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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
I know growing up…I had to abstain from meat…when my grandmother served that NASTY smelt…now there’s a sacrifice…especially for an 8 year old kid
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spunjalebi
Guest
ROFL…the stories I heard about had to do with tuna casserole, crappies, sunfish, and blue gills
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Padraig1972
Guest
I also choose to abstain from meat on Fridays for the same reasons. Most of my friends and family do however know this, so they don`t invite me for dinner at this very day.I choose to abstain from eating meat on all Fridays as it truly does bring Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross to the forefront of my mind. If I am in a situation such as being an invited guest to someone’s home for dinner on a Friday night, I will not refuse to eat meat if it is served, however, most people who know me well realize that I abstain from meat on Fridays and would not serve it or offer a substitute. My extended non-Catholic family seems to worry about this since I attach such importance to it
Regarding fasting during Lent, I believe that age in and of itself is not a real deciding factor, but a benchmark only. As our parish priest pointed out, there are many people in the parish who are well above 60, who still maintain a very active and vigorous lifestyle and are in perfectly good health. I am soon to be 65 but will observe the Lenten fast, praising Him that I am healthy enough for it, too.
As also staying away from social activities like movies, going out for these kind of entertainment activities and not using alcohol, tobacco, sweets, soda and no-tv at Fridays, i more or less do a full abstain. And giving for charities and attend mass.
Many would say this is hardcore. I call it obedience to the Lord.
Lent will be a learning time and a chance to pray, meditate (rosary), going to mass, study and get an deeper insight.
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MtnDwellar
Guest
The following links are from Jimmy Akin. From his understanding penance is not required, or the requirement is muddled.
catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0501bt.asp
jimmyakin.org/2004/07/more_on_friday_.html
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Silyosha
Guest
Good question!I’m considering abstaining from meat on Fridays (not during Lent, but every Friday, all year), but I’d like to know a bit more about it really. I have read the Catholicism for Dummies answer but it only piqued my curiousity instead of satisfying it. I also did a search on the forums but it seemed to be a lot of commentary with no real life experience thrown in (I’d like to hear from those who follow this particular ‘devotion’ - is that what it’s called?).
Anyway, I’m curious to hear from those who already DO abstain. WHY do you do it (in your own words)? Do you do it all year or just for certain amounts of time? What is the history behind this particular practice (I kind of already know but humor me and explain it in your own words - sometimes things don’t click in my head until they’re explained in just that right way)?
I don’t like doing ANYTHING unless I have a clear idea in mind WHY I’m doing it (as an example I refused to genuflect until it was explained to me exactly what it was and why it was originally done), but I definitely feel a strong tug to begin this particular practice.
I would ask my RCIA group but the last time this subject was brought up they made it VERY clear they look down on these sort of practices.
The way I look at it, abstaining from meat on Friday is the least I can do. I personally don’t eat much meat during the week (probably 1-3 times per week or so), but on Fridays, I do not give myself the option. As you probably know, we are required some kind of act of penance on Fridays, not necessarily abstinence from meat, and I think it’s something easy to remember and effective. It reminds me both of the suffering of Jesus at the Crucifixion and the suffering of all the poor people in the world without enough to eat…every day.
At first glance it might not seem like much when considering all that Jesus went through for us, but not eating meat all day leaves you just the slightest bit hungry. When you’re hungry, it’s very difficult not to think about it. You’ll feel the hunger and it will instantly remind you of why you are doing what you’re doing. You might say to yourself: “I’m hungry…why can’t I have meat?” And then you’ll think: “I can’t have meat because…” etc. It reenforces your resolve to offer up a comparatively small sacrifice in reparation for so much wrongdoing in the world. The little things tend to stick with us and motivate us most of all.
In answer to the other part of your question…I abstain on Fridays all year and on Wednesdays too during Lent or when I think of it. If, like me, you’re just not much of a meat eater in the first place, maybe try to abstain from animal products in addition to meat, like eggs and dairy. It’s a little challenging, but I think it’s worth it.
God bless!
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jmcrae
Guest
Why does Jimmy Akin keep on coming up, over and over again?
These articles have been debunked a hundred thousand times already.
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Catholic_C_1
Guest
Nicky, I was raised in the Traditional Latin Mass, and it was required, so I’ve pretty much always done it. Some days it is harder than others, but at the same time, it’s nice—denying and testing oneself. Plus, I tend to be a firm believer in following rules.
