Lenten Sacrifice on St. Patrick's Day

[FrenzyJen]

I know in the past the church, at least in certain areas, has given dispensations for meat-eating or fasting on certain observances, like St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s day.

And I also know that a Lenten sacrifice isn’t compulsory, but something we are invited to do, so it wouldn’t be an outright sin.

But what do you think about forgoing a Lenten promise/sacrifice for a feast day/holiday during Lent?

In my case, what I gave up would help me to teach my son about St. Patrick, which is why I’m interested in your thoughts about this.

 

[FrenzyJen]

Oops. Not exactly Family Life. Go ahead and move it.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Well, my son’s birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day and since we have some Irish in us we do relax our fast a bit to celebrate the day . We fast from dairy (and most meats and eggs here) so I do bake a cake but make it vegan. We also have coconut ice cream (non dairy) and have our icon of St. Patrick out.

 

[Allegra]

I think you can loosen up a bit on St. Patrick’s Day, but if it falls on a Friday, I still abstain from meat while I go to the parade and catch handfuls of candy.

 

[SushiFan]

If you are going to skip your particular sacrifice for a day, you might consider doing a different sacrifice, or adding in a rosary, or go to Mass if you don’t usually do that.

 

[FrenzyJen]

If you are going to skip your particular sacrifice for a day, you might consider doing a different sacrifice, or adding in a rosary, or go to Mass if you don’t usually do that.

Great idea!! Thank you!!

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

I know in the past the church, at least in certain areas, has given dispensations for meat-eating or fasting on certain observances, like St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s day.

And I also know that a Lenten sacrifice isn’t compulsory, but something we are invited to do, so it wouldn’t be an outright sin.

But what do you think about forgoing a Lenten promise/sacrifice for a feast day/holiday during Lent?

In my case, what I gave up would help me to teach my son about St. Patrick, which is why I’m interested in your thoughts about this.

St. Patrick’s day is an optional memorial, so dispensations on that day (if it falls on a Friday) are completely up to one’s bishop.

St. Joseph’s day is, however, a solemnity - the highest class of feast day - so even the obligation to abstain from meat (if the day falls on a Friday) is automatically abrogated.

Foregoing Lenten sacrifices on a solemnity like St. Joseph’s day is definitely the best choice.

As for an optional memorial like St. Patrick’s day, it depends on your honest level of devotion to that saint. In your case, based on what you said about teaching your son, it seems like you really do care about this saint’s legacy, and that it’s not just an excuse to give up penance, so I’d say go for it.

But remember - it’s up to you. For memorials like St. Patrick’s day, it’s a personal choice and my opinion doesn’t really matter. The exception would be if St. Patrick’s day falls on a Friday, in which case your bishop should be obeyed.

 

[KevinAK]

I think you can loosen up a bit on St. Patrick’s Day, but if it falls on a Friday, I still abstain from meat while I go to the parade and catch handfuls of candy.

If it falls on a Friday our Bishop issues a dispensation from abstinence.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I know in the past the church, at least in certain areas, has given dispensations for meat-eating or fasting on certain observances, like St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s day.

FTR, though it may be a popular observance, St Patrick is not in general a highly ranked feast* – It is a Commemoration*, ie barely acknowledged beyond the Lenten weekday. St Joseph, on the other hand, requires no one to dispense from fastings – That dispensation comes automatically by virtue of the day’s rank as a Solemnity.

(* The gravity of the day may be elevated depending on one’s locale or other circumstance. eg The cathedral of the diocese of New York is under St Patrick’s patronage, and perhaps the whole diocese?)

And I also know that a Lenten sacrifice isn’t compulsory, but something we are invited to do, so it wouldn’t be an outright sin.

Correct.

tee

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

FTR, though it may be a popular observance, St Patrick is not in general a highly ranked feast* – It is a Commemoration*, ie barely acknowledged beyond the Lenten weekday. St Joseph, on the other hand, requires no one to dispense from fastings – That dispensation comes automatically by virtue of the day’s rank as a Solemnity.

