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maryjk
Guest
Just that you live your life and I live mine.
For me, with my life, it would be a nightmare.
Will I do it, if told to? Of course. But that doesn’t mean it would be easy.
Meatless Fridays throughout the year may return to the United States
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For me, with my life, it would be a nightmare.
Will I do it, if told to? Of course. But that doesn’t mean it would be easy.
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SwizzleStick
Guest
Okay. I thought I had misunderstood because it is something I’ve done for a long time with relative ease. But, I do recognize that people do have different dietary needs, allergies, and such, so a small penance for me might be a large one for others. But, it hasn’t been brought back yet as a penance for all of us. Maybe it won’t ever be brought back for all of us. So, maybe you can take comfort in that thought and just continue on with the Friday penance you have been doing all along.
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iloveangels
Guest
I can’t imagine how it would be a nightmare. It doesn’t seem that major to me, and I don’t abstain on Fridays now. I would readily do so, however, if the Church decided that we were all going to do it together.I know most people seem to think this is a great idea. But really and truly? I don’t. What a nightmare.
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maryjk
Guest
Again I will say, you live your life and I live mine.
For me, with my life, it would be a nightmare. Maybe it won’t be for you.
And as I said before, if I am told I need to abstain, I will.
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garn9173
Guest
I would agree. Several generations of American Catholics have only abstained from meat on Friday’s during Lent. As I said earlier in this thread, as a revert, this past Lent was hard enough for me. I cann’t imagine how hard it will be for cradle Cathoics to all of a sudden give up their 4th of July BBQ’s or having a cheeseburger during their local HS football game.I know most people seem to think this is a great idea. But really and truly? I don’t. What a nightmare.
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iloveangels
Guest
Could that be an indicator of how much they value their faith?
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maryjk
Guest
Yep, that’s it. If it will be difficult to give up meat on Friday’s then those people just don’t value their faith. Shame on them.
Maybe it could be that they are already on a restricted diet. Maybe they work at a place that provides their meal, but doesn’t offer a meatless option. Maybe they travel every Friday and finding something meatless, that they can eat is hard to find.
There can be so many reasons. But somehow you jump on their perceived lack of faith.
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Luigi_Daniele
Guest
Long, long overdue.
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iloveangels
Guest
Excuses. It’s all about what a person values.Yep, that’s it. If it will be difficult to give up meat on Friday’s then those people just don’t value their faith. Shame on them.
Maybe it could be that they are already on a restricted diet. Maybe they work at a place that provides their meal, but doesn’t offer a meatless option. Maybe they travel every Friday and finding something meatless, that they can eat is hard to find.
There can be so many reasons. But somehow you jump on their perceived lack of faith.
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thewanderer
Guest
This is false and uncharitable. Whether or not a person finds it difficult to abstain has nothing to do with what they value.
Sure, whether or not a person actually abstains (If it becomes a rule again) has to do with what they value, but whether or not its difficult to abstain? No.
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TxBSonnier
Guest
maryjk- I’m sure that IF this happens that it wouldn’t be hard to get a dispensation for extenuating circumstances. If this becomes an issue you can always ask your priest or spiritual adviser (if you have one) about it and they would have good recommendations. As to the example garn9173 and iloveangles were talking about, that would be a standard situation, where it would be mere inconvenience and not an undue hardship or medical issue.
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iloveangels
Guest
Certainly. If a person has medical restrictions of some type, or poverty, I’m sure they would be able to get a dispensation from a priest on a person-by-person basis. But this is no reason whatsoever to avoid it as a corporate discipline, a general expectation under pain of sin, barring a personal dispensation from a priest.
The Church has done this before. It is possible and it does work. It’s already in place as a lenten discipline in fact. If they choose to do it again year round, they can do that. Some people don’t like being inconvenienced, that’s what I’m hearing.
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TxBSonnier
Guest
I like the idea of either reemphasizing as the norm/ reinstating as a requirement abstaining from meat on Fridays. I came into the Catholic Church shortly after Easter in 2010 (there was some timing issues for me at Easter) and while I’ve known about the requirement of penance every Friday, it’s been one of the things that’s been harder to incorporate into my life. I know at least for me, it would be much easier to remember to do SOMETHING if I had a cultural norm as a touchstone.
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iloveangels
Guest
Absolutely true. And there is an element of solidarity about it too, that’s helpful and appealing to many people. It’s a mark of Catholic identity to behave a certain way together. Identity is a huge factor when it comes to keeping members of a group together and not having them wander off. IT can also bring people in, no matter what it is, simply by virtue of being there and being observed. People are interesting creatures.
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maryjk
Guest
Of course it is.
How uncharitable.
That is what you want to hear. Rather than what people are actually saying.
If it was easy and no big deal how much of a penance is it really? I guess for you, not much of one. For me, it would be a huge penance.
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whipp711
Guest
In semi related news, a Los Angeles city councilman proposed Meatless Monday’s for LA. Secular reasons for doing so. Obvious for steering clear of Fridays (lest any association with the Catholic faith). If you live in El Lay, get ready for two days a week.
Actually, I could go with a meatless Friday for the right spiritual and Catholic inspired reasons. I think I’ll make it so (with or without suggestions from the church heirarchy).
Actually, I could go with a meatless Friday for the right spiritual and Catholic inspired reasons. I think I’ll make it so (with or without suggestions from the church heirarchy).
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iloveangels
Guest
Well, if it happens and anyone has a huge problem with it–medical, poverty or something like that–go and explain it to a priest and get a dispensation. I’m sure if you have a compelling reason it’d be very easy to get a dispensation.
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Liturgy_Geek_1
Guest
It seems to me, maryjk, that if meatless Fridays would be difficult for you then it is none of our business as to the reason why. We offer our penances, whatever they may be, with a heart full of love for our Loving Father. I think that the topic speculating, either directly or indirectly, about your difficulty with abstinence should be dropped. It really isn’t our business and we should not criticize.Of course it is.
How uncharitable.
That is what you want to hear. Rather than what people are actually saying.
If it was easy and no big deal how much of a penance is it really? I guess for you, not much of one. For me, it would be a huge penance.
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superamazingman
Guest
True. In fact, if there is a medical need, I don’t believe you even technically need to receive a dispensation, even though it would be nice to double check with your pastor.
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iloveangels
Guest
I agree. Not talking about maryjk in particular. I’m talking about the principle in general. The Church has done this before and can do it again. I see no problem with it. And of course, person-by-person things are none of my business and should be handled between the person and their priest.
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