How do you remember not to eat meat on a Friday?

[JM3]

I think Steve’s not debating the authority of the church, but asking where specifically does it say it’s a sin if you eat meat on Friday.

My knowledge is that it is a sin if you do it during Lent, but not at other times during the year.

My mother-in-law begs to differ, but the evidence presented is always anecdotal.

CCC 2037 The law of God entrusted to the Church is taught to the faithful as the way of life and truth. the faithful therefore have the right to be instructed in the divine saving precepts that purify judgment and, with grace, heal wounded human reason.79 They have the duty of observing the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church. Even if they concern disciplinary matters, these determinations call for docility in charity.

 

[JM3]

Catholics are not obliged to abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent, and the recommendation to do penance on Friday is not binding on pain of sin. No sin.

Even if it were a binding practice, deliberate intent is still required for sin, so forgetting does not count. If you want to do penance choose something that is easier to remember, and do it intentionally so it is more beneficial spiritually. For instance it is easier to remember to fast or abstain if you prepare your own food, when you eat out or have to rely on someone else, it is harder. Why not choose something you can control, like saying a certain prayer.

APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION
PAENITEMINI
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
PAUL VI
ON FAST AND ABSTINENCE

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini_en.html

CHAPTER III

Therefore, the following is declared and established:

I. 1. By divine law all the faithful are required to do penance.

1. The prescriptions of ecclesiastical law regarding penitence are totally reorganized according to the following norms:

II. 1. The time of Lent preserves its penitential character. The days of penitence to be observed under obligation throughout the Church are all Fridays and Ash Wednesday, that is to say the first days of “Grande Quaresima” (Great Lent), according to the diversity of the rites. Their substantial observance binds gravely.

1. Apart from the faculties referred to in VI and VIII regarding the manner of fulfilling the precept of penitence on such days, abstinence is to be observed on every Friday which does not fall on a day of obligation, while abstinence and fast is to be observed on Ash Wednesday or, according to the various practices of the rites, on the first day of “Grande Quaresima” (Great Lent) and on Good Friday.

III. 1. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat.

 

[Zacdecat]

It is awfully easy once you are in the habit…and have a really good fish and chip shop handy. Hey it is Friday…fush day beaut.

Don’t beat yourself up if you are new to it and slip up a few times.It is good to have a liturgical calender or diary with those nifty fishies as a reminder.

Also you get to hang out with half the parish at the chippery…