Meatless Fridays

[GodIsGracious]

Anyone doing this?

I know it’s not required (except during Lent), but I was inspired by my adult confirmation instructor. This is my 2nd Friday. It’s funny because I was looking forward today, not because it means that I have tomorrow off, but that I can use this as an expression of my faith. Every time I have a meal, since I’m a HUGE meat eater, it’s usually, “Ok, what’s my protein?” first. Now, it’s like, “ok, what do I want on my salad?” at lunch. hehe

And while I have not asked my boyfriend to participate, he is. Last week it was in support of me. This week, he asked me first what we’re doing for dinner tonight. Fish and chips! Since he has Celiac disease we are taking this as a challenge to learn how to bread fish with gluten free breading. This is going to be interesting.

 

[Michael_C]

I used to juggle what I would sacrifice for Fridays, Coffee, Sweets, TV. Now I just find it easier to not eat meat on Fridays and for me that’s how it’s been for years. It used to be part of our Catholic identity and should be encouraged.

Good luck!

 

[LilyM]

I also for a time found myself trying to go the route of other penances such as extra prayers in lieu of meatlessness. But I found myself once too often just forgetting to do anything (I’m not good with formal prayers if I don’t make time to pray in the morning, for the most part), and so have gone back to no meat.

 

[Brenda_V]

Anyone doing this?

I know it’s not required (except during Lent), but I was inspired by my adult confirmation instructor. This is my 2nd Friday. It’s funny because I was looking forward today, not because it means that I have tomorrow off, but that I can use this as an expression of my faith. Every time I have a meal, since I’m a HUGE meat eater, it’s usually, “Ok, what’s my protein?” first. Now, it’s like, “ok, what do I want on my salad?” at lunch. hehe

And while I have not asked my boyfriend to participate, he is. Last week it was in support of me. This week, he asked me first what we’re doing for dinner tonight. Fish and chips! Since he has Celiac disease we are taking this as a challenge to learn how to bread fish with gluten free breading. This is going to be interesting.

As for the gluten free coating for your fish - use cornstarch, simple most kitchens have it on the pantry shelf and it fries up just as well as flour. First coat the fish in the seasoned cornstarch, then in an egg wash and back in the cornstarch mixture and fry as usual.

Here is my basic recipe for seasoned cornstarch:
1/2 cup cornstarch (you may need to make more depending on how much fish you are frying)
1 teaspoon salt (it is a lot but fish and chips just ask to be salty)
1 teaspoon powdered garlic
1 teaspoon Paprika - regular or smoked depends on my mood
and if you want to make it spicy add 1 teaspoon of chili powder or spicier yet, 1 teaspoon chipotle.

Egg wash, 1 egg (more if you are making more)
1 tablespoon of water - beat until well mixed.

Now to answer your question, except during the Easter season I attempt to not eat meat on Fridays. Easter Season is a time of extreme joy, we are in the time after the Ressurection and before the Ascension (which is next Thursday).

Brenda V.

 

[GodIsGracious]

Brenda! Thank you for the recipe! I know we were going to be searching for recipes online. We do have cornstarch and use it for gravies. We also have all the other “flours” - potato, tapioca, brown rice, etc. We actually have everything you listed in your recipe. We have an awesome pizza recipe we use. Pizza is done on the weekends though since it can be quite laborious.

So are you saying that you don’t “do” meatless Fridays right now but you will pick that up after the Ascension?

 

[Cracker_Mom]

I also for a time found myself trying to go the route of other penances such as extra prayers in lieu of meatlessness. But I found myself once too often just forgetting to do anything (I’m not good with formal prayers if I don’t make time to pray in the morning, for the most part), and so have gone back to no meat.

I do the same. Giving up meat is easy to remember, other penances are not-at least for me.
Several years ago, didn’t the bishops request abstaining from meat as a sacrifice to help end abortion? I still offer it up for that intention.
We don’t eat a whole lot of meat so you’d think giving it up just one day a week wouldn’t be a big deal but sure enough every Friday it seems I’m offered something with meat in it or occasionally am invited to something like a BBQ. THEN it becomes a real sacrifice, which I guess is a good thing.

 

[Chatter163]

Meatless Fridays year-round, unless there is a solemnity/first-class feast.

 

[Shin]

This is a wonderful thread!

 

[Cluny]

Actually, most of the Eastern Churches require abstinence (meaning not only from meat, but from eggs, dairy, and fish) on Wednesdays as well as Fridays during most of the year.

Of course, there are exceptions.

 

[Michael_C]

but sure enough every Friday it seems I’m offered something with meat in it or occasionally am invited to something like a BBQ. THEN it becomes a real sacrifice, which I guess is a good thing.

