Meat on Fridays?

[PJM]

=MiKE086;12430329]Hi guys I got baptized in July so I’m really new to the faith, I want to keep the custom of giving something in Fridays for remembrance of Christ’s Passion, the question is should we abstain from ALL meat ALL day long or just Red meat?
Thanks

This falls under the category of a “church - practice”, and they are changeable.

The local Bishops committee can make the call.

God Bless you, and welcome home:thumbsup:

Patrick

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[codefro]

Hi guys I got baptized in July so I’m really new to the faith, I want to keep the custom of giving something in Fridays for remembrance of Christ’s Passion, the question is should we abstain from ALL meat ALL day long or just Red meat?
Thanks

Firstly, it depends what country you live in. In the US it is not mandatory to abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent. In England, it is a requirement. So it depends. I recommend it for all Catholics though. It is the traditional penance for the Church and we should take ownership of it.

 

[corsair]

The wife and I abstain from all meats on all Fridays of the year except Solemnities. Its because Solemnities are special Feast days and take precedence over Friday Fasts. (except during Lent).

We try to follow the church laws of 1962. Includes 3 hour Fast before communion.

 

[Christ_Disciple]

Does Jesus or apostles teach about restrictions of foods (i.e. meats) during certain days or is this a tradition of men?
Mark 7:14-19

 

[phoage]

Prior to Vatican II abstinence from what was called “flesh meat” was required in all Fridays. I have heard several descriptions of what flesh meat is but is always includes beef, pork, mutton, and fowl. for this question, that matters not.

Catholics in the US are required to perform some penitential act on Friday’s year round. the US bishops recommend abstinence from meat but it is no longer required. As this is a devotion (sort of) there are no hard and fast rules.

Traditionally, there are several levels of abstinence. The least onerous would be the one listed above. Next would be that of all flesh including sea food. Next would include the above and include dairy products. Finally, you could go the John the Baptist route and limit yourself to honey and locusts. You select your self imposed penance, just be consistent and do not do something that will cause you actual bodily harm.

As an aside, I have been limiting myself to fish and/or veggies on Fridays since I came back to the Church. I also (usually) fast on Friday.

Patrick

 

[adrift]

Does Jesus or apostles teach about restrictions of foods (i.e. meats) during certain days or is this a tradition of men?
Mark 7:14-19

Jesus give authority to His Church to bind and loose
Mathew 16:19

Jesus fasted
Luke 4:1-4
What did Jesus say about fasting
Matthew 9 14-17

But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

What does it say about interpreting Scripture?
Acts 8:31

I know that in Church practice there is a difference between fasting and abstinence. I am using fasting here as meaning a restriction of food.

 

[Seraphim73]

Does Jesus or apostles teach about restrictions of foods (i.e. meats) during certain days or is this a tradition of men?
Mark 7:14-19

Yes, the Apostles prescribed fasting on Wednesday and Friday as opposed to the Jewish practice of fasting on Monday and Thursday.

 

[InNomineDomini]

The easiest way know what meat you must refrain from is this: if the animal is warm blooded, you cannot eat it. If it is cold blooded, you can.

That’s a really clever way to approach it.

Catholics in the US are required to perform some penitential act on Friday’s year round.

From* On Penance and Abstinence, linked elsewhere in this thread:

Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we **urge **all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by **freely *making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

As a trusted confessor of mine once communicated, the language used by the US Catholic Bishops on this matter is not consistent with the idea that we Catholics are required to perform some form of Friday penance – whether it be abstinence from meat or no – under pain of sin.

Jimmy Akin made this argument, too.

jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html
jimmyakin.org/2004/07/more_on_friday_.html

Now, I know that CAF has had this discussion at least 32,882 times, but I just wanted to mention this again for the sake of the scrupulous.

 

[CarmelJerome]

Hi guys I got baptized in July so I’m really new to the faith, I want to keep the custom of giving something in Fridays for remembrance of Christ’s Passion, the question is should we abstain from ALL meat ALL day long or just Red meat?
Thanks

The schools in Baltimore when I was growing up always served fish meals and I never knew why since I wasn't raised in the Church. My mother, whose schoolgirl friends were all Catholic, told me when I began to think about entering the Church. Even though it's no longer obligatory discipline a pair from Lent, it's very salutary to keep it, if only because people will frequently offer a sandwich or snack like nachos or chicken fingers - sooner or later, they'll say 'Oh that ' s right, you're Catholic. ' It's a small way we can be quiet witnesses to Our Lord's Passion.

 

[phil19034]

Question: since tomorrow (Saturday) is the Solemnity of All Saints, and since Solemnities start at sundown the night before (aka the Vigil); does that mean that we can eat meat tonight for dinner (assuming we practice no meat on Fridays year round)?

I’m thinking the answer is yes, but I’m not sure

 

[FrDavid96]

Question: since tomorrow (Saturday) is the Solemnity of All Saints, and since Solemnities start at sundown the night before (aka the Vigil); does that mean that we can eat meat tonight for dinner (assuming we practice no meat on Fridays year round)?

I’m thinking the answer is yes, but I’m not sure

I get that very question in actual parish life relatively often (relatively, because it’s not often that we have a Solemnity on a Saturday in the first place).

What I tell people is basically: if you come to Mass in the evening and/or prayed Evening Prayer I of the Solemnity then you should be feasting not fasting. On the other hand, if you do nothing to celebrate the Feastday, then keep the Friday abstinence.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Yes, substituting a rich, delicious steak dinner for a rich, delicious lobster dinner isn’t really fasting. You have to always keep in mind the ends.

Correct, it is not fasting (which we are generally not called to do).

It is, however, abstaining (which we are generally called to).


tee

 

[ProVobis]

The nearby senior center seems to always have fish or some other non-meat meals on Friday. No menu. And they’re not (necessarily) Catholic.