(* The gravity of the day may be elevated depending on one’s locale or other circumstance. eg The cathedral of the diocese of New York is under St Patrick’s patronage, and perhaps the whole diocese?)

Correct.

tee

Growing up under a series of bishops with Irish roots, however, the relative importance of those two dates tended to be the reverse!

 

[Allegra]

If it falls on a Friday our Bishop issues a dispensation from abstinence.

The last time that happened, there was a rumor that went around that the bishop had issued a dispensation, but I don’t think that actually happened.

 

[Vico]

I know in the past the church, at least in certain areas, has given dispensations for meat-eating or fasting on certain observances, like St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s day.

And I also know that a Lenten sacrifice isn’t compulsory, but something we are invited to do, so it wouldn’t be an outright sin.

But what do you think about forgoing a Lenten promise/sacrifice for a feast day/holiday during Lent?

In my case, what I gave up would help me to teach my son about St. Patrick, which is why I’m interested in your thoughts about this.

In 2010, the Feast of Saint Joseph was on Friday, March 19, during Lent. No fasting on that day according to canon law. It is fitting to celebrate those solemnities rather than fast. Also March 25 Annunciation may occur on Fridays during Lent.

 

[Bklynguy]

I know in the past the church, at least in certain areas, has given dispensations for meat-eating or fasting on certain observances, like St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s day.

And I also know that a Lenten sacrifice isn’t compulsory, but something we are invited to do, so it wouldn’t be an outright sin.

But what do you think about forgoing a Lenten promise/sacrifice for a feast day/holiday during Lent?

In my case, what I gave up would help me to teach my son about St. Patrick, which is why I’m interested in your thoughts about this.

If St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent, the Brooklyn/Queens Diocese here always grants dispensation. St. Patrick’s Day is a feast day, and is supposed to be celebratory…so don’t feel guilty about feasting!

If a Lenten sacrifice of abstention on feast days during the Lenten period brings you closer to Jesus, go for it! If it is going to make you sulk or think you are missing out on the fun, I would think of something else to do for the Lenten season. This isn’t to say to make things “easy on you,” or anything. But the whole point is to bring you closer to Jesus, and if you are closer to Jesus, it should be making you into a nicer person. If it is making you grumpy, it is probably best to think of something else.

Have a blessed Lent!

 

[pnewton]

There is no mandatory Lenten sacrifice, as in everyone must give up smoking, coffee or TV. Our Lenten sacrifices are individual and personal. Sometimes we will even give up something, except for Spring Break, or except for Sundays, Solemnities, etc. When I gave up alcohol one year, St. Patrick’s day was one day I held back for beer. Now, I do not drink enough to make alcohol any sacrifice at all. It is my opinion that giving up something 100% is a good idea, but if one starts tacking on extras, it might not be a bad idea to only limit it to certain holy days.

Abstinence and fasting days however do need a dispensation as they are mandated. Maybe this would be a good way of teaching your children the difference between precepts and voluntary sacrifices.

 

[Vico]

There is no mandatory Lenten sacrifice, as in everyone must give up smoking, coffee or TV. Our Lenten sacrifices are individual and personal. Sometimes we will even give up something, except for Spring Break, or except for Sundays, Solemnities, etc. When I gave up alcohol one year, St. Patrick’s day was one day I held back for beer. Now, I do not drink enough to make alcohol any sacrifice at all. It is my opinion that giving up something 100% is a good idea, but if one starts tacking on extras, it might not be a bad idea to only limit it to certain holy days.

Abstinence and fasting days however do need a dispensation as they are mandated. Maybe this would be a good way of teaching your children the difference between precepts and voluntary sacrifices.

According to the USCCB there are **still **days of obligatory (one meal) fasting, and abstinence from meat in the USA:**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.

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence.cfm