Friday Abstinence; Obligation?

[Elizabeth502]

Sample Expressions of Penance
Efforts at reconciliation with a family member or neighbor
Tears of repentance
Concern for the salvation of our sisters and brothers
Prayer to the saints for their intercession
Patient acceptance of the cross we must bear to be faithful to Christ
Defense of justice and right
Admission of faults to God and to one another
Mutual correction
Offer and acceptance of forgiveness
Endurance of persecution for the sake of God’s kingdom
Development of a spirit of penance
Witness to a Christian way of life

In short, voluntary but strongly suggested. Expected of those seriously trying to synchronize their behaviors with Christian piety. Failure to comply is not in itself “a sin.” Note, however, that to look upon sin legalistically is not the view of sin Jesus held, nor the Church encourages. Our behaviors and omissions can eventually lead to casual non-compliance in bigger things, and serial rationalization. Avoiding sin takes vigilance, and penance, and prayer, for most people. Especially for our most troublesome sins.

 

[thistle]

It is not necessary to consult with Jimmy Akin when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have written at least two documents on the subject. In summary, the discipline has shifted from abstinence per se to penance, in the tradition of Christians and Catholics for many centuries. The penance is a recommendation, not a requirement (an obligation or a commandment). It is encouraged for growth in the spiritual life as a Christian.

The following document was reprinted from an earlier statement by the USCCB and can be found at:

www.usccb.org/Lent/2007/Penance_and_Abstinence.pdf

This is likely one of the source documents Jimmy has used as he points out Catholics in the US are urged and not obliged. By the way I am not consulting him. I am merely asking him to clarify his position because other posters reckon he says it is an obligation while my reading of his article sees it not as an obligation but rather a recommendation and urging.

Of course for someone like me who is British living in the Philippines none of this helps because the US Bishops naturally only speak for the Church in the US.
In my case I follow Friday penance even if it might not be an obligation.
However, I would like to know if it is an obligation here or not and if yes is non-performance a sin of grave matter or venial matter.
I’ll check with my priest.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

If it is in cannon law is it grave matter to go cntray to it?

 

[Lampo]

It is not necessary to consult with Jimmy Akin when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have written at least two documents on the subject. In summary, the discipline has shifted from abstinence per se to penance, in the tradition of Christians and Catholics for many centuries. The penance is a recommendation, not a requirement (an obligation or a commandment). It is encouraged for growth in the spiritual life as a Christian.

The following document was reprinted from an earlier statement by the USCCB and can be found at:

www.usccb.org/Lent/2007/Penance_and_Abstinence.pdf

Great. Thank you for this. Given everything I’ve seen, it’s apparent the Friday penance is encouraged and not required/mandated. I’ll continue to perform Friday penances anyway.

 

[Bookcat]

This is likely one of the source documents Jimmy has used as he points out Catholics in the US are urged and not obliged. By the way I am not consulting him. I am merely asking him to clarify his position because other posters reckon he says it is an obligation while my reading of his article sees it not as an obligation but rather a recommendation and urging.

Of course for someone like me who is British living in the Philippines none of this helps because the US Bishops naturally only speak for the Church in the US.
In my case I follow Friday penance even if it might not be an obligation.
However, I would like to know if it is an obligation here or not and if yes is non-performance a sin of grave matter or venial matter.
I’ll check with my priest.

Certainly the web pages from the USCCB I had posted earlier (and the ones which Elizabeth just posted)
seems to say similar to what Jimmy explains and what Elizabeth too and others argue…that it seems that in the US on the other Fridays one is not obliged but *urged *…and as noted above I can see the arguments from both sides…and have been on both sides of the argument …but if it is the case that that we are urged…so in the end I think penance and Friday being so important…we as Christians should follow the urging of our Bishops and do some form of Penance …except on solemnities (as Canon Law notes)…and maybe throw in Weds to boot like the early Christians!

As for your situation I would note this from Canon Law:

Can. 12 §1. Universal laws bind everywhere all those for whom they were issued.

§2. All who are actually present in a certain territory, however, are exempted from universal laws which are not in force in that territory.

