Fridays all year long

[jbm0117]

Here in the USA we are urged to practice Friday Penance but it is no longer binding under pain of sin. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA) issued a statement in 1966 titled Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence. Here is an excerpt from that statement that Seatuck in post #27 so thoughtfully gave us.The red bold is my emphasis.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops are permitted to do this as outlined in Canon Law.

I have not in the past either abstained from meat on all Fridays or did other forms of penance. As I grow in my faith, however, I want to start doing some sort of special recognition of Christ in my life and what He has done for me. As today is Friday, I am going to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet (as close to 3:00 as I can). Going forward I want to remember and honor what Jesus did for us on that Friday so long long ago. I want to do it out of love.

For those of you who have in the past and continue to offer some sort of Penance on all Fridays, I commend you. It will not be difficult for me to pray (just remember!) but I will do it to honor Christ. All those who offer something up (meat) I am sure it is not too difficult. It is not the difficulty that makes it a penance, but the fact that we honor our Lord. IMHO.

Ok, the above information tells us it’s ok to eat meat on Fridays now, but why the change???

 

[joplee]

Ok, the above information tells us it’s ok to eat meat on Fridays now, but why the change???

I suggest to read the Bishops’ Statement that Seatuck provided in post #27. Here is the link again for your convenience. Paragraphs 18-28 go into this in detail.

usccb.org/lent/2008/Penan…Abstinence.pdf

I think paragraph 19 of the Bishops Statement sums it up best.

1. Changing circumstances, including economic, dietary, and social
   elements, have made some of our people feel that the renunciation of
   the eating of meat is not always and for everyone the most effective
   means of practicing penance. Meat was once an exceptional form of
   food; now it is commonplace.

 

[joplee]

Ok, the above information tells us it’s ok to eat meat on Fridays now, but why the change???

I just noticed that you list your religion as Eastern Catholic. I assume you are Byzantine Catholic in the USA and not just a Roman Catholic on the East coast.

That being the case you would need to follow the norms for your Church.

 

[JerrySeibert]

All year. With very few occasions. Working late etc on Friday.

 

[starlight101]

I rarely eat meat on Fridays, the only exception being when one of the non-vegetarian members of my family cooks something with meat in it. They are not Catholic and cannot understand why I choose not to eat meat on Fridays. If this scenario occurs I will usually give up something else to fulfill the “penance” rule.
Are under-14s exempt from this rule as one person (sorry, I forgot to quote) seemed to suggest? And what about Wednesdays?!

 

[jbm0117]

I suggest to read the Bishops’ Statement that Seatuck provided in post #27. Here is the link again for your convenience. Paragraphs 18-28 go into this in detail.

usccb.org/lent/2008/Penan…Abstinence.pdf

I think paragraph 19 of the Bishops Statement sums it up best.

Changing circumstances, including economic, dietary, and social
elements, have made some of our people feel that the renunciation of
the eating of meat is not always and for everyone the most effective
means of practicing penance. Meat was once an exceptional form of
food; now it is commonplace.

Ok, so eating meat is not a good form of penance for some people and then we change it.
I find that a poor excuse to change something just because some people do not like this form of penance. The economic, dietary, and social are poor excuses. Anyone can forget the meat for one day and eat fish and veggies, it will mostly likelly be healthy and cheaper that a steak.