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henrikhank
Guest
Ave Maria!
Is it really true that lay Roman Catholics don’t have to fast but lay Melkites have to?
Is it really true that lay Roman Catholics don’t have to fast but lay Melkites have to?
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Filii_Dei
Guest
Not true. All Catholics have to fast at some point or other, especially during the fasting seasons and before partaking of the Eucharist. Particular details may vary between rites, but the principle is essentially the same.
Is there a particular context you are thinking of?
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henrikhank
Guest
Lent.Is there a particular context you are thinking of?
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Cavaradossi
Guest
I think Latin Catholics are still called to abstain from meat on Fridays. Their lenten fasting is far less strict than in the Eastern Catholic Churches, but they still do fast.
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Anathama_Sit
Guest
Some Catholics also may choose personally do fast more so than the Latin Rite requires because of personal reasons.
The Catholic Church [Latin Rite] is only called to fast on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday to the best of my knowledge.
The Catholic Church [Latin Rite] is only called to fast on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday to the best of my knowledge.
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Splagchnizomai
Guest
It varies by country. In the US, Roman Catholics are to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent. It is also encouraged that one abstains from meat on Fridays during the rest of the year, but one is allowed to do another penitential practice in place of abstaining. Either way, Friday is still considered a penitential day. Many Roman Catholics are unaware of this.
This is correct.
Also, a very small number of Roman Catholics still perform penitential practices on Wednesdays throughout the year – but, in general, this is not a mainstream RC practice and you’ll get odd looks for suggesting something like this.
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Vico
Guest
All Catholics have a serious need to practice control of the passions and do works of charity and alms-giving, especially in the penitential periods. This is also reflected in the canons.
Eastern (CCEO) Canon 882
On the days of penance the Christian faithful are obliged to observe fast or abstinence in the manner established by the particular law of their Church sui iuris.
I also have copies of these particular canons for the Byzantine, Ukrainian, and Syro-Malabar. (If you want any of them I can post them.)
Here is the reference for the Latin Church, both fasting (skipping a meal) and abstinence (no meat, etc.) USCCB:
old.usccb.org/norms/12521253.htm
Latin (CIC) Can. 1249
All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.
intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P4M.HTM
Eastern (CCEO) Canon 882
On the days of penance the Christian faithful are obliged to observe fast or abstinence in the manner established by the particular law of their Church sui iuris.
I also have copies of these particular canons for the Byzantine, Ukrainian, and Syro-Malabar. (If you want any of them I can post them.)
Here is the reference for the Latin Church, both fasting (skipping a meal) and abstinence (no meat, etc.) USCCB:
old.usccb.org/norms/12521253.htm
Latin (CIC) Can. 1249
All Christ’s faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.
intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P4M.HTM
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henrikhank
Guest
So it seems that living as an Eastern Catholic would be much easier since they have Priest who talk about fasting. Roman Catholic (parish) Priests just talk about stop eating, eg candy/sweets. The monk Priests fast, I hope.
Why is it that Eastern Catholic have a much stricter fast than Latin Catholics?
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Anathama_Sit
Guest
Greetings Splagchnizomai,It varies by country. In the US, Roman Catholics are to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent. It is also encouraged that one abstains from meat on Fridays during the rest of the year, but one is allowed to do another penitential practice in place of abstaining. Either way, Friday is still considered a penitential day. Many Roman Catholics are unaware of this.
This is correct.
Also, a very small number of Roman Catholics still perform penitential practices on Wednesdays throughout the year – but, in general, this is not a mainstream RC practice and you’ll get odd looks for suggesting something like this.
Yep hence that is why I did not suggest the Wendesdays, though I do observe that as well provided a Solemnity does not fall on Wednesday or Friday. Thanks for mentioning that.
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Remember that the East prescribes the ideal, then through oikonomia, grants exeptions.
The West is more legalistic, and as with any law, only the minimum is prescribed. Which means if you go below the minimum, then you are in violation of the law, but there is nothing wrong with doing more. In fact, you are encouraged to.