§3. Laws established for a particular territory bind those for whom they were issued as well as those who have a domicile or quasi-domicile there and who at the same time are actually residing there, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 13.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3.HTM

So in your case you can follow the Law of the Philippines. Which is that abstinence can be *substituted *by exercises of Piety such as reading the Bible, Mass, Rosary, acts of charity, teaching the Catechism…etc

(as per the Complementary norms to the Code promulgated by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and published in the Canon Law Digest of the Philippine Catholic Church in 1987)…I found this info in the Code of Canon Law Annotated Published by Wilson & Lafleur Ltee

Now it is possible that something has changed since then…so you can check with the Chancery of your Diocese there.

(England too it notes also keeps the obligation of Friday Penance but allows for subsitution --but is very precise as to what may be substituted …to give a few examples of what they say one can substitute… abstaining from another food, alcohol or some form of amusement, going to Mass, visiting the blessed Sacrament, praying the Stations of the Cross, making a special effort to help somebody who is poor)

 

[Bookcat]

Certainly the web pages from the USCCB I had posted earlier (and the ones which Elizabeth just posted)
seems to say similar to what Jimmy explains and what Elizabeth too and others argue…that it seems that in the US on the other Fridays one is not obliged but *urged *…and as noted above I can see the arguments from both sides…and have been on both sides of the argument …but if it is the case that that we are urged…so in the end I think penance and Friday being so important…we as Christians should follow the urging of our Bishops and do some form of Penance …except on solemnities (as Canon Law notes)…and maybe throw in Weds to boot like the early Christians!

As for your situation I would note this from Canon Law:

Can. 12 §1. Universal laws bind everywhere all those for whom they were issued.

§2. All who are actually present in a certain territory, however, are exempted from universal laws which are not in force in that territory.

§3. Laws established for a particular territory bind those for whom they were issued as well as those who have a domicile or quasi-domicile there and who at the same time are actually residing there, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 13.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3.HTM

So in your case you can follow the Law of the Philippines. Which is that abstinence can be *substituted *by exercises of Piety such as reading the Bible, Mass, Rosary, acts of charity, teaching the Catechism…etc

(as per the Complementary norms to the Code promulgated by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and published in the Canon Law Digest of the Philippine Catholic Church in 1987)…I found this info in the Code of Canon Law Annotated Published by Wilson & Lafleur Ltee

Now it is possible that something has changed since then…so you can check with the Chancery of your Diocese there.

(England too it notes also keeps the obligation of Friday Penance but allows for subsitution --but is very precise as to what may be substituted …to give a few examples of what they say one can substitute… abstaining from another food, alcohol or some form of amusement, going to Mass, visiting the blessed Sacrament, praying the Stations of the Cross, making a special effort to help somebody who is poor)

PS: I was particularly referring to the abstinence that was under discussion…those Fridays

 

[thistle]

PS: I was particularly referring to the abstinence that was under discussion…those Fridays

Many thanks. I’ll check locally to see what the situation is. Anyway I always do a Friday penance, normally abstain from meat as I find that easiest to remember.

This is a general question for anyone. Have you had problems accessing the forums website. For the past 10 days I have had trouble getting in. On one occasion my Norton antivirus stopped an attack on my computer coming from this website and declared it an unsafe website. Then the website went down for “maintenance”. Since it came back I still have some problems with accessing it.
I don’t have problems accessing any other websites.

 

[jmcrae]

This is a general question for anyone. Have you had problems accessing the forums website. For the past 10 days I have had trouble getting in. On one occasion my Norton antivirus stopped an attack on my computer coming from this website and declared it an unsafe website. Then the website went down for “maintenance”. Since it came back I still have some problems with accessing it.
I don’t have problems accessing any other websites.

Yes, there have been issues recently. We also had a few “new members” who were posting some very weird things.

 

[Bookcat]

Many thanks. I’ll check locally to see what the situation is. Anyway I always do a Friday penance, normally abstain from meat as I find that easiest to remember.

This is a general question for anyone. Have you had problems accessing the forums website. For the past 10 days I have had trouble getting in. On one occasion my Norton antivirus stopped an attack on my computer coming from this website and declared it an unsafe website. Then the website went down for “maintenance”. Since it came back I still have some problems with accessing it.
I don’t have problems accessing any other websites.

Your welcome…Yes I contacted them about this…they were on top of it already!