No Meat on Friday?

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travellinmike

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Though the inspiration for this question comes from the media this may not be the right forum. Please feel free to move it to a more appropriate location if this is the case.

I just saw a little item on EWTN that said we are still obligated to avoid meat on Fridays. The spot goes as follows…

It has two guys ordering a meal at a restaurant and the one guy orders fish and the second guy orders something with red meat. The first guy asks him about it. the second man says he thought that was only during Lent since V2. The first man explains to his friend that the meatless Friday restriction is removed if you do a charitable work on that day (or something to that effect). Without such action on our part the obligation to refrain from meat on Fridays is still Church teaching. The second guy then changes his order and orders the fish as well.

I’ve never heard this idea before. If this is true I’m sure there are many who are likewise misinformed.

Thanks to any who can clarify or refute. (preferably with linked documentation)

Peace,
Mike
 
I saw that too. Like you, I thought the eating meat ban on Fridays was removed too.
 
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.

This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:

Canon 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.*

Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!

Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.

catholic-pages.com/life/fridaymeat.asp
 
Where I live, people usually eat fish on Fridays. Every restaurant has its Friday night fish fries. And the cafeterias in office buildings serve fish.
 
Is it considered a sin if you eat meat on friday and don’t substitute something else?
 
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jimmy:
Is it considered a sin if you eat meat on friday and don’t substitute something else?
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I don’t think so. While prudence should dictate that we need to do some form of penance I believe it is up to the Church to give instructions to the faithful in plain ans simple language, that is easy to understand. They seem to be unable to do that …so I do not consider it to be a sin to not conform to a law that no one understands. My biggest beef with the American Bishops is they just don’t seem able to spit out what they expect us to do!
 
I am listening to the Jimmy Akin 2 hour broadcast on CA Live from last week (week of Jan 16 I believe), and he is saying if you consciously know the rule, and reject the teaching, since you are rejecting Jesus’ acknowledgment to fast as penance for sins, and as the Church has indicated this is to be done, it’s a grave sin. That’s really freaking out the callers. He has said “forgetting” obviously is not grave (the 3 rules of mortal sins and all). I believe he acknowledged something else could be substituted, but I am fuzzy on that.

I pulled this off of our Archdiocese web site, it seems pretty clear and is what I follow. What I do, if I forget and slip some meat into my mouth during the day, I will immediately say quick prayer of forgiveness, and I will add something else to do the remainder of the Friday in addition to continuing to abstain from meat.
All persons who have reached their 14th birthday are bound by the law of abstinence. All adults are bound by the law of fast up to their 60th year.
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The current canonical discipline of penance for the United States, in addition to the general character of the Lenten season, may thus be summed up:
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  1. *]Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of abstinence from meat and also days of fast; that is, limited to a single full meal.
    *]The other Fridays of Lent remain days of abstinence from meat.
    *]The Fridays of the year outside Lent remain days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial or personal penance; this may be physical mortification or temperance or acts of religion, charity, or Christian witness.
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    1. *]
 
Being a convert who essential catechised myself, I came to this knowlege gradually on my own, and started practicing fish or vegetarian on Friday just this year.

Likewise… the tradition of head covering for women was a practice layed out by the church which was somehow pushed aside. I don’t know if I will ever pick that one up though.

(Do not wish to hijack the thread - but it is interesting how the 2 practices were both very important at one time, and were never officially ‘done away with’.)

Puzzles me. :hmmm:
 
Maybe this is why McDonalds always has it’s filet o’ fish McDeal on Fridays…hmm…never thought about that!!!
 
My family observes meatless fridays. The only problem is, we need to quit looking forward to going to Sushi or Red Lobster on friday nights! That’s no sacrifice!

I think we’ll have to add something to our meatless fridays to make it a true sacrifice.
 
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banjo:
But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.
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Well, we try to abstain on all Fridays, but it is rather hard with a low carb diet and the price of fish.

Since only one of my 5 kids has reached 14, we have no sweets on Fridays, all year long. In Lent we have no sweets on all days, unless it is solemnity.
 
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ridesawhitehors:
Likewise… the tradition of head covering for women was a practice layed out by the church which was somehow pushed aside. I don’t know if I will ever pick that one up though.
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Actually, the “new” code does have a statement to the effect that practices not specifically stated are no longer binding. (Maybe somone would like to find that?) Head covering is one of those.

I do it anyway, as a sort of penance. I look for a kid who is not modestly dressed for Holy Eucharist and offer it for her. I never have a problem finding at least one, even on our coldest days. Mind you, our coldest temp this winter was not even freezing!

I think you will find that many European chruches still require women to cover their heads.
 
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awalt:
I pulled this off of our Archdiocese web site, it seems pretty clear and is what I follow.
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Can I move to your diocese? Last Lent, our diocesan guidelines posted on their site specifically stated that there was NO PAIN OF SIN for not following abstinence. I can’t wait for our ordinary to retire and the coadjutor to take over!
 
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DVina:
Well, we try to abstain on all Fridays, but it is rather hard with a low carb diet and the price of fish.

Since only one of my 5 kids has reached 14, we have no sweets on Fridays, all year long. In Lent we have no sweets on all days, unless it is solemnity.
Click to expand...
Wow! Now *that’s * what I would call a real sacrifice!! My husband and I are not particularly attached to eating meat every day, and we often find that we don’t even miss it on Fridays. Most of the time I only “miss” it when I realize we can’t have leftovers from Thursday because they contain meant 😛

But for everyone still wanting to abstain from meat, I’ve found whiting to be a tasty and cheap fish. I can fry a few pieces and serve them over rice with some gravy, or another favorite in our family is to microwave it and put it on a hamburger bun with mayo. Some families with kids make it nacho and cheese night 🙂 Easy for the parents, fun for the kids! For those who are looking to feel the sacrifice a little more, try shrimp ramen noodles, or even some bread with a side of tomato soup. Hmmm… I’m getting hungry talking about all this!
 
I’ve not eaten meat for 20 years now. I’ve been vegan for all that time!

It’s much easier than it ever was and it calms my heart to know my life isn’t causing any unnecessary suffering.

Just maybe it was the original intention? Genesis 1:29

Anyway maybe some of you folks might like to try a vegan meal from time to time for a change, see what you think!

PAX+
 
Loboto-Me said:
My family observes meatless fridays. The only problem is, we need to quit looking forward to going to Sushi or Red Lobster on friday nights! That’s no sacrifice!

I think we’ll have to add something to our meatless fridays to make it a true sacrifice.
Click to expand...
I enjoyed a phenomenal grilled grouper sandwich at Bonefish Grill last night. No sacrifice there! Perhaps I will have to do some small penance to offset the pleasures I derive from the bountiful sea!
 
So? Its a slow conversation 😃

Did anyone consider going vege as a permanent thing? I believe some orders have a majority of vege food in their life.
 
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