Penitential Fridays and a Thanksgiving exception

[Andreas_Hofer]

I seem to remember reading in my 1962 missal that American Catholics were dispensed from the discipline of abstinence on the Friday after Thanksgiving (I presumed this might be to facilitate the consumption of leftovers, but I really have no idea why it was given). I was just wondering if that dispensation still applies to our observance of Fridays as days of penance and, if so, if those of you who observe Fridays would take advantage of the dispensation.

 

[volzcpa]

I also recall the after Thanksgiving dispensation. I would say that since the change to do penance other than abstinence from meat became effective in 1966, after the dispensation rule, I would presume that the 1962 rule no longer applies.

On the issue of Friday penitence, I was recently shaken by an article I read by Jimmy Akin (in This Rock) that concluded that the Friday penitence was not mandatory. This is contrary to what I have believed and practiced, but I have not been able to find anything concrete on the USCCB website or anywhere else to verify this one way or another. Here is the link to the article.

I guess we should just let our conscience be our guide.

 

[thistle]

volzcpa:

I also recall the after Thanksgiving dispensation. I would say that since the change to do penance other than abstinence from meat became effective in 1966, after the dispensation rule, I would presume that the 1962 rule no longer applies.

On the issue of Friday penitence, I was recently shaken by an article I read by Jimmy Akin (in This Rock) that concluded that the Friday penitence was not mandatory. This is contrary to what I have believed and practiced, but I have not been able to find anything concrete on the USCCB website or anywhere else to verify this one way or another. Here is the link to the article.

I guess we should just let our conscience be our guide.

Friday penance is required ( fasting can be one of the choices). See CCC 1438.

 

[volzcpa]

Friday penance is required ( fasting can be one of the choices). See CCC 1438.

I agree and after studying the matter further, I have emailed Jimmy Akin asking him to reconsider his conclusion.