Friday Penance Question

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Hello,

Someone told me that the Litany to the Sacred Heart is a good Friday Penance.

Do you think this is acceptable for a Friday penance, in substituting eating chicken? What about the Chaplet of Divine Mercy???
 
I think that both/either of those make good Friday penances. I tend to observe the traditional abstinence from meat, but if I’m in a situation where I eat meat on a Friday, I tend to say an extra Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the purpose of penance.
 
PraiseChrist said:
Hello,

Someone told me that the Litany to the Sacred Heart is a good Friday Penance.

Do you think this is acceptable for a Friday penance, in substituting eating chicken? What about the Chaplet of Divine Mercy???
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The Mrs. and I generally abstain from meat every Friday, but if we do consume, we pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
 
Those seem suitable to me. I normally abstain from meat on Fridays but today I felt socially obliged to partake of meat (celebrating Canada Day with friends where everyone was eating meat), so I prayerfully read the Mass readings for the day.
 
Dear all,

I’d suggest it’s a both-and situation. We should be doing something in recognition of the passion; be it sorrowful mysteries of the rosary, or divine mercy chaplet.

Here in the UK the meat-free Friday law is back in effect, which is great. I believe in the US it is up to you, but one should try to abstain from something. Our Lord went without food or drink - I think the least we can do is some real penance. The Church has always placed fasting as top of the list of corporal mortifications. If meat is a challenge - maybe abstain between meals?

But, I’d say, if meat is a challenge, then you just found the perfect penance. Plus you’d be in-line with the traditions of the church for centuries, and joining the ranks of all the saints who have gone before us.

God bless
 
Another excellent substitute for the Friday Penance is the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds. This is a Chaplet which is to be prayed for the reparation of blasphemy, and honor the five Wounds of Christ. The five mysteries can be either [Left hand, Right hand, Wound to the heart, Left food, Right foot] or [Hands, Feet, Wound to the heart, Crown of thorns, Scourging on back].

I think another good substitute would be sleeping without a pillow that night, but that’s just me:shrug:
 
I also say the Seven Dolors Rosary (Seven Sorrows of Mary). we observe the no meat rule on Friday throughout the year.
 
PraiseChrist said:
Hello,

Someone told me that the Litany to the Sacred Heart is a good Friday Penance.

Do you think this is acceptable for a Friday penance, in substituting eating chicken? What about the Chaplet of Divine Mercy???
Click to expand...
The Church does not dictate that certain prayers should be done or not done.
Any prayer is a suitable substitute.
 
I vacuum the house and clean the bathrooms (I’m retired and my wife still works).

Both jobs that I loathe.
 
OraLabora said:
I vacuum the house and clean the bathrooms (I’m retired and my wife still works).

Both jobs that I loathe.
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I so agree with your thinking, OraLabora!

I don’t feel happy about viewing saying a prayer as a penance. It’s like a child saying to his or her granddad, ‘I’ve been told to come and chat nicely to you because I’ve been naughty and it’s my punishment.’.
 
Great thread. I find that if I’m going to eat meat, a good penance for me is to do more at work, go without tv or youtube, abstain from desserts and alcohol. One could also abstain from social media.

God bless you.
 
I would say that the Litany of the Sacred Heart and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are both sufficient for a penance on Friday. I tend to just abstain.
 
Jennifoo said:
Great thread. I find that if I’m going to eat meat, a good penance for me is to do more at work, go without tv or youtube, abstain from desserts and alcohol. One could also abstain from social media.

God bless you.
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If one truly aspires to be a saint, I think that last one is the way to go. Many of the women I know, including my wife, would readily abstain from desserts, alcohol, television, or meat before abstaining from Facebook :p.
 
twf said:
If one truly aspires to be a saint, I think that last one is the way to go. Many of the women I know, including my wife, would readily abstain from desserts, alcohol, television, or meat before abstaining from Facebook :p.
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For me, it would be all food before CAF and tea/coffee :compcoff:
 
Don’t eat meat on Friday’s. This is what the Saints of the Latin Church did for centuries. If you’re not vegetarian, this is a great traditional penance.
 
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