Once and for all...should we abstain from meat on ALL FRIDAYS?

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whatevergirl

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I just found a few prior threads about this topic…and even a post that copied and pasted something from the Cathecism stating that it was no obligatory? But, this, below, is from the Cathecism (and appears to be obligatory)…so, is it obligatory to observe ALL FRIDAYS, at besides during Lent, etc…to abstain from eating meat? If we choose to not abstain–what might be a viable charitable act? Would giving to the poor be considered an act of charity…?

Thank you in advance for your replies.🙂

Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

**On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. **They must do some penitential/charitable practice on these Fridays. For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere.
 
It looks like, in the U.S., it is not obligatory to fast on Fridays, but one is supposed to perform another penitential or charitable act. But, as is true for most “rules” these days, we rarely, if ever, hear this preached from the pulpit, and probably 98% of Catholics aren’t even aware of it.
 
Personally, I try to give up something during non-Lenten Fridays (today I gave up pop), and so something “extra,” like go to adoration and say a rosary.
 
mommyof4 said:
Personally, I try to give up something during non-Lenten Fridays (today I gave up pop), and so something “extra,” like go to adoration and say a rosary.
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I focus more on the doing something extra on Fridays, though more often than not I end up going without something anyways. Yesterday it was chocolate and extra time reading Scripture. Sometimes I do deliberately fast if I have some particularly urgent intention in mind to fast for.
 
Since I like meat and hate most fish, abstaining from meat really IS a penance for me and I am striving to do it, although since there was almost no ‘teaching’ from the 60s through today about it I have to make a lot of effort sometimes to remember. If I do forget, I try to say extra prayers or give up something else. I guess that there is enough ‘ambiguity’ in the bishops’ document that people could quite honestly and sincerely argue EITHER A: Penance SHOULD be done on every non-Lenten Friday OR B: Penance COULD be done on every non-Lenten Friday.

I think the pendulum is hopefully starting to swing more to having people try to do ‘more’ than the absolute minimum–IOW, the focus is shifting from "what is the bare minimum that we can get by with doing and still remain ‘Catholic’ " to “what can we do more in our lives to make ourselves better Catholics and serve God better”.

NB (this does not mean that I think those who opt for B above are ‘minimalists’ necessarily. They could indeed be superinvolved and wonderful practicing Catholics who just approach the question as more a ‘springboard’ and not a command, and who are doing much much more in the minimum in their Catholic lives.)
 
How timely that you would ask this question, for I also wondered what is the truth after I saw EWTN’s short teaching (like a commercial) at 9:30 p.m. last night. It emphacized that one must either eat fish or do penance.

Bear, I can’t tell you how helpful your link was to Jimmy Akin’s article! Misinformation that suddenly got to me from another forum, had me in the confessional saying that I had been eating meat on Friday inadvertently ever since I heard that it was “ok” and I had been unaware of the obligation to do penance.

The priest said there was no sin, and that the idea of penance was “desirable,” not obligatory. Naturally, I was still confused because of the attacks on priests from similar websites that call so many things they say an abuse. What a horrible state of mind this inflicts upon the innocent, who can no longer trust their priest!!!

Not knowing how to reconcile it, I went back to abstinence on Friday, never being sure one way or another. But I have to admit it was out of legalism, not devotion, for I really love fish and it is not a penance for me at all.

Praise God, and thank you Bear, for finally bringing the truth. Akin’s article is very explanatory, and confirms exactly what the priest told me in confession. It seems my priest is not a heretic after all! 😃 It kinda makes me angry that EWTN is perpetuating this error to other Catholics with their TV ad. They made it sound obligatory, as though sin is imputed.
 
Rykell said:
How timely that you would ask this question, for I also wondered what is the truth after I saw EWTN’s short teaching (like a commercial) at 9:30 p.m. last night. It emphacized that one must either eat fish or do penance.

Bear, I can’t tell you how helpful your link was to Jimmy Akin’s article! Misinformation that suddenly got to me from another forum, had me in the confessional saying that I had been eating meat on Friday inadvertently ever since I heard that it was “ok” and I had been unaware of the obligation to do penance.

The priest said there was no sin, and that the idea of penance was “desirable,” not obligatory. Naturally, I was still confused because of the attacks on priests from similar websites that call so many things they say an abuse. What a horrible state of mind this inflicts upon the innocent, who can no longer trust their priest!!!

Not knowing how to reconcile it, I went back to abstinence on Friday, never being sure one way or another. But I have to admit it was out of legalism, not devotion, for I really love fish and it is not a penance for me at all.

Praise God, and thank you Bear, for finally bringing the truth. Akin’s article is very explanatory, and confirms exactly what the priest told me in confession. It seems my priest is not a heretic after all! 😃 It kinda makes me angry that EWTN is perpetuating this error to other Catholics with their TV ad. They made it sound obligatory, as though sin is imputed.
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But you didn’t need to confess anyway. You were misinformed about the obligation to begin with, which removes the requirement of full knowledge which is an essential element of any sin.
 
What about in the United Kingdom and other countries, how are we supposed to find these things out?

Peace and God Bless.
 
