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Lisa_Hoonhout
Guest
Do you have to abstain from meat on Fridays all year? My teacher says it’s a mortal sin if you don’t. Can you give me Church documents on this? Thanks, Lisa
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Spatulate
Guest
It’s my understanding that one is NOT required to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year IF one makes some other act of penance.
Here is something for you:
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.
This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!
Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.
It’s very interesting to note that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the United States’ Episcopal Conference) is currently debating whether to rescind the determination and require all Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. The Bishops are considering that a return to meatless Fridays for all Catholics would be of benefit because:
Here is something for you:
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.
This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!
Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.
It’s very interesting to note that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the United States’ Episcopal Conference) is currently debating whether to rescind the determination and require all Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. The Bishops are considering that a return to meatless Fridays for all Catholics would be of benefit because:
- It is an expression of one’s Catholicity; and
- In reparation for the grave sin of abortion.
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Faustina
Guest
Good answer :clapping:
When I found this out last year during Lent, I have not eaten meat on Fridays since. Sometimes it is very hard, especially on my way home from work, deciding what to cook for dinner, but I am getting better.
When I found this out last year during Lent, I have not eaten meat on Fridays since. Sometimes it is very hard, especially on my way home from work, deciding what to cook for dinner, but I am getting better.
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Fr.JLT
Guest
Outside of Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (and highly encouraged for Holy Saturday), it is not required that one abstain from meat on Fridays. This is one of the great ideas (truly) of Vatican II that unfortuantely got misrepresented and fell flat.
The point was two-fold: to retain the high value of the entire Mystical Body of Christ acting in the same way at the same time in sacrifice (thus retaining meatless Fridays in Lent, etc) AND the person’s conscience that will dictate something appropriate in erms of self-denial for his own life. In my case, living in New England, not eating meat on Fridays is a no-brainer because we eat things that swim and crawl aroound ont he murky ocean floor every day. It is absolutely no sacrifice for me to not eat meat on Friday. In fact, it would be a penance for me TO eat a steak on Friday.
Unfortuantely, instead of it being presented in the terms that each individual must think, pray, discern what will be beneficial for one’s soul by way of weekly forms of self-denial, it was simply presented, “You can eat meat on Fridays now and not go to hell.”
Likewise, even the Lenten Fridays are not under penalty of sin. A person may dispense himself from it. That simply causes more confusion.
– Fr. L.
The point was two-fold: to retain the high value of the entire Mystical Body of Christ acting in the same way at the same time in sacrifice (thus retaining meatless Fridays in Lent, etc) AND the person’s conscience that will dictate something appropriate in erms of self-denial for his own life. In my case, living in New England, not eating meat on Fridays is a no-brainer because we eat things that swim and crawl aroound ont he murky ocean floor every day. It is absolutely no sacrifice for me to not eat meat on Friday. In fact, it would be a penance for me TO eat a steak on Friday.
Unfortuantely, instead of it being presented in the terms that each individual must think, pray, discern what will be beneficial for one’s soul by way of weekly forms of self-denial, it was simply presented, “You can eat meat on Fridays now and not go to hell.”
Likewise, even the Lenten Fridays are not under penalty of sin. A person may dispense himself from it. That simply causes more confusion.
– Fr. L.
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DominvsVobiscvm
Guest
Are you sure about this, Father? This is a precept of the Church. How can it not be sinful to willfully violate it?
I was always taught, even by priests, that it was sinful to eat meat on Lenten Fridays.
During the year it’s reccomended, but not required.
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Fr.JLT
Guest
Yes, I am absolutely sure of this. As well, it isn’t a precept of the Church. The precept is to fast and abstain “on the days appointed.”
We are under local law and in the United Sates (and many other countries) an individual is free to dispense himself from this obligation. However, in oour annual mailings from the bishop, he adds “BUt this is not to be taken lightly.” I believe he adds that himself.
Am I saying I like this? No, I am not saying that at all. Just telling it as it is.
– Fr. L.
We are under local law and in the United Sates (and many other countries) an individual is free to dispense himself from this obligation. However, in oour annual mailings from the bishop, he adds “BUt this is not to be taken lightly.” I believe he adds that himself.
Am I saying I like this? No, I am not saying that at all. Just telling it as it is.
– Fr. L.
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DominvsVobiscvm
Guest
I believe you, Father.
For my own education, could you direct me to the appropriate documentation, so that I may bookmark it? This is a question I get asked often.
For my own education, could you direct me to the appropriate documentation, so that I may bookmark it? This is a question I get asked often.
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Fr.JLT
Guest
Hello, Dominus!
I can’t tell you the references of the top of my head. Since it’s just past 01:00, the only thing that should be on the top of my head is a pillow.
(I was up a good part of last night for emergency calls and did a very bad thing today . . . I took a nap. That means I won’t be able to sleep tonight. When will I learn? And, of course, the nighttime calls don’t come when I can’t sleep, only when I am sleeping like a log. Murphy’s Law!!)
