Meat Abstinence Question

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I understand the meat abstinence on Fridays and I understand it to be “flesh meat.” Does this mean we also have to abstain from items that come from flesh meat? For instance, chicken livers? Ultimately, this is not flesh meat, but comes from an animal that we must abstain from during days of abstinence. However, to follow that line of thinking, we would have to abstain from milk.

Any thoughts or greater clarification would be appreciated.
 
I have never eaten chicken livers. Why would they not be chicken? (Are they any good?:))

I know it’s not required, but I’m planning to abstain from milk on Fridays. My roommate is a vegetarian, and I’m basically one too, since she’s such a wonderful cook! It would hardly be a fast for me since we don’t eat meat anyway. I do, however, eat cereal with milk every day (sometime more than once a day), so I feel like that’s more along the lines of what the Lenten fast is trying to convey.

I think what I’m trying to say is it’s not about the exact rule–everyone can (and should) do the bare minimum, but we should want to do more, right?
 
Chicken livers are meat.

So are chicken and beef broth, bacon grease, and the like.

There is question about gelatin. Though it was originally made from animal collagen, some say that you do so many things to it to turn it into Jell-O that it’s no longer recognizable to any sense as being meat.

And there are also products similar to gelatin in taste and texture that are made from algae.
 
Doesn’t this all sound like a heaping platter of legalism?
 
myfavoritmartin said:
Doesn’t this all sound like a heaping platter of legalism?
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Certainly any concerns with Jello would seem to be. Hamburger-flavored Jello! Yummmmee!!

It would almost be worth consuming an algae-based food product on a Lenten Friday - if one could bring oneself to do that - just for the experience of confessing it and seeing the good father’s reaction. (Tho’ surely algae are plants, unless my high school biology fails me.)
 
bpbasilphx said:
Chicken livers are meat.

So are chicken and beef broth, bacon grease, and the like.

There is question about gelatin. Though it was originally made from animal collagen, some say that you do so many things to it to turn it into Jell-O that it’s no longer recognizable to any sense as being meat.

And there are also products similar to gelatin in taste and texture that are made from algae.
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The Orthodox regulations are much more precise. 👍 In the Latin Church, gelatin is not considered meat and most sources say that seasoning or gravies are not meat, even if made with meat. This is one of those things that is not specified in canon law and is up to the local Bishop to define. Check your diocisan web site to see if there is more information. Many parishes also publish a good summary in the bulletin the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

As to the OP, the abstinance is from “meat”, not just “flesh meat”. Organ meats are definately included.
 
Boulder257 said:
I understand the meat abstinence on Fridays and I understand it to be “flesh meat.” Does this mean we also have to abstain from items that come from flesh meat? For instance, chicken livers? Ultimately, this is not flesh meat, but comes from an animal that we must abstain from during days of abstinence. However, to follow that line of thinking, we would have to abstain from milk.

Any thoughts or greater clarification would be appreciated.
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Below is the Church definition of meat:

MEAT. The flesh of animals and birds eaten by human beings, as understood in Church law. Its prohibition on days of abstinence and fast has a spiritual value, going back to the Old Testament and practiced since apostolic times. “The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat” (Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini, Norm III, 1).
 
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