I might have messed up Fridays with my Lenten Observance

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promethius

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Okay, so for lent I decided to give up meat… basically to become a pescatarian (a “fish only” vegetarian).

The problem is this: Fridays we are to abstain from meat, so I know that I’m within the LETTER of the law… but the SPIRIT of the law is that Fridays are marked by special observance to remind us of the special significance of Good Friday… and my Lenten observance means that merely abstaining from meat is no different than any other day.

As a result, I’d like to do additional penances on Fridays… but I have no idea what to do. I don’t really eat candy, or drink soda, etc… so what are some other traditional observances that I could practice on Fridays while being a pescatarian?
 
Credo_in_Deum said:
Abstaine from eating fish on Fridays.👍
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oh… right… duh. :rolleyes: I actually didn’t even think of that.

And here I was wondering if I could find some old/traditional additional observance and one was staring me right in the face… Thank you!
 
You could say the stations of the cross every friday, after all, friday is meant to be more penitential as a reminder of the Passion of Christ.
 
No problem! 👍

The funny thing is I’m doing the same thing as you and I asked myself the same question, lol. Then it struck me that I could offer up on Fridays all foods like meat, fish, dairy, and bread; leaving me only raw fruit and veggies…oh and water. I would go further but I haven’t made the leap to eating locusts just yet. 😃
 
I think you are fine, but yeah, doing the Stations on Friday in addition is an excellent idea! Or go vegetarian on Friday, yeah.
 
Just add something more if you wish…meditation on the Passion …on Scripture…acts of charity…alms giving (here is my address…) …pray more etc etc
 
promethius said:
Okay, so for lent I decided to give up meat… basically to become a pescatarian (a “fish only” vegetarian).

The problem is this: Fridays we are to abstain from meat, so I know that I’m within the LETTER of the law… but the SPIRIT of the law is that Fridays are marked by special observance to remind us of the special significance of Good Friday… and my Lenten observance means that merely abstaining from meat is no different than any other day.

As a result, I’d like to do additional penances on Fridays… but I have no idea what to do. I don’t really eat candy, or drink soda, etc… so what are some other traditional observances that I could practice on Fridays while being a pescatarian?
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In the ancient fasting tradition of the church, there are several distinct levels of fasting. Abstinence from meat is the lightest, followed by abstinence from meat, dairy and eggs, followed by abstinence from meat, dairy, eggs and fish, followed by abstinence from meat, dairy, eggs, fish, oil and wine. I believe that some Catholic monastic orders still follow these fasting prescriptions.

So if you wish to intensify your fast on Fridays, you might consider giving up dairy and eggs and maybe fish as well. If you were up for the ascetic challenge, you could go to the greatest extreme and even abstain even from oil and wine.
 
Cavaradossi said:
So if you wish to intensify your fast on Fridays, you might consider giving up dairy and eggs and maybe fish as well. If you were up for the ascetic challenge, you could go to the greatest extreme and even abstain even from oil and wine.
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You beat me to it!

In the East, we abstain from meat, dairy and eggs for the whole of the Lenten fast. Fish is only prescribed on the Annunciation and Palm Sunday. If you’re looking specifically for a way to fast on Fridays, this might be an option.

Also know, however, that those of us in the East do not intensify our fast on the “regular” fasting days (Fridays, and in our Tradition Wednesday as well) during Lent, though parish practice is to serve the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on these days, which means a total fast of all food and drink (including water) for several hours (most traditionally, from midnight), until the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy is served in the afternoon or evening (my parish serves it at 6:30pm on Wednesdays, 12:30pm on Fridays).

Otherwise, I think an increased prayer rule (such as the stations of the cross, as was mentioned) is also a nice piety for your Lenten Fridays. 🙂
 
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