Also, I am a theologian . . I do not need to provide documentation . . . I AM the documentation. HAHAH
Not a problem . . I will have to be at the Chancery in the next few days. I can look it up for you. If you don’thear from me by early next week, PLEASE do remind me. I know this is a commonly misunderstood and important matter. People thinking they are in sin when they are not is a problem, as musch as people dismissing authority and thinking they are not in sin when they are.
Again, please remind me if you don’thear back with references in a few days. I am presuming you are in the USA?
– Fr. L.
I can’t tell you the references of the top of my head. Since it’s just past 01:00, the only thing that should be on the top of my head is a pillow.
(I was up a good part of last night for emergency calls and did a very bad thing today . . . I took a nap. That means I won’t be able to sleep tonight. When will I learn? And, of course, the nighttime calls don’t come when I can’t sleep, only when I am sleeping like a log.
Murphy’s Law!!)Also, I am a theologian . . I do not need to provide documentation . . . I AM the documentation. HAHAH
Not a problem . . I will have to be at the Chancery in the next few days. I can look it up for you. If you don’thear from me by early next week, PLEASE do remind me. I know this is a commonly misunderstood and important matter. People thinking they are in sin when they are not is a problem, as musch as people dismissing authority and thinking they are not in sin when they are.
Again, please remind me if you don’thear back with references in a few days. I am presuming you are in the USA?
– Fr. L.
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Vincent
Guest
Check out Jimmy Akin’s discussion:
Part I
Part II
Part III
His conclusion: “. . . there is no obligation in the United States to practice penance on Friday, but Friday remains a day of penance which the bishops have urged all to do penance and, in particular, recommended the continued practice of abstience.” (Jimmy doesn’t mean Fridays of Lent, here).
Part I
Part II
Part III
His conclusion: “. . . there is no obligation in the United States to practice penance on Friday, but Friday remains a day of penance which the bishops have urged all to do penance and, in particular, recommended the continued practice of abstience.” (Jimmy doesn’t mean Fridays of Lent, here).
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Timidity
Guest
For those looking for other penitential acts on Friday, I recommend:
usccb.org/dpp/penitential.htm
(Personally I abstain from meat, and unlike Fr. L, it is an effort for me. See, everyone is different!)
usccb.org/dpp/penitential.htm
(Personally I abstain from meat, and unlike Fr. L, it is an effort for me. See, everyone is different!)
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shannon_e
Guest
Thank you Vincent and Timidity,
It’s sad when our Bishops put out such lukewarm documents.
I’ll continue to give up meat (or something else I love) on every Friday simply because it’s another way for God to be foremost in my mind.
Peace.
It’s sad when our Bishops put out such lukewarm documents.
I’ll continue to give up meat (or something else I love) on every Friday simply because it’s another way for God to be foremost in my mind.
Peace.
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drforjc
Guest
Did you read his comments boxes? Some of them raise seemingly good objections to Akins’ conclusions.
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Fr.JLT
Guest
Thanks, Timidity. I have a sheet that I print and insert in the bulletin before the start of Lent each year that contains all kidns of suggestions on fasting in all kinds of forms.
It’s Friday,. and I’m not eating meat, but I wouldn’t eat meat most days anyway. What WOULD be penance surrounding meat could be a couple of things. One would be to go downstairs and cook a steak. To me, the smell of beef raw or cooking or cooked (apart from the good carnival-type grease burger from time to time, but who knows if there’s any beef in it) is so repulsive, it makes me gag. I can’t describe how badly beef stinks to me. That would be penance.
On the other hand, I could also go downstairs and season a pork roast and set it to roasting and let the smell fill the house. NOT crawling into the oven and devouring it in a single chomp without breathing would also DEFINITELY be a penance.
Happy Friday from New England! ANyone for some chow-DUH?
But again, there is a flip side and, fortunately, the extremely high value of all the people doing the same penitential act together has not been lost, at least during Lent (if you don’t lightly dispense yourself from it).
– Fr. L.
It’s Friday,. and I’m not eating meat, but I wouldn’t eat meat most days anyway. What WOULD be penance surrounding meat could be a couple of things. One would be to go downstairs and cook a steak. To me, the smell of beef raw or cooking or cooked (apart from the good carnival-type grease burger from time to time, but who knows if there’s any beef in it) is so repulsive, it makes me gag. I can’t describe how badly beef stinks to me. That would be penance.
On the other hand, I could also go downstairs and season a pork roast and set it to roasting and let the smell fill the house. NOT crawling into the oven and devouring it in a single chomp without breathing would also DEFINITELY be a penance.
Happy Friday from New England! ANyone for some chow-DUH?
But again, there is a flip side and, fortunately, the extremely high value of all the people doing the same penitential act together has not been lost, at least during Lent (if you don’t lightly dispense yourself from it).
– Fr. L.
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shannon_e
Guest
Quote:
His conclusion: “. . . there is no obligation in the United States to practice penance on Friday, but Friday remains a day of penance which the bishops have urged all to do penance and, in particular, recommended the continued practice of abstience.” (Jimmy doesn’t mean Fridays of Lent, here).
drforjc:
That’s how I see the Bishops’ documents that Akin’s posted. And the quote of Akins that you posted seems to support my point:
The Bishops urge us to do penance, but it’s not obligatory.