The West is more legalistic, and as with any law, only the minimum is prescribed. Which means if you go below the minimum, then you are in violation of the law, but there is nothing wrong with doing more. In fact, you are encouraged to.
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CDB1718
Guest
I think you’re getting a skewed view of what it is like at a parish level. Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches have very little required fasting and a lot less focus placed on it than you read about online. There are some jurisdictions and some parishes where you are sure to hear about it and some where you are unlikely to hear anything in both the Catholic and Orthodox communions.
What you’re hearing about here is our tradition. Some parishes and jurisdictions continue these traditions, just like some Roman Catholic Churches continue having Mass in Latin.
I’m looking at our official calendar and it shows a little fishy on every Wednesday during the Great Fast and a big fishy on every Friday. There’s no key, so I don’t know what they intend. It might mean no meat on the little fishy and no meat or milk on the big fishy. Or it might mean fasting on both, fasting and abstaining on Friday. I don’t know. It is more than previous years, but it isn’t anything close to the full tradition.
The full tradition is a monastic practice. The east approaches everything from a maximalist perspective and then ratchets it down for individual circumstances. Very few people ever kept the full monastic tradition. With people now reclaiming these traditions and forming support communities, it isn’t uncommon to see a parish with a lot of people doing the full fast. That’s wonderful, but it can also cause burnout if not properly guided.
This is all a process. The churches show every possibility of nothing to everything.
The East does view fasting differently, but it isn’t a showcase of all the West lost. We have different problems, but problems just the same.
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Anathama_Sit
Guest
Greetings ConstantineTG,
What is oikonomia? Does this mean dispensation?
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
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The_Idiot
Guest
Henrikhank
I’m really very curious - you say you are
I’m really very curious - you say you are
The questions you ask always seem to be slightly skewed for example this thread on fasting ] . Are you actually attending a Catholic Church whilst in this discernment process ?
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ConstantineTG
Guest
“Economy”
Yes, it is sort of a dispensation. But again its a different approach. Because of the legalistic approach of the West, dispensation is necessary to exempt one from the law. In the East where its less legalistic, oikonomia is seen as an allowance of an act that otherwise would be sinful or against the norms of the faith, but it would eventually lead to a greater spiritual growth for the person in the long run.
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Anathama_Sit
Guest
Greetings ConstantineTG,
Thank you so much for answering this question.
God Bless.
Anathama Sit
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Not all Catholics are required to fast.Not true. All Catholics have to fast at some point or other, especially during the fasting seasons and before partaking of the Eucharist. Particular details may vary between rites, but the principle is essentially the same.
Is there a particular context you are thinking of?
Due to age or infirmity some are dispensed from fasting.
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Filii_Dei
Guest
My apologies, Br. David. I meant to speak of the lack of distinction between Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics in their obligation to fast, rather than the young, elderly and infirm. I am of course aware that not every Catholic in every situation needs to fast, only that the rite they belong to does not significantly affect the principle of their obligation.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
That’s true.My apologies, Br. David. I meant to speak of the lack of distinction between Eastern Catholics and Latin Catholics in their obligation to fast, rather than the young, elderly and infirm. I am of course aware that not every Catholic in every situation needs to fast, only that the rite they belong to does not significantly affect the principle of their obligation.
Though there does seem to be a differing emphasis. In my experience what the Latin Church states is the minimum require for the fast while the Byzantine Churches state the maximum for the fast.
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henrikhank
Guest
yes I attend a Catholic Church.
Skewed? that means?
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The_Idiot
Guest
in your case - not quite straightforward .
You have some curious ideas about how to practice Catholicism.
Among other things you think we should all be vegetarians , that eating meat is against what good catholics should do.
You should be learning about catholicism from your own priest - he is the one to guide you on your way - not a group of Catholics who belong to several of the sui juris Churches which make up the catholic church.
You have some curious ideas about how to practice Catholicism.
Among other things you think we should all be vegetarians , that eating meat is against what good catholics should do.
You should be learning about catholicism from your own priest - he is the one to guide you on your way - not a group of Catholics who belong to several of the sui juris Churches which make up the catholic church.
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