Fasting on ash wednesday

[slywakka250]

So on my one meal today for Ash Wednesday, my mom told me to have some soup. However, after I was done with it and looked at the ingredients it said “chicken stock”, I don’t know, but I’d say that likely counts as eating meat. I’d guess this is probably serious sin, but because It was accidental, do I need to confess this??, and I did recieve Communion at Mass tonight, should I have. the reason I recieved was that I didn’t want to be too scrupulous, but then I don’t know???..

Quote:

Abstinence The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste.

ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm

this highlighted line shows that “chicken stock” in soup is probably considered meat, I think.

 

[Almeria]

I would say that it’s probably just a venial sin. You’ve learned your lesson, though, and will check the label beforehand from now on, I’d bet.

 

[awalt]

Since both venial and mortal sin involve knowing disobedience of God, how can doing something that you are truly not aware of be considered a sin?

I have confessed some of these borderline situations to priests, several of them over time, and different Parishes, and they always say something like “not a sin - when in doubt the judgment goes to the person not the law.”

No harm in confessing it to feel completely pure, but I sure wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.

And, I am just a lay person with an opinion that’s passing on their own experience :yup:.

 

[nike248]

I remember a priest using the analogy of a child and a mom. The mom tells him not eat the cookie but he does so anyway. The cookie isn’t sinful but the disobedience was. So, I guess since you didn’t know, you didn’t disobey. I’d just confess it when you get a chance. I’m with you on the same boat. I almost had some soup one time and saw the “chicken broth” on there so I stopped(thank God).

 

[Jeremy]

The position on this thread does not seem to be held by the AAA staff posters:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=38911

foods made with animal fat (e.g., broth and gravy) and foods seasoned with animal fat (e.g., salt-pork-seasoned beans and gravy) are permitted. It even means that you can eat the bit of salt pork you’ve used for seasoning and that you can eat soup with meat, because the meat generally is considered a trace amount and not a principal or substantial portion of the dish.

Or else I’m misunderstanding somebody. I’m not taking a side, I’m just saying.

 

[lacoloratura]

The issue is, as far as I understand, whether or not you intentionally committed a sinful act. Then there are those of us who are just dumb - I spent my hour+ long commute home last night trying to think what I had in the house that I could eat for dinner. “Eggs!” thought I. So what did I do? Added some cheese…and bacon bits. I didn’t even think about it until it was too late. What an idiot I am!

 

[puzzleannie]

the guidelines published for our diocese are the same wording as the AAA thread on this topic, condiments made from animals (guess that would be butter or lard) and gravies or soups made with meat are allowed. But your larger questions was what if you ate the wrong thing because you didn’t know or forgot. It is not a sin if it is not willful, deliberate, with full knowledge, no matter what it is. Just make up for it another time, fast another day or do another act of penance.

 

[DaveBj]

foods made with animal fat (e.g., broth and gravy) and foods seasoned with animal fat (e.g., salt-pork-seasoned beans and gravy) are permitted. It even means that you can eat the bit of salt pork you’ve used for seasoning and that you can eat soup with meat, because the meat generally is considered a trace amount and not a principal or substantial portion of the dish.

But no Campbell’s Chunky Soup, I take it :tsktsk:

DaveBj

 

[Almeria]

lacoloratura:

The issue is, as far as I understand, whether or not you intentionally committed a sinful act. Then there are those of us who are just dumb - I spent my hour+ long commute home last night trying to think what I had in the house that I could eat for dinner. “Eggs!” thought I. So what did I do? Added some cheese…and bacon bits. I didn’t even think about it until it was too late. What an idiot I am!

Check the packaging–some brands of bacon bits don’t have any meat in them at all, they are just chemicals. I don’t eat those on fasting days, but then again, I refuse to eat those types any day.

I had thought chicken broth and soups counted as meat, and have been avoiding them. I guess I don’t need to, then. What do you think about cheese enchiladas with chile con carne sauce? Too little meat in the sauce to worry about? And what would be the cut off for a trace amount or not?