Lent and abstinence?

[jcian12]

Hello! I was just wondering, since it’s Ash Wednesday and all and we have to abstain from meat, does chicken also count? Sorry I have no idea. Because if chicken meat counts for meat that needs to be abstained, then I’m raising a guilty hand here.

My friends told me that we only have to abstain from pork and beef, and we were having lunch. So I ate chicken. But as far as I know only fish is allowed.

Thank you!

 

[baltobetsy]

We abstain from the flesh of warm blooded animals, and that includes chicken. Since you really didn’t know, you are not guilty, but now that you do, you can begin to observe the rule correctly.

Fish and all types of seafood are permitted, as are eggs, cheese and other vegetarian fare. No particular food is required, so don’t think you must eat fish.

A good lent to you.

 

[jcian12]

We abstain from the flesh of warm blooded animals, and that includes chicken. Since you really didn’t know, you are not guilty, but now that you do, you can begin to observe the rule correctly.

Fish and all types of seafood are permitted, as are eggs, cheese and other vegetarian fare. No particular food is required, so don’t think you must eat fish.

A good lent to you.

Thank you! When are we supposed to fast/abstain from meat? Fridays of lent only and ash wednesday?

 

[smithm29]

What is your diocese? You are likely required to fast, also. Since you said you already had lunch, I assume you’re English? From your Episcopal conference:

The Church sets aside certain penitential days and invites us to observe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as days of fast and abstinence. ”Fasting means that the amount of food we eat is considerably reduced. Abstinence means that we give up a particular kind of food or drink or form of amusement”. Fridays throughout Lent, and during the rest of the year are also days when we are encouraged to do some form of penance.

I don’t know what “invites us to observe” means, but you may want to ask your priest.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Thank you! When are we supposed to fast/abstain from meat? Fridays of lent only and ash wednesday?

Universally, every Friday is a penitential day* in addition to Ash Wednesday, and the universal rule is to abstain from meat. However the episcopal conference is empowered to alter that universal rule. In the United States, the USCCB has required abstinence from meat only on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent – On other Fridays of the year it has relaxed the rule.

I cannot speak to other jurisdictions.

(* Except when a Solemnity falls on Friday – Even during Lent – So in a couple of weeks, on Friday 25-Mar-2011, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, we may partake of meat in our meals!)

tee

 

[crystal_waters]

Hello! I was just wondering, since it’s Ash Wednesday and all and we have to abstain from meat, does chicken also count? Sorry I have no idea. Because if chicken meat counts for meat that needs to be abstained, then I’m raising a guilty hand here.

My friends told me that we only have to abstain from pork and beef, and we were having lunch. So I ate chicken. But as far as I know only fish is allowed.

Thank you!

chicken is meat…if its made from a dead animal then its meat

 

[puzzleannie]

HelloMy friends told me that we only have to abstain from pork and beef, and we were having lunch. So I ate chicken. But as far as I know only fish is allowed.

Thank you!

unless your friend is the bishop, don’t take their word for it, check your parish bulletin or website or the diocesan website for the discipline where you live. Yes chicken is meat from a warm blooded animal so yes it is not for days of abstinence of which there are only 7 in the entire year.

 

[Mookus]

In the United States, the USCCB has required abstinence from meat only on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent – On other Fridays of the year it has relaxed the rule.

I think I’d rather say “modified” than “relaxed” - U.S. Catholics are still supposed to abstain on all Fridays throughout the year or substitute some other penitential practice:

catholicexchange.com/2009/03/05/116502/

“Our bishops have given each of us the green light to decide for ourselves how best to make our Fridays penitential. How sad, therefore, that most Catholics have wrongly interpreted this as meaning simply that “we don’t need to abstain from meat on Fridays anymore,” without replacing that abstinence with another form of penance!”

Thanks for the clarification on chicken, that’s how I ended up at this post.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I think I’d rather say “modified” than “relaxed” - U.S. Catholics are still supposed to abstain on all Fridays throughout the year or substitute some other penitential practice:

catholicexchange.com/2009/03/05/116502/

“Our bishops have given each of us the green light to decide for ourselves how best to make our Fridays penitential. How sad, therefore, that most Catholics have wrongly interpreted this as meaning simply that “we don’t need to abstain from meat on Fridays anymore,” without replacing that abstinence with another form of penance!”

Thanks for the clarification on chicken, that’s how I ended up at this post.

CA apologist Jimmy Akin’s analysis in this post, More On Friday Penance (part of the the collection he calls the Annual Lent Fight), very convincingly indicates otherwise.

tee

 

[jcian12]

What is your diocese? You are likely required to fast, also. Since you said you already had lunch, I assume you’re English? From your Episcopal conference:

I don’t know what “invites us to observe” means, but you may want to ask your priest.

No I’m not English. I’m Filipino.
By the way, thanks for all those who replied on this topic! I’ve learned a lot.