Why not?
Are they being as good spiritual leaders as they could be?
When I go to a spiritual director, do I find one that lets me off the hook or do I go to one who wants me to try harder to grow in faith and discipline, etc???
Maybe I’m making too much of this. If so, it’s just because I see it as symptomatic of so much wide spread acceptance-of-less.
We sell ourselves short by taking short-cuts at least. At worst, we can do serious damage.
Peace.
His conclusion: “. . . there is no obligation in the United States to practice penance on Friday, but Friday remains a day of penance which the bishops have urged all to do penance and, in particular, recommended the continued practice of abstience.” (Jimmy doesn’t mean Fridays of Lent, here).
The only point I’m trying to make is that I think the poison of our culture has invaded our Church. (duh). We, as Americans, look for the path of least resistance.
That’s how I see the Bishops’ documents that Akin’s posted. And the quote of Akins that you posted seems to support my point:
The Bishops urge us to do penance, but it’s not obligatory.
Why not?
Are they being as good spiritual leaders as they could be?
When I go to a spiritual director, do I find one that lets me off the hook or do I go to one who wants me to try harder to grow in faith and discipline, etc???
Maybe I’m making too much of this. If so, it’s just because I see it as symptomatic of so much wide spread acceptance-of-less.
We sell ourselves short by taking short-cuts at least. At worst, we can do serious damage.
Peace.
T
Timidity
Guest
Fr. JLT:
thanks!
No, but I’ll take some clam cakes! Oh! And some potuguese sweet bread! Oh! And some Eclipse coffee syrup! And my wife would probably like some stuffed quahogs!Happy Friday from New England! ANyone for some chow-DUH?
thanks!
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akemner
Guest
Once i confessed that i ate meat on Friday. The priest said that it was not a sin to eat meat on Fridays. I was taken aback a bit (my family has abastained or fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays since i was a child…I was shocked), but then i explained to the priest in the confessional that i was not a Latin Rite Catholic, but Byzantine Catholic, and we are required to abstain most Fridays of the year (strict fasts-no dairy or meat products, which includes fish-on 14 September, 25 December, 5 January, Great and Holy Saturday, and 29 August), and recommended Wednesdays and the four fasting seasons (St Philip’s fast-40 days before Christmas, Great Lent, Apostles’ Fast-from the day after the Sunday after Pentacost to 29 June, and Dormition Fast-1 August to 14 August), though the last part of the list is not strictly required. BTW, fish is considered meat, though shellfish are not (meat=something with a backbone), though it is permitted in the US owing to cultural custom (of Latin Rite Catholics here).
So are we required as Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays? Depends on who you are. I would recommend some sort of penance though, but not get hung up on legalism. The point of penance is mentanoia, as we say, that is, change, of our way of life from sin to the Lord.
In Christ,
Adam
So are we required as Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays? Depends on who you are. I would recommend some sort of penance though, but not get hung up on legalism. The point of penance is mentanoia, as we say, that is, change, of our way of life from sin to the Lord.
In Christ,
Adam
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Veronica_Anne
Guest
Um, what (or who) are THOSE things??No, but I’ll take some clam cakes! Oh! And some potuguese sweet bread! Oh! And some Eclipse coffee syrup! And my wife would probably like some stuffed quahogs!
thanks!
Maybe I could give up the sprouts that I like on my sandwiches?
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kmmd
Guest
In this day and age, fasting from meat on Friday is not much of a sacrifice for me. My husband does not practice his faith and so in an effort to both make the penance hurt (at least a little) and as an witness, I try to fix him a wonderful meal on Friday and just eat the salad, the potatoes, the noodles, or whatever, myself.
Yesterday afternoon, I made chicken cacciatore and let it simmer all afternoon. It smelled wonderful and I am looking forward to leftovers for today’s lunch.
I did put cheese on my noodles, so it’s not like I suffered a lot.
Yesterday afternoon, I made chicken cacciatore and let it simmer all afternoon. It smelled wonderful and I am looking forward to leftovers for today’s lunch.
I did put cheese on my noodles, so it’s not like I suffered a lot.
K
KCT
Guest
My Friday sacrifice? The only beverage I have on Fridays is water. I can’t believe how hard it is sometimes! —KCT
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Frank_Roman
Guest
PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ALL PRACTICING CATHOLICS YOU KNOW!
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.
This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Since the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops** has not determined a different pennance**, CATHOLICS WHO ARE NOT IGNORANT OF THIS RULE ARE BOUND TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT ON FRIDAYS UNDER PAIN OF **MORTAL SIN ** JUST AS THEY WERE BEFORE VATICAN II.
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.
This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Since the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops** has not determined a different pennance**, CATHOLICS WHO ARE NOT IGNORANT OF THIS RULE ARE BOUND TO ABSTAIN FROM MEAT ON FRIDAYS UNDER PAIN OF **MORTAL SIN ** JUST AS THEY WERE BEFORE VATICAN II.
- Status