I recently read that though we are not required to abstain from meat year round anymore, we are still required to give up some other food as a form of penance. Unfortunately, many Catholics have forgotten this, or choose to ignore it.
Though it remains mandatory to abstain from meat during Lent, we are encouraged to abstaining from meat on ALL Fridays as a form of penance. Friday is the day Jesus died for our sins, so it is fitting that we perform acts of penance on this day in preparation for the sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday. You may notice that Catholicism is a complex religion full of rich symbolism—everything is done for a reason.
Amerrychase- nicely put with mini Easter!
I recently read that though we are not required to abstain from meat year round anymore, we are still required to give up some other food as a form of penance. Unfortunately, many Catholics have forgotten this, or choose to ignore it.
Though it remains mandatory to abstain from meat during Lent, we are encouraged to abstaining from meat on ALL Fridays as a form of penance. Friday is the day Jesus died for our sins, so it is fitting that we perform acts of penance on this day in preparation for the sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday. You may notice that Catholicism is a complex religion full of rich symbolism—everything is done for a reason.
Amerrychase- nicely put with mini Easter!
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MtnDwellar
Guest
That’s funny. I thought that you were going to say that the claims were bunk. It turns out that they can’t be bunk. They have been debunkedWhy does Jimmy Akin keep on coming up, over and over again?
These articles have been debunked a hundred thousand times already.
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nickybr38
Guest
You know this has been a really wild year for me. I went from one of those ‘spiritual’ people who never really thought about what God asks of us, and what we can give to God to wanting to obey the rules and wanting to do anything I can to please Him.
Recently I read an article that spoke about how we can’t become so lost in law that we lose the ‘spirit’ of the law but also how we can’t become so lost in the spirit that we neglect the law. Basically it’s important to find a balance. Right now I know I’m leaning dangerously towards wanting to be legalistic (almost) in my approach but I think it’s because sometimes when the pendulum swings too far to the left it has to swing far to the right before it can settle in the middle where it belongs.
ANYWAY, all that just to say: Thank you again to everyone for posting your feelings and thoughts on this issue. Thank you to those who are sharing information from BOTH sides of the issue as well, originally I really just wanted to hear from those who were pro-abstaining but it’s good to hear from both sides. Keep all the great information coming!
I am a pretty big meat eater so this isn’t going to be easy for me, but I have decided to start abstaining starting this Friday.
Recently I read an article that spoke about how we can’t become so lost in law that we lose the ‘spirit’ of the law but also how we can’t become so lost in the spirit that we neglect the law. Basically it’s important to find a balance. Right now I know I’m leaning dangerously towards wanting to be legalistic (almost) in my approach but I think it’s because sometimes when the pendulum swings too far to the left it has to swing far to the right before it can settle in the middle where it belongs.
ANYWAY, all that just to say: Thank you again to everyone for posting your feelings and thoughts on this issue. Thank you to those who are sharing information from BOTH sides of the issue as well, originally I really just wanted to hear from those who were pro-abstaining but it’s good to hear from both sides. Keep all the great information coming!
I am a pretty big meat eater so this isn’t going to be easy for me, but I have decided to start abstaining starting this Friday.
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
Do you have documentation that they have? From where?Why does Jimmy Akin keep on coming up, over and over again?
These articles have been debunked a hundred thousand times already.
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jmcrae
Guest
The quotations in this very thread, that come from the Bishops and from the Vatican.
It seems as if every time someone quotes the Pope and the Bishops to show that Friday penance is still required, someone drags out these links and says, “But Jimmy Akin disagrees!”
Yes he does disagree, but it doesn’t matter, because the Pope is the guy in charge - not Jimmy Akin.
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
Actually there is no actual quote from the Pope in this thread…or at least I could not find it.The quotations in this very thread, that come from the Bishops and from the Vatican.
It seems as if every time someone quotes the Pope and the Bishops to show that Friday penance is still required, someone drags out these links and says, “But Jimmy Akin disagrees!”
Yes he does disagree, but it doesn’t matter, because the Pope is the guy in charge - not Jimmy Akin.
