C
csr
Guest
Some replies in this thread appear to conflate abstinence and fast. In more recent decades prior to the 1960s, in the Roman rite Fridays were days of abstinence, barring specific times of the year such as Lent. This means avoiding meat and items prepared with meat, and covers, traditionally, all Fridays, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, the Vigil of the Assumption, and the Vigil of Christmas. Fast days are weekdays of Lent, Ember days, the Vigil of Pentecost, the Vigil of the Assumption, and the Vigil of Christmas. Note that fast and abstinence are distinct, and can both apply to the same day.
The laws have changed but I always strive to live in a way that reflects Catholic tradition. Centuries’ of saints avoided meat on Fridays, so this is my practice. Traditionally there is also such a thing as partial abstinence, which allows meat and meat ingredients once per day, and applies to Ember Wednesdays, Ember saturdays, and the Vigil of Pentecost.
Sadly, most Catholics no longer celebrate Ember Days.
The practices concerning food have varied quite a bit throughout Catholic history and geography. Some times/places have had much more extensive fasting than that outlined above. All of that only proves that how we approach food is significant, and that to ignore this issue is very much at odds with Catholic history.
People give odd reasons for ignoring or even scoffing at the “old ways”. They say, ‘people like fish just as much as meat, so what’s the sacrifice?’ or ‘why is eating a lobster instead of a steak a sacrifice?’ The answer is: make it a sacrifice. Get a plain fish. Make a plain meal of a plain fish. I always wonder at those who scoff at the traditions of the Church, even the traditions that have changed with time. And I wonder: if giving up meat is really such a small thing, why can’t they do it? Why not do a small thing for Our Lord, to commemorate His sacrifice for us?
The laws have changed but I always strive to live in a way that reflects Catholic tradition. Centuries’ of saints avoided meat on Fridays, so this is my practice. Traditionally there is also such a thing as partial abstinence, which allows meat and meat ingredients once per day, and applies to Ember Wednesdays, Ember saturdays, and the Vigil of Pentecost.
Sadly, most Catholics no longer celebrate Ember Days.
The practices concerning food have varied quite a bit throughout Catholic history and geography. Some times/places have had much more extensive fasting than that outlined above. All of that only proves that how we approach food is significant, and that to ignore this issue is very much at odds with Catholic history.
People give odd reasons for ignoring or even scoffing at the “old ways”. They say, ‘people like fish just as much as meat, so what’s the sacrifice?’ or ‘why is eating a lobster instead of a steak a sacrifice?’ The answer is: make it a sacrifice. Get a plain fish. Make a plain meal of a plain fish. I always wonder at those who scoff at the traditions of the Church, even the traditions that have changed with time. And I wonder: if giving up meat is really such a small thing, why can’t they do it? Why not do a small thing for Our Lord, to commemorate His sacrifice for us?
