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pm2222
Guest
I know as Catholics we have an obligation to either abstain from meet on Friday or do a good deed. What counts as a good dead? Like if I were to clean my and my roommates house would that count as a good deed?
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adrift
Guest
As Catholics, we are obliged to abstain from meat or substitute another penance. This is of course outside of lent. Lent we are required to abstain from meat on all fridays and Ash Wednesday.
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pm2222
Guest
I just can’t think of a good penance I can do because the day is almost over. Is there any suggestions?
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pm2222
Guest
Like giving up chocolate for the day? Would that be ok?
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adrift
Guest
Yes
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bmullins
Guest
If you like Chocolate, then yes… If you hardly ever eat chocolate, then probably not. (Like deciding at 10:00 at night, well I didn’t eat chocolate today… so that’s what I will give up.) That just doesn’t work. It needs to be something given up that you would have done, or actually enjoyed. Pick something you really enjoy doing, or eating, and give it up for the day… or if you realize you haven’t done anything today like that… do it then. For me, turning off the computer is a good penance, because I enjoy it, a lot .For my grandmother who might use it once a month… not using it on Friday is not a sacrifice.
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Aeden
Guest
Wow. I didn’t know about the no meat or do penance thing. I had always thought that you could just eat meat. Dang…I just had a steak and it’s almost nine o’clock.
po18guy
Well-known member
Actually, not a thing wrong with doing both - or even more. Spiritual works of mercy (prayer) are also excellent.
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RSD
Guest
You know best if your roommate would like for you to clean. You know best if it is your turn to clean anyway, whether as a penance or just your regular chore.
We do not “do good deeds” just to be doing them, or to say that we did them. We must offer up what we do to the glory of God. If you do not think that what you want to offer would glorify God, choose something else. What you offer could be a good thing, in and of itself, but might be too little a thing for you to offer considering your circumstances. For instance if you are supposed to clean the whole house because it is your turn, it would not suffice for you just to put your dinner dishes in the dishwasher and then say that is your penance for the day.
You can also offer extra prayers: say a Rosary, or the daily office, if you don’t usually practice these devotions. If you do, add something else.
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Seira
Guest
Honestly, it’s easier (& healthier for ya 
) to abstain from meat for a day once a week.
) to abstain from meat for a day once a week.
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thistle
Guest
Prayer counts as a penance.
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anonymousdollz
Guest
Anything that glorifies God Oran act if charity is a good deed. However Ithink that meat doesn’t have to be abstained. It could be something you really love like chocolate. However traditionally it is meat so abstain from meat and when you ca 't abstain from something you equally enjoy.
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thistle
Guest
Outside Lent the Friday obligation to abstain from meat varies from country to country. In some countries you must abstain from meat. In others you are free to choose any form of penance.
It is up to the Bishops Conference in each country to decide.
CCC 1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).
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