I know it! For our anniversary we went to a very nice steak house on a Friday. I thought of changing what I would give up that day and then realized the whole point is that it is supposed to be a sacrifice. My wife and I enjoyed Oyster appetizers and the fish specials. Glory to God!

 

[Cracker_Mom]

I know it! For our anniversary we went to a very nice steak house on a Friday. I thought of changing what I would give up that day and then realized the whole point is that it is supposed to be a sacrifice. My wife and I enjoyed Oyster appetizers and the fish specials. Glory to God!

Yup. I think the Lord sort of sets these things up for our good.

 

[GodIsGracious]

I do the same. Giving up meat is easy to remember, other penances are not-at least for me.
Several years ago, didn’t the bishops request abstaining from meat as a sacrifice to help end abortion? I still offer it up for that intention.
We don’t eat a whole lot of meat so you’d think giving it up just one day a week wouldn’t be a big deal but sure enough every Friday it seems I’m offered something with meat in it or occasionally am invited to something like a BBQ. THEN it becomes a real sacrifice, which I guess is a good thing.

Lesseeee… at BBQs there is, corn, corn on the cob, corn bread, cole slaw, green beans, baked beans, potato salad, baked potato… that’s a feast right there!

I know it! For our anniversary we went to a very nice steak house on a Friday. I thought of changing what I would give up that day and then realized the whole point is that it is supposed to be a sacrifice. My wife and I enjoyed Oyster appetizers and the fish specials. Glory to God!

My boyfriend and I went out for sushi last week. As I mentioned in my original post, we’re going to try and make fish and chips.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

I know it’s not required (except during Lent),

It should be noted that it is required of Catholics unless they are substituting some other suitable act.

Which, excuse my presumption, most aren’t.

That said, yes! I’ve been meatless on Friday for about 2 years (since I learned about traditional Catholicism) and wholly meatless during lent. It’s been a good experience for my soul to do something entirely for the sake of the Lord.

 

[GodIsGracious]

It should be noted that it is required of Catholics unless they are substituting some other suitable act.

Really? I thought Vatican II changed this requirement.

Which, excuse my presumption, most aren’t.

That said, yes! I’ve been meatless on Friday for about 2 years (since I learned about traditional Catholicism) and wholly meatless during lent. It’s been a good experience for my soul to do something entirely for the sake of the Lord.

I agree! I am excited. Excited because, while this is NOTHING compared to what Jesus Christ endured for us, it is something that I am able to do right now. At some point, I’ll expand on this.

 

[Cristiano]

Meatless Friday it is not only a sacrifice it is also a good practice for self discipline, something that we need to fight sin. I like to follow the practice.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

Really? I thought Vatican II changed this requirement.

A common misconception.

See the Code of Canon Law.
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM
Emphasis mine.

CHAPTER II.

Days of Penance

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are **every Friday of the whole year **and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that Catholics in the USA can substitute other forms of penance, but that abstinance is the normative form.

 

[GodIsGracious]

A common misconception.

See the Code of Canon Law.
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM
Emphasis mine.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that Catholics in the USA can substitute other forms of penance, but that abstinance is the normative form.

Interesting!

So you’re saying that it is Catholics in the U.S. that supposedly don’t have that “no meat on Fridays” requirement but they must perform some OTHER form of penance if they don’t observe “no meat on fridays” as a penance?

 

[WhollyRoamin]

Interesting!

So you’re saying that it is Catholics in the U.S. that supposedly don’t have that “no meat on Fridays” requirement but they must perform some OTHER form of penance if they don’t observe “no meat on fridays” as a penance?

We’re required to go meatless unless we’re doing something else. But the normative practice is to be meatless (at least as “normative” as a rule that no one follows can be).

 

[Brenda_V]

Brenda! Thank you for the recipe! I know we were going to be searching for recipes online. We do have cornstarch and use it for gravies. We also have all the other “flours” - potato, tapioca, brown rice, etc. We actually have everything you listed in your recipe. We have an awesome pizza recipe we use. Pizza is done on the weekends though since it can be quite laborious.

So are you saying that you don’t “do” meatless Fridays right now but you will pick that up after the Ascension?

Yes. I do attempt to add prayers though instead. Today I chose meatless as an option, before I read your post.

Just an aside, if he is your boyfriend I get the impression that you are living together. I hope that is not true .

I would stay away from the flours and go with the starches for this kind of thing. I can get pre-made GF pizza crusts here and some are good, others are just so-so although I have some really good GF pizza crust recipes, you are right about it being time intensive.

Brenda V.

 

[GodIsGracious]

We’re required to go meatless unless we’re doing something else. But the normative practice is to be meatless (at least as “normative” as a rule that no one follows can be).

I mentioned this to my boyfriend and he said, “As if being American wasn’t penance enough?” LOL!

We’re both proud to be American though.