C
CrossofChrist
Guest
Not a requirement, correct? So long as we abstain we have met the penance requirement, yes?
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L
Lormar
Guest
Yes, you are correct.
On the Fridays outside of Lent, if you choose to eat meat, another penance must be performed. But on the Fridays in Lent, no meat on Friday is mandatory.
If I am mistaken, someone will correct me.
On the Fridays outside of Lent, if you choose to eat meat, another penance must be performed. But on the Fridays in Lent, no meat on Friday is mandatory.
If I am mistaken, someone will correct me.
P
pianistclare
Guest
From the USCCB.
Fast & Abstinence
** Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.**
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
A Reflection on Lenten Fasting
If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
More information on fast and abstinence can be found below.
More Information
For members of the Latin Catholic Church within the United States, please see the USCCB’s Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence and the complementary norm to canon 1253.
Code of Canon Law (cc. 1249-1253). . .
This applies to residents of the U.S.
Fast & Abstinence
** Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.**
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
A Reflection on Lenten Fasting
If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily his Resurrection.
More information on fast and abstinence can be found below.
More Information
For members of the Latin Catholic Church within the United States, please see the USCCB’s Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence and the complementary norm to canon 1253.
Code of Canon Law (cc. 1249-1253). . .
This applies to residents of the U.S.
M
MW1T68
Guest
Is a cup of oatmeal considered a full meal or can I consider it a small meal?
Peace Mat.
Peace Mat.
T
thistle
Guest
Canon Law does not state 18. It states when a person reaches their majority. That may or may not be 18 depending on the country.
Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.
C
CB_Catholic
Guest
Here is apologist’s Jimmy Aikn’s article explaining abstinence on Fridays and the mandation to do some other form of penance in the US. He does not believe the USCCB, who has authority here, (given to them by Rome) is mandating another form of penance, although they are recommending it strongly, but no sin is attached if one does not do so.
If someone has a question, they should probably contact Jimmy.
jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html
P
ProVobis
Guest
Depends on what you consider a full meal. I generally go by calories. The cup of oatmeal is, what, 300 calories? Then the sum of your two smaller meals must not be greater than that.
The only question is, is 500-550 calories enough to sustain you?
C
CrossofChrist
Guest
He is wrong. A bishop’s conference can’t override canon law. The usccb has been granted permission by the Vatican to have another penance substitute no meat for Fridays outside of Lent. But the usccb couldn’t say no penance is ok unless the vatican said it was ok.
M
MW1T68
Guest
I was thinking a cup of oatmeal for breakfast (160 calories), a tuna sandwich for lunch (480 calories), and a regular size meal for dinner probably around 1,000 calories.
P
ProVobis
Guest
For a healthy person, that sounds reasonable.
I
InNomineDomini
Guest
My understanding is that the relevant document (Link) does nothing other than “strongly urge” US Catholics to perform **some **form of penance on Fridays.
Do you have strong evidence to the contrary from some official source? For example, a statement from the US Bishops in which they clarify that the 1966 document linked above indeed mandated penance of some sort*?
C
CB_Catholic
Guest
I think before you declare this trusted apologist to be in error, you need to come up with some documentation from the Vatican that contradicts him. As I said, if there are questions, contact him through CAF. He apparently does read his E-mail.
He said in this article that the USCCB’s document was approved by Rome. If Rome approved it, what is the problem?
In any case, your argument is with Jimmy, not me.
P
pianistclare
Guest
As I said, I am speaking and quoting in reference to the United States.
T
thistle
Guest
As I said, I am speaking and quoting in reference to the United States.
L
LoveMorrissey
Guest
This is a bonus of being a vegetarian 
I don’t eat meat ever!
I’m looking forward to Lent, can anyone tell me if Ashes can be put on the forehead of those who haven’t yet been confirmed?
I don’t eat meat ever!I’m looking forward to Lent, can anyone tell me if Ashes can be put on the forehead of those who haven’t yet been confirmed?
T
Tigg
Guest
In addition to curtailing food consumption, I find it beneficial to obey the spirit of the law as well. The value of fasting as Augustine summed it up says that it “cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.” There are thousands of ways we might deny ourselves simply by a movement of the will and heart. Even the smallest things can elevate the mind to Christ when done in the spirit of penance.
P
ProVobis
Guest
I’ve seen ashes on young kids. I’ve seen ashes on non-Catholics. I just presumed it was for anyone who knows enough about them.
P
pianistclare
Guest
Indeed. We have many non-Catholics come in fro Ashes, busiest Mass outside of Christmas.
They put ashes on babies. Although I don’t think the toddler “get” why. They mostly wipe them right off.
They put ashes on babies. Although I don’t think the toddler “get” why. They mostly wipe them right off.
V
Vico
Guest
It states:22. Friday itself remains a special day of penitential observance throughout the year, a time when those who seek perfection will be mindful of their personal sins and the sins of mankind which they are called upon to help expiate in union with Christ Crucified.
- Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.
- Among the works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance which we especially commend to our people for the future observance of Friday, even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence binding under pain of sin, as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday, …
C
CrossofChrist
Guest
And the document itself assumes other penances will be done instead:
- Perhaps we should warn those who decide to keep the Friday abstinence for reasons of personal piety and special love that they must not pass judgment on those who elect to substitute other penitential observances
In November 1966, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (today’s USCCB), issued its Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence. This document covered a wide range of topics related to penitential practices. About halfway through, the bishops addressed the matter of Friday abstinence. The bishops stated that the practice of abstaining from meat would no longer be binding under pain of sin. American Catholics were asked to continue abstaining from meat, OR to find an alternative form of personal penance. - See more at: dioceseoflansing.org/no_meat_on_fridays_all_year_long#.dpuf
Canon law never gave bishops conferences the authority to abolish penances altogether. It only gives the ability to substitute abstinence for another penance.
And Jimmy Akin is the only one I’ve ever come across online to make that argument; afaik it’s original to him. Anyone else agreeing uses him as their source.
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