Holy Thursday question

[Monica4316]

I know in the Latin rite, Holy Thursday is not a day of obligation. In the Byzantine tradition, is it one of those feasts when Catholics should go to liturgy? I mean like the 12 Great Feasts. I’m going to liturgy anyway but I work on call so I take days off work when its a day of obligation - cause I read we should rest too. What is the case with Holy Thursday? Thank you!

 

[ByzCathCantor]

I know in the Latin rite, Holy Thursday is not a day of obligation. In the Byzantine tradition, is it one of those feasts when Catholics should go to liturgy? I mean like the 12 Great Feasts. I’m going to liturgy anyway but I work on call so I take days off work when its a day of obligation - cause I read we should rest too. What is the case with Holy Thursday? Thank you!

In the Byzantine tradition, Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated.

While not a holy day of obligation, per se, we are encouraged to attend as many of the Holy Week services as possible, and there is a full slate of special services for the week. Some of the highlights …

Great & Holy Monday - Bridegroom Matins
Great & Holy Tuesday - Bridegroom Matins
Great & Holy Wednesday - Bridegroom Matins; Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts with Holy Anointing
Great & Holy Thursday - Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
Great & Holy Friday - Matins with Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels; Vespers with Burial Procession
Great & Holy Saturday - Jerusalem Matins (Lamentations at the Tomb); Vespers with Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

Blessings on your journey to the Great Pasch!

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you! I’m planning to attend liturgy at a Roman Catholic parish as I have to sing at the choir there… But Holy Thursday is not one of those days when you try not to work as well? I’m aware that in the Latin rite on holy days of obligation you should also rest, I assume it might be similar in the East, but Holy Thursday is not one of those days? Thanks!

 

[Vico]

I know in the Latin rite, Holy Thursday is not a day of obligation. In the Byzantine tradition, is it one of those feasts when Catholics should go to liturgy? I mean like the 12 Great Feasts. I’m going to liturgy anyway but I work on call so I take days off work when its a day of obligation - cause I read we should rest too. What is the case with Holy Thursday? Thank you!

Since Great and Holy Friday and Great and Holy Saturday are traditionally days of no meals, those have the greatest *penitential *emphasis in Holy Week. Days with less or no food are more difficult to work. Great and Holy Thursday is traditionally a day of one meal, with wine and oil ok. But in the USA, Great and Holy Friday is an obligatory strict abstinence day (no meat, eggs, dairy) for Byzantine Catholic Church.

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you! So Holy Thursday its allowed to work?

On Holy Saturday, an Orthodox fasting calendar says its a fast of bread, vegetables and fruits - and Good Friday is full abstention from food. Is it the same for the traditional practice in Eastern Catholicism? Do people generally have a snack in the morning of Holy Saturday?

 

[Monica4316]

I read more and it seems traditionally they may have a bit of food on Holy Saturday after Liturgy of St Basil… However isn’t that in the evening? I am going to Easter Vigil Mass so I can’t eat anything in the evening. Would it make sense to have a bit of food (like bread) on Saturday morning? Not sure if that’s allowed…

 

[Vico]

I read more and it seems traditionally they may have a bit of food on Holy Saturday after Liturgy of St Basil… However isn’t that in the evening? I am going to Easter Vigil Mass so I can’t eat anything in the evening. Would it make sense to have a bit of food (like bread) on Saturday morning? Not sure if that’s allowed…

It is allowed for Byzantine Catholics. Severe penance is entirely voluntary form of penance. Fast and abstinence is per the norms of each Church sui iuris which vary. Do you not know the norms for penitential observance for your Church?

One tradition is to fast from midnight until after Vespers which occur at the end of the day. With Vespers with Divine Liturgy (or Presanctified Gifts) there is no opportunity to eat until afterwards, which is late.

The fish symbol is on our Calendar for Good and Holy Friday and Good and Holy Saturday.

 

[Monica4316]

I don’t know the norms for my church because there is very little information online about Russian Catholics and there’s no parish of my rite. So I really have no idea… I suppose tea doesn’t break the fast though in any case?

I don’t know if it would be allowable to have some bread or something Saturday morning… Easter Vigil ends after midnight and I need to do my Communion fast so I can’t eat after lunch in any case. Or if it would be better to just not eat till Easter. Hopefully drinks are allowed though?

 

[wynd]

I don’t know the norms for my church because there is very little information online about Russian Catholics and there’s no parish of my rite. So I really have no idea… I suppose tea doesn’t break the fast though in any case?

I don’t know if it would be allowable to have some bread or something Saturday morning… Easter Vigil ends after midnight and I need to do my Communion fast so I can’t eat after lunch in any case. Or if it would be better to just not eat till Easter. Hopefully drinks are allowed though?

Is there a Byzantine priest of any rite near you that you can talk to? You seem to be very caught up in what you are or aren’t “allowed” or “required” to do, which isn’t really the right mindset to have. Spiritual guidance from a priest would help you a lot.

 

[Vico]

I don’t know the norms for my church because there is very little information online about Russian Catholics and there’s no parish of my rite. So I really have no idea… I suppose tea doesn’t break the fast though in any case?

I don’t know if it would be allowable to have some bread or something Saturday morning… Easter Vigil ends after midnight and I need to do my Communion fast so I can’t eat after lunch in any case. Or if it would be better to just not eat till Easter. Hopefully drinks are allowed though?

You are outside the territorial boundaries so you may adopt. You can contact a priest or deacon at one of the Russian Catholic Churches. You can read what is done at a Russian Catholic Church:

byzantinecatholic.org/feastsandfasts/lentenfast.php

CCEO
Canon 882 - On the days of penance the Christian faithful are obliged to observe fast or abstinence in the manner established by the particular law of their Church sui iuris.

Canon 883 - §1. The Christian faithful who are outside the territorial boundaries of their own Church sui iuris can adopt fully for themselves the feast days and days of penance which are in force where they are staying.
§2. In families in which the parents are enrolled in different Churches sui iuris, it is permitted to observe the norms of one or the other Church, in regard to feast days and days of penance.

 

[Monica4316]

I know about this I just wanted to follow the Eastern fast voluntarily. I did email a Russian Catholic priest a few times but I don’t want to bother him with every little question… That’s why I ask here.