Meatless Friday alternatives

[JackVk]

For Fridays outside of Lent, what penances do you do instead of not eating meat?

I don’t drink any alcohol until I’ve been to adoration.

 

[CatholicRaven]

In the past, I’ve given up sweets (I love desserts and I bake at least a couple times a week), or computer time, or have given up my favorite regular period of “free time” to a charitable cause or prayer (such as volunteering for perpetual Adoration).

Now I just usually go with meatless Fridays (though I completely forgot this week. Oops).

 

[JackVk]

In the past, I’ve given up sweets (I love desserts and I bake at least a couple times a week), or computer time, or have given up my favorite regular period of “free time” to a charitable cause or prayer (such as volunteering for perpetual Adoration).

Now I just usually go with meatless Fridays (though I completely forgot this week. Oops).

I almost made a meatless Friday yesterday. Then mom thwarted it by bringing home a honey-baked ham :doh2

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I generally do meatless Fridays.

Jim

 

[angell1]

In the past, I’ve given up sweets (I love desserts and I bake at least a couple times a week), or computer time, or have given up my favorite regular period of “free time” to a charitable cause or prayer (such as volunteering for perpetual Adoration).

Now I just usually go with meatless Fridays (though I completely forgot this week. Oops).

pretty much the same as this

or extra prayers and scripture reading

I am not the biggest fan of meat in the first place so giving that up isn’t very hard for me. so I’m glad for other options, so I can do something more difficult

 

[Isca]

I also go meat-free, but then, most of my meals are meat-free. I try to remember to always do it.

 

[pensmama87]

For Fridays outside of Lent, what penances do you do instead of not eating meat?

I don’t drink any alcohol until I’ve been to adoration.

I find that I’m much more likely to actually do penance if that penance is abstaining from meat (I thought when first clicking on this thread you’d be looking for recipes. )

One of the most effective (actually, I should probably take it up again…) was doing some household chore I really hated, e.g. scrubbing out the laundry tub, moving furniture to clean under and behind it, or cleaning the dishwasher or garbage disposal. Definitely penitential. Plus it kept my house much cleaner.

 

[DoGodsBidding]

I normally do meatless Fridays all year, but if I don’t I say a Rosary instead.

DGB

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

In the US Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence there are some suggestions:

1. It would bring great glory to God and good to souls if Fridays found our people doing volunteer work in hospitals, visiting the sick, serving the needs of the aged and the lonely, instructing the young in the Faith, participating as Christians in community affairs, and meeting our obligations to our families, our friends,our neighbors, and our community, including our parishes, with a special zeal born of the desire to add the merit of penance to the other virtues exercised in good works born of living faith.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I generally do meatless Fridays unless I forget and eat meat. Then I do an extra Rosary or go to the church and do Stations of the Cross.

 

[Nelka]

I try to do meatless Fridays but I am weaker than most.

I usually cook fish fingers for my children on Fridays so I don’t have meat.

 

[Crown_of_Stars]

I do meatless Fridays. A long time ago, meat wasn’t allowed on Fridays not just during Lent but all throughout the year, and I’m sure many still observe that, but it’s not necessary anymore. I fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. To me, giving up the meat isn’t that hard, because I’m more of a fruits and veggies person anyway…so I feel, in a sense, I’m not giving anything up But I give up other things, too, like the rest of you, such as desserts (chocolate in particular), and I, of course, try to do better spiritually. To me, it’s not about “giving up” as much as trying to start a new life. But when I think of what Jesus gave up for me, I can certainly give up a truffle of chocolate, can’t I?

 

[Sunbreak]

Usually I do meatless Fridays. Otherwise, you could go to an adoration chapel, say a rosary, offer to help someone that day with some errand or chore, give up dessert, give up computer time or tv, spend some time doing some spiritual reading. There are many things you could do.