeit tiny, mininscule, sacrifice on my part to the suffering of Christ, for the Holy Souls in Purgatory espeacially our protestant brothers who have no one praying for them!

Peace!

 

[Jim_Dandy]

Why is this an issue at all? We are not under the Abrahamic Convanent anymore. We have the right to excercise our liberties as we choose. This is an example of a debate that has long kept fundamentalist and evangelicals at odds.

Paul makes it clear that we can eat what we want, when we want; however, it must be tempered with sensitivity to those who are weak in the area. For example, drinking a beer is permitted, but if you are with someone who struggled with an addiction to alcohol, the correct thing to do for you, in those circumstances is to not drink a beer; so you don’t cause your friend to stumble.

1st Corinthians 6:12, 1st Corinthians 8:13

If you choose to not eat meat on a certain day, that is your right to do so; but it is not sinful to eat it, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

You don’t understand the point of not eating meat on Fridays. It has nothing to do with MEAT, per se. It is a ***penance ***done on the day of Christ’s crucifixion in reparation for our many sins and to strengthen our ability to resist sin in the face of future temptations. IOW, the penance strengthens our soul. Christ tells us to do penance. The Church founded by Christ for the salvation of the world has the power and authority to impose rules for the good of the souls of her members --“whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven” etc. (Mt 16:18-19).

You could look this up on the internet, of course, if you were interested in understanding it instead of summarily rejecting it on a Catholic discussion board. Perhaps in the future you may want to do that. Then again, you may not. Anyway, the teachings of the Church are readily available to all. If you have questions, we’ll be glad to answer them.

Jim Dandy
Ex-Southern Baptist, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

 

[puzzleannie]

Are we supposed to abstain from eating on *all *Fridays, not just during Lent, or is it ok to eat meat on Fridays, just not during Lent. I have heard conflicting views on this subject for years. What is the correct answer?

it has been answered dozens of times on spirituality forum and in the AAA forum. We are called to do penance on Friday in commemoration of Christ’s passion. That penance can take any form. We are required to abstain from meat only on Fridays of Lent and Ash Wednesday. If you want to abstain as your penance, do it, you don’t need to ask permission from strangers.

why would you ask if it is permitted? has someone unkind said something to make you think it is not?

 

[jerry_joseph]

Is canon law gives any relief to this rule in Gulf Arab Countries?. I am working as an immigrant worker in an Arab country. My relative told me that there is relaxation of canon law in Arab countries… Is there any relaxation?

 

[Willy_Jose]

Is canon law gives any relief to this rule in Gulf Arab Countries?. I am working as an immigrant worker in an Arab country. My relative told me that there is relaxation of canon law in Arab countries… Is there any relaxation?

The law of fast and abstinence do not bind the seafarers, according to a canon lawyer. So I suppose something is applicable in comparable circumstances.

 

[Willy_Jose]

Canon 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

And here is some food for thought. Fast and abstinence is a form of spiritual discipline where our aim is beatification (although beautification may be its consequence). The discipline of Lent can never be dissociated with discipleship. Discipline without discipleship is like practicing for a marathon without running it. Discipleship without discipline is like running a marathon without practicing.

And here is some joke. Bishop Fulton Sheen told of his experience one Lenten season while on a plane to a speaking engagement. When the flight attendant offered him his lunch, he excused himself saying, “I’ll just have a sandwich, it’s Lent.”. The woman beside him also settled for just a sandwich. “So you’re also Catholic,” Bishop Sheen asked. The woman with a surprised look said, “No, I’m a model.”

 

[Paxvobis]

Are we supposed to abstain from eating on *all * Fridays, not just during Lent, or is it ok to eat meat on Fridays, just not during Lent. I have heard conflicting views on this subject for years. What is the correct answer?

In the United States, everybody is bound to do a penance on Fridays except for Solemnities under pain of grave sin. Before 1966, that penance was always meat. Since then, it is mandated that all Catholics after their 14th birthday abstain from the organs and flesh of mammals and fowl, and the gravies and broths made thereof on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday. On non-Lenten Fridays, the norm is the same abstinence from meat but it is acceptable to substitute another penance.

 

[Tyleben]

Of course it is not a sin to eat meat or anything for that matter, you are missing the point! I love meat… I unite this albeit tiny, mininscule, sacrifice on my part to the suffering of Christ, for the Holy Souls in Purgatory espeacially our protestant brothers who have no one praying for them!

Peace!

Could you please give me one example of Purgatory being mentioned in the Bible? Also, Christ suffered and died only once. He doesn’t continue to sacrifice himself during every communion service; as there is no need. His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient. (1st Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:27-28, Hebrews 10:10)…we can reflect as often as we would like on his sacrifice, but we are not mandated to abstain from eating.

Prayer is essential, and fasting could be a good thing to do to draw closer to God. Giving up meat on one day each week seems a bit legalistic. If you are happy doing so, there is nothing wrong with it, but it is not something that should be forced on anyone. Paul had some rather harsh things to say to many in the church at Galatia; concerning forcing your convictions on others.

Could you also show me in scripture where we are to abstain from meat once per week?

 

[Cristiano]

Could you please give me one example of Purgatory being mentioned in the Bible? Also, Christ suffered and died only once. He doesn’t continue to sacrifice himself during every communion service; as there is no need. His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient. (1st Peter 3:18, Hebrews 9:27-28, Hebrews 10:10)…we can reflect as often as we would like on his sacrifice, but we are not mandated to abstain from eating.

Prayer is essential, and fasting could be a good thing to do to draw closer to God. Giving up meat on one day each week seems a bit legalistic. If you are happy doing so, there is nothing wrong with it, but it is not something that should be forced on anyone. Paul had some rather harsh things to say to many in the church at Galatia; concerning forcing your convictions on others.

Could you also show me in scripture where we are to abstain from meat once per week?

We already explained to you the why of the discipline of abstinence from meat. It is a very simple and extremely powerful explanation. Your argumentation does not make any sense. If you disagree then I think that you have only two options to debate it: the first must be based on Catholic teachings that come from Scripture and Tradition, and the second is to show that the catholic Church does not have any power to require obedience to her disciplines. I doubt that you can use the first approach because probably you are not well versed in Catholic teachings and theology, and no reasonable person should expect you to have that kind of knowledge. The second approach would be more direct but it is out of the context of this single discipline. Any argumentation of Catholic disciplines based on protestant theology is quite useless.

 

[Knittycat]

I’m trying to figure out how to get my fiance to comply with this. The funny thing is he’s the Catholic. I’m still in the process of converting! He’s very much a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, and woe unto me if I serve him even a single meal without meat in it!
I want to comply with this teaching, but he makes it extraordinarily difficult. (he makes a lot of things difficult, is it any wonder I’m choosing St. Rita as my patron? LOL I do love him though, and am doing my best.)
What can I do?
For what it’s worth, he loathes fish and sea food.