Friday Abstinence and Solemnity

[yaycatholic]

So, the one of the titulars of my parish is S. John the Evangelist (the other is the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) and this year December 27 falls on a Friday this year. Since the feast of the titular of one’s church is celebrated as a solemnity, and if a solemnity falls on a friday it means there is an exemption for Friday abstinence. However, our parish doesn’t celebrate S. John the Evangelist as a solemnity.
**Does this mean that I still have to abstain from meat?
**
(Oh, btw here in the England, Friday Penance is expected all year round except solemnities)

 

[Bakuryokuso]

Have you asked your priest about the matter? Ideally they’d announce it in church either way so there isn’t any confusion.

 

[yaycatholic]

Have you asked your priest about the matter? Ideally they’d announce it in church either way so there isn’t any confusion.

I don’t think our priest celebrates the solemnities proper to our parish?

 

[Bakuryokuso]

I don’t think our priest celebrates the solemnities proper to our parish?

Perhaps you could ask him why he doesn’t? I attend a Basilica named for Saint Patrick for weekday masses and they make a really big deal about his feast even though it regularly falls during Lent. It seems to me like a huge missed opportunity not to recognize a church’s patrons.

 

[SighGuy]

You could ask, but when in doubt, leave it out.

 

[yaycatholic]

Perhaps you could ask him why he doesn’t? I attend a Basilica named for Saint Patrick for weekday masses and they make a really big deal about his feast even though it regularly falls during Lent. It seems to me like a huge missed opportunity not to recognize a church’s patrons.

Luckily, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated as a solemnity already!
I asked him once whether he knew the Solemnity of our Church’s dedication, and I was kinda shocked since he didn’t know!

 

[dans0622]

So, the one of the titulars of my parish is S. John the Evangelist (the other is the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) and this year December 27 falls on a Friday this year. Since the feast of the titular of one’s church is celebrated as a solemnity, and if a solemnity falls on a friday it means there is an exemption for Friday abstinence. However, our parish doesn’t celebrate S. John the Evangelist as a solemnity.
**Does this mean that I still have to abstain from meat?
**
(Oh, btw here in the England, Friday Penance is expected all year round except solemnities)

Hello,

According to the commentary of the Code of Canon Law produced by the canon law society of Great Britain and Ireland (“The Canon Law: Letter and Spirit”), the relaxation from the obligation of penance on Friday is only for those solemnities that are also days of obligation (see the commentary on canon 1251). This is what the old law (1917 Code) said explicitly–only days of precept could cause a relaxation of Friday penance. So, according to this commentary, the titular feast, even if it should be observed as a liturgical solemnity in a parish, would not excuse you from penance on that day. The same would be true for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

I am not sure I entirely agree with that commentary–I have understood the canon to refer to Solemnities for the entire Church, like the Sacred Heart. I do agree that local solemnities wouldn’t excuse from penance. This was just my own conclusion, without much thought being put into it. At any rate, those who wrote this commentary are smarter than I am…

By the way, the other major, English commentaries do not address this question.

Dan

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

If you want the day to be both a feast (in terms of eating) and a day of abstinence from meat, how about having something like lobster for dinner.

 

[Chatter163]

Hello,

According to the commentary of the Code of Canon Law produced by the canon law society of Great Britain and Ireland (“The Canon Law: Letter and Spirit”), the relaxation from the obligation of penance on Friday is only for those solemnities that are also days of obligation (see the commentary on canon 1251). This is what the old law (1917 Code) said explicitly–only days of precept could cause a relaxation of Friday penance. So, according to this commentary, the titular feast, even if it should be observed as a liturgical solemnity in a parish, would not excuse you from penance on that day. The same would be true for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

I am not sure I entirely agree with that commentary–I have understood the canon to refer to Solemnities for the entire Church, like the Sacred Heart. I do agree that local solemnities wouldn’t excuse from penance. This was just my own conclusion, without much thought being put into it. At any rate, those who wrote this commentary are smarter than I am…

By the way, the other major, English commentaries do not address this question.

Dan

Agreed. Can. 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. **

 

[dans0622]

Agreed. Can. 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. **

“Agreed” with what, exactly? I was rather wishy-washy…

Dan

 

[Chatter163]

“Agreed” with what, exactly? I was rather wishy-washy…

Dan

I agree with your non-agreement with a commentary that suggests that the canon applies only to holy days of obligation, rather than all solemnities, such as the Sacred Heart, etc.

 

[thistle]

So, the one of the titulars of my parish is S. John the Evangelist (the other is the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) and this year December 27 falls on a Friday this year. Since the feast of the titular of one’s church is celebrated as a solemnity, and if a solemnity falls on a friday it means there is an exemption for Friday abstinence. However, our parish doesn’t celebrate S. John the Evangelist as a solemnity.
**Does this mean that I still have to abstain from meat?
**
(Oh, btw here in the England, Friday Penance is expected all year round except solemnities)

From other threads discussing the Friday penance in England it seems that abstaining from meat is strongly recommended but not mandatory.

 

[dans0622]

I agree with your non-agreement with a commentary that suggests that the canon applies only to holy days of obligation, rather than all solemnities, such as the Sacred Heart, etc.

Well, I’ve thought about this some more, asked around with other canon lawyers, and have now come to conclude that all solemnities, even local ones, would exempt from Friday penance…for those who are canonical members of the state/city/parish.

Dan

 

[yaycatholic]

Well, I’ve thought about this some more, asked around with other canon lawyers, and have now come to conclude that all solemnities, even local ones, would exempt from Friday penance…for those who are canonical members of the state/city/parish.

Dan

What if the Parish does not celebrate the Feast of the Titular Saint as a Solemnity, are the parishioners still exempted?

 

[dans0622]

What if the Parish does not celebrate the Feast of the Titular Saint as a Solemnity, are the parishioners still exempted?

Yes. That would be someone else’s oversight. It’s a day listed as a solemnity. Even if you can’t go to Mass or the Mass is cancelled or whatever, it’s still a solemnity and penance is not required.

Dan