M
Marcus_T
Guest
On Good Friday I traveled out of town to help my brother to work on his house. I know working on Good Friday and that weekend was not the best time but my brother was under a lot of pressure to get the house ready to sell and that was the only weekend he could get everybody together to help. My plans were to eat only one meal and follow the rules for abstaining and fasting. Although my brother is a lapsed Catholic he respected my wishes and didn’t have any problems with me not eating while everyone else was (during breaks). My mother got wind of my plans and called me before I left and begged me not to fast. She had some very sound reasons. I had major cancer surgery less than a year ago and technically I’m still in the recovery phase (although I feel very good I could have easily fasted). I should point out that my mother is a nurse and is very knowledgeable about medical issues. She stated that my immune system has not completely returned yet and if I fast, especially while doing manual labor I could further put my health at risk. I should also point out that I am scheduled for a follow-up corrective surgery on 8 April but this is considered an out-patient type of surgery and I won’t be admitted to the hospital but will be put “under” for the procedure.
This particular situation put me between “a rock and a hard place” because I wanted to follow the Church’s rules on fasting but at the same time I wanted to follow the Ten Commandants by obeying and honoring my parents. I choose to obey my mother solely because that is God’s fourth Commandant and there is nothing in the Commandants about fasting. Although I feel no matter what choice I made I think I may have sinned. My logic came down to which is the lesser sin.
I have three questions: Did I do the right thing? Should I confess this next time I go to confession? How should I handle this if it comes up again in the future?
I should also point out that we finished work on Saturday night and I did go to Mass and received Holy Communion on Easter Sunday!
Thank you,
Mark
This particular situation put me between “a rock and a hard place” because I wanted to follow the Church’s rules on fasting but at the same time I wanted to follow the Ten Commandants by obeying and honoring my parents. I choose to obey my mother solely because that is God’s fourth Commandant and there is nothing in the Commandants about fasting. Although I feel no matter what choice I made I think I may have sinned. My logic came down to which is the lesser sin.
I have three questions: Did I do the right thing? Should I confess this next time I go to confession? How should I handle this if it comes up again in the future?
I should also point out that we finished work on Saturday night and I did go to Mass and received Holy Communion on Easter Sunday!
Thank you,
Mark