Friday Abstinence; Obligation?

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Is it an actual obligation to abstain from meat on Friday>?>? I am really confused about this. Like, is it a strict obligation, and if do eat meat, is that a mortal sin? Confused…
 
Tannhauser said:
Hi

Is it an actual obligation to abstain from meat on Friday>?>? I am really confused about this. Like, is it a strict obligation, and if do eat meat, is that a mortal sin? Confused…
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The Norm of the Latin Church is to abstain. However, the Bishops have been given the authority to transfer that to some other form of penence for fridays.

Example if I am a veriterian what does abstainance from meat mean for me.

some Counrties have still mandated abstinence from meat. In the USA we are fairly free to choose another form. I am not sure what is the case in the UK, but you can not go wrong if you do abstain from meat as that is the Universal norm of the Chruch.
 
Tannhauser said:
Hi

Is it an actual obligation to abstain from meat on Friday>?>? I am really confused about this. Like, is it a strict obligation, and if do eat meat, is that a mortal sin? Confused…
Click to expand...
You really, really need to get a copy of Catholicism for Dummies. I am pretty sure that even Pope Benedict could learn something from it. It is a book of answers.
 
Here in Norway (Oslo) where i live, the nordic bishopconference has also issued some rules.
One of them is abstain from meat on fridays (the exception is if someone has prepared it for you to dinner - but my family and friends know that i refuse to eat meat at fridays).

They also ask us to abstain from:

Using tobacco or alcohol, festivities, eating luxurious or extravagant food, going to movies and things that can be labeled as entertainment and asks us to pray, go to mass, care for family, friends, sick and those in need. One can also give charities to some who needs it or to like Red Cross or Caritas.

Hope this clarified it a bit.

If it is a sin? No, but all catholics are expected to do some sort of a friday penance here.
I am not sure if this applies in US too?
 
It’s up to the Bishop of your diocese.

Here, we have a choice. Either don’t eat meat or do someone a good deed throughout the day.

Call your Church’s secretary or education director, they should know or be able to find out for you.
 
In most countries you may choose to abstain from meat or do some other penance.
I think maybe the OP is also asking if abstaining from meat or doing some other penance is obligatory, i.e. a sin of grave matter if you do not perform.
This is a matter of confusion. Personally my understanding is that it is an obligation but it seems many others say it is not.
 
The article below would indicate that in the US Friday penance outside Lent is not an obligation that binds anyone under pain of sin.
Its by Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers.
Can anyone tell me if his interpretation is correct?

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0501bt.asp
 
thistle said:
The article below would indicate that in the US Friday penance outside Lent is not an obligation that binds anyone under pain of sin.
Its by Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers.
Can anyone tell me if his interpretation is correct?

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0501bt.asp
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I didn’t do a detail comparison of this to the information presented below.

The following are the regulations in the archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

archspm.org/departments/worship/faq.php
 
thistle said:
Thanks for the article.
That says its a must during Lent but doesn’t say if its a must on the other Fridays of the year.
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That is correct. On Friday’s not in lent, abstinance from meat is not required. However some penetential act is required.
 
davidv said:
That is correct. On Friday’s not in lent, abstinance from meat is not required. However some penetential act is required.
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I know but that’s not the issue. My question is whether on Fridays outside Lent abstaining from meat or doing some other penance is an obligation which is binding upon pain of sin.
In other words is someone who does not perform some penance on Fridays committing a sin of grave matter?
 
thistle said:
I know but that’s not the issue. My question is whether on Fridays outside Lent abstaining from meat or doing some other penance is an obligation which is binding upon pain of sin.
In other words is someone who does not perform some penance on Fridays committing a sin of grave matter?
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I found this article “Is Friday Penance Required?” It answers that question.
 
I actually asked Fr Levis about this on EWTN A & Q and he said a charitable act could be an extra rosary or meditate on the mysteries. My daughters confessor allows her to exchange Saturday or Thursday for Friday. When I’m at work I usually take Fr Levis’ advice.
 
thistle said:
That’s the article I gave you in post #9 above.

That is Jimmy Akin’s interpretation but as he does not speak for the Church that’s why I have been asking if his opinion is correct or not.
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the Universal Law of the Chruch is that all Friday are days of Penence. in the U.S. During Lent us must abstain from meat. All other Friday of the (unless they are a feast day or solemnity) are still days of penence although you can still abstain from eating meat you may choose some other form of penence outside of Lent.

So to answer your 1uestion to not do some pencence on fridays is a sin.
 
oneGODoneCHURCH said:
the Universal Law of the Chruch is that all Friday are days of Penence. in the U.S. During Lent us must abstain from meat. All other Friday of the (unless they are a feast day or solemnity) are still days of penence although you can still abstain from eating meat you may choose some other form of penence outside of Lent.

So to answer your 1uestion to not do some pencence on fridays is a sin.
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As I said in my earlier posts that is my view too.

However, I would like someone to read the article I gave the link to. Its by Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers (this website we are on). He’s a respected apologist of this website.
He has gone through the Church teachings, canon law and what instructions were given by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on fasting and penance and he says it is not binding under pain of sin.
I can’t find a flaw in his arguement. I would like someone to read his article and tell me where he is wrong (if he is).

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0501bt.asp
 
thistle said:
As I said in my earlier posts that is my view too.

However, I would like someone to read the article I gave the link to. Its by Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers (this website we are on). He’s a respected apologist of this website.
He has gone through the Church teachings, canon law and what instructions were given by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on fasting and penance and he says it is not binding under pain of sin.
I can’t find a flaw in his arguement. I would like someone to read his article and tell me where he is wrong (if he is).

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0501bt.asp
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The Chruch say some from of penence must be done. If I the U.S. it does not have to be abstainence, but some form. There fore since the Church says it is a sin not to prform some form of penence, It matters not what Mr. Atkins says. Also in the articule he states
“Ultimately, the Code means what Rome says it means, and Rome confirmed On Penance and Abstinence, thus making it the law for Latin Catholics in the United States.”

Thus it is still a sin not to do some form of penence for Catholics on fridays in the U.S. even acording to Mr. Atkins.
 
thistle said:
Thanks for the article.
That says its a must during Lent but doesn’t say if its a must on the other Fridays of the year.
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The “must” is to do penance of some kind, on the other Fridays of the year.

During Lent there is no option to choose something else - on Fridays during Lent you abstain from meat.

On other Fridays of the year, you can choose: a) abstain from meat (the norm), b) a good deed, or c) prayers suited to the penitential character of the day (ie: the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, or else the Litany of the Sacred Heart, etc.)
 
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