Rather than think up a new penance, I have continued not eating meat on Friday. When I have a lunch or dinner meeting and meat is the only food available, I will eat it, if it is turkey or chicken, and then spend a little extra prayer time meditating on the passion of Christ. My doctor has had me off red meat for some time, so it has been a long penance as I could go for a hamburger right now! :whistle:
 
whatevergirl said:
I just found a few prior threads about this topic…and even a post that copied and pasted something from the Cathecism stating that it was no obligatory? But, this, below, is from the Cathecism (and appears to be obligatory)…so, is it obligatory to observe ALL FRIDAYS, at besides during Lent, etc…to abstain from eating meat? If we choose to not abstain–what might be a viable charitable act? Would giving to the poor be considered an act of charity…?
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Being RCIA, I have read (cover to cover) the book Roman Catholicism For Dummies. OK, I may have got it wrong, but it seems as if abstinence on Friday is no longer required, just encouraged, I suppose whatever might be considered a pious substitute could be worked out with your local Priest. :confused:

For myself ONLY, I have no problems with abstinence every Friday. So that’s the way I am doing it. YMMV.👍
 
Wow–you have all been so helpful. Rykell…I have a confession to make…I saw that commercial before too…and I was like…huh? Why isn’t this being taught or explained in our church parishes? Oh well…I don’t blame anyone but myself for not learning these things on my own, I guess.

But, I think that giving up meat…to me, has always been not much of a sacrifice…lol I mean…so, I give up this…and then eat what? A slice of pizza? Wooooah…real sacrificing there. lol I think though that giving up the meat, reminds us of being sacrificial as Christ was for us, so in that realm, it makes sense.

I think I will follow what some of the other posters are doing…either I’ll attend an early morning mass…(sacrificing sleep:D ) or give up coffee for the day…:o (but I get bad caffeine headaches then)

I will have to contemplate what to sacrifice…but I think this helps us grow closer to Christ.👍
 
Hi Whatevergirl,

I hope you did not misunderstand Jimmy Akin, that there is no binding obligation to do another penance if one eats meat on Friday. That’s where I misunderstood EWTN also, for they insist it is necessary.

As my priest told me, it is “desirable” out of love for Our Lord in keeping remembrance of His death on that day. Maybe this is why it is not spoken of in our parishes, because it is no longer required of us in the USA. My mistake was believing the wrong people, who were probably well-intentioned but misinformed, and that’s why I went to confession … just in case there was venial matter, and also to ask the priest.

It seems like the station is anxious to promote piety on Fridays, and that’s not all bad, but I am upset that they made it seem lawful. I was getting a scruple over it.

Yes, I agree with you that it is really a praiseworthy practice to go to Mass on Friday, so much better than avoiding meat or doing a minor penance.
 
Rykell said:
How timely that you would ask this question, for I also wondered what is the truth after I saw EWTN’s short teaching (like a commercial) at 9:30 p.m. last night. It emphacized that one must either eat fish or do penance.
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Are you sure that’s what was said? Eat fish or do penance? I think we would simply have to avoid meat, not actually have to substitute it with fish.

Which brings me to my question: wouldn’t it simply be better to have every Friday be a FAST day? It’s not MUCH of a hardship to give up meat. I’m not big on fish, though I like some, but I could easily get around that by eating cheese enchiladas with meatless green chile (if you add guacamole, you turn something good into something spectacular) or a pizza with exotic cheeses and grilled vegetables or tofu and japanese eggplant stirfry from Panda Express or homemade macaroni and cheese or a baked potato with everthing on it except the bacon bits. I don’t know the history of the meatless Fridays, but if you look at the history of the world and even IN the world today, red meat doesn’t figure into a lot of people’s diets except on very special occasions. They aren’t sacrificing much of anything and the rest of us aren’t either, given our meatless options.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
Are you sure that’s what was said? Eat fish or do penance? I think we would simply have to avoid meat, not actually have to substitute it with fish.

Which brings me to my question: wouldn’t it simply be better to have every Friday be a FAST day? It’s not MUCH of a hardship to give up meat. I’m not big on fish, though I like some, but I could easily get around that by eating cheese enchiladas with meatless green chile (if you add guacamole, you turn something good into something spectacular) or a pizza with exotic cheeses and grilled vegetables or tofu and japanese eggplant stirfry from Panda Express or homemade macaroni and cheese or a baked potato with everthing on it except the bacon bits. I don’t know the history of the meatless Fridays, but if you look at the history of the world and even IN the world today, red meat doesn’t figure into a lot of people’s diets except on very special occasions. They aren’t sacrificing much of anything and the rest of us aren’t either, given our meatless options.
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Stop! You’re making me hungry!

My understanding is to give up something on Friday, even if it is small. For instance, yesterday I did’t drink my daily pop at noon, as I usually do. However, I went to Barnes and Nobel and bought a cup of latte, so I have a feeling I did not follow the spirit of the law.
 
Dear JKirk,

Yes I’m sure, for it was on last night. Maybe if you doubt my word, you can catch it for yourself next Friday about the same time, just before the rosary.

The ad started with a Catholic ordering a fish sandwich and his friend asked in surprise why he was doing this because the law of abstinence had been relaxed. The person said, that was true, but it did not remove the responsibility to substitute another penance in its place if we eat meat. The ad concluded with the Catholic’s friend changing his order to a “fish sandwich.” Maybe that was not the intent, i.e., to eat fish, but rather to abstain from meat. I don’t remember, but maybe the friend was ordering a hamburger. Personally, I like reubens…mmmmm!
Which brings me to my question: wouldn’t it simply be better to have every Friday be a FAST day?
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Yes of course. Not only have I done this on Friday, but also on Wednesday, the two days that the early christians used to fast.
And truly, I have almost consistently been to mass on Fridays.
 
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