I fail to see how the Jimmy Akin articles are incorrect…it is muddled. “The USCCB document which made the change clearly deleted the obligation attached to Friday abstinence. And while it recommended we continue some sort of Friday penance, it did not clearly state this as obligatory.” The USCCB did not make it clear… I myself find it confusing…so how exactly is he incorrect?
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white_sheep
Guest
I believe there is no longer an obligation to Friday penance.
But I also hold that the urging by the Pope, bishops, and tradition, as well as the general call to penance, is so strong that one should carefully determine what their reasons are for not holding to Friday abstinence or at least another form of penance. The Church tells us we should do this.
But I also hold that the urging by the Pope, bishops, and tradition, as well as the general call to penance, is so strong that one should carefully determine what their reasons are for not holding to Friday abstinence or at least another form of penance. The Church tells us we should do this.
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fred_conty
Guest
The Catechism says in paragraph 2099: It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication, and communion: “Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice.”(St. Agustine)The quotations in this very thread, that come from the Bishops and from the Vatican.
It seems as if every time someone quotes the Pope and the Bishops to show that Friday penance is still required, someone drags out these links and says, “But Jimmy Akin disagrees!”
Yes he does disagree, but it doesn’t matter, because the Pope is the guy in charge - not Jimmy Akin.
So it would seem that abstinence fills this category.
The Catechism further says in 2100: … The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross as a total offering to the Father’s love and for our salvation (Heb 9:13-14). By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our lives a sacrifice to God.
So it would seem that abstinence on Fridays, the day of Christ’s sacrifice, would be a great day to unit ourselves with his.
So it would seem that its time to bring out the peanut butter and jelly and enjoy, so that your love for him and others may reap the wonderful benefits of being united to his sacrifice.
“…love everyone, but especially the brethern”. Paul, convert and murderer.
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thomas_jd
Guest
Some abstain on fridays as per old law.
Some also abstain on wednesday in reperation for the crime of abortion.
Some also abstain on wednesday in reperation for the crime of abortion.
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
but not the only way to…
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jmcrae
Guest
Pope John Paul II:
They don’t have to “make it clear” - the Canons of the Church already make it clear. The Canons come from the Pope - and they have already specified the obligatory nature of Friday penance. All the Bishops need to specify is whether they permit substitutions, or not - which they clearly do.
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Annabelle_Marie
Guest
Well…I would submit that the reason it does come up is because new Catholics try and do searches. Do you think I’m going to be wading into Cannon Law? Something that in and of itself can be unclear (i.e marriage law for example). No…I’m much more likely to look into those articles and maybe the referenced document from the bishops.
Now I could pose a question here but I don’t think I always get the correct answer.
I asked the Catholics in my life but all I get is that Friday penance outside of Lent no longer applies.
I just wondered why you were so suprised that they would still be out there…
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jmcrae
Guest
Had you thought of asking your Bishop?
It just seems to come up over and over again. The Bishops have said, yes, do it. The Pope has enshrined it in canon law. I don’t know why those Jimmy Akin articles are still up on the web - they should have been taken down, to avoid confusing people. But at the same time, people also need to realize, Jimmy Akin is also a new convert, and he is only giving his personal opinions. He is not an “expert” - he is just well-known.
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Maureen1125
Guest
I have not taken the time to read the 50+ replies, but I thought I would add my 2 cents.
I was raised not to eat meat on Friday. Friday was fish night for as long as I can remember and I bet if I showed up unexpected on Friday night to my parents house, I would find them eatting fish. I didn’t even know that I could eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent until I was an adult and went to lunch with a Priest friend. He ordered a burger, and I was shocked. That is when he told me that the “no meat on Fridays” was only required during Lent…I felt so stupid. Since then, I have eatten meat on Fridays outside of lent happily as I hate fish and pretty much all seafood. I do like crab and lobster but that is it. During Lent I generally eat alot of eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches.
I was raised not to eat meat on Friday. Friday was fish night for as long as I can remember and I bet if I showed up unexpected on Friday night to my parents house, I would find them eatting fish. I didn’t even know that I could eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent until I was an adult and went to lunch with a Priest friend. He ordered a burger, and I was shocked. That is when he told me that the “no meat on Fridays” was only required during Lent…I felt so stupid. Since then, I have eatten meat on Fridays outside of lent happily as I hate fish and pretty much all seafood. I do like crab and lobster but that is it. During Lent I generally eat alot of eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches.
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