(USA)Is friday penance required?

[Ilovejesus1234]

The canon law 1249-1253, is not so clear on it, so I am sorta confused, and neither is the USCCB fast and abstinence section. Both confuse me very much, please take the time to read both in detail and help me out with this issue, I asked other people this same topic, but we had different point of views and resolving the issue was never accomplished. Help me to see and know why or why it isn’t required. Its one to tell people the rules, but for one to get them is better. Please pray I can overcome this issue which i am scrupulously tensed over. Thank you.

Also: either way I will do it, but just want to know how it is or isn’t required.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes, the Friday penance is required. It is always required (except if that Friday is a solemnity).

In the United States, an individual can choose to substitute another form of penance in place of abstaining from meat. That does not make the penance optional. It means that the form which the penance takes may change.

You keep asking the question. The answer doesn’t change.

 

[E_7]

Is this what you mean?

The Holy Season of Lent
Fast and Abstinence.

It is a traditional doctrine of Christian spirituality that a constituent part of repentance, of turning away from sin and back to God, includes some form of penance, without which the Christian is unlikely to remain on the narrow path and be saved (Jer. 18:11, 25:5; Ez.* 18:30, 33:11-15; Joel 2:12; Mt. 3:2; Mt. 4:17; Acts 2:38). Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed (Lk. 5:35). The general law of penance, therefore, is part of the law of God for man.
The Church has specified certain forms of penance, both to ensure that the Catholic will do something, as required by divine law, while making it easy for Catholics to fulfill the obligation. Thus, the 1983 Code of Canon Law specifies the obligations of Latin Rite Catholics [Eastern Rite Catholics have their own penitential practices as specified by the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches].

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 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.*

Canon 1252* All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

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.

The Church, therefore, has two forms of official penitential practices - three if the Eucharistic fast before Communion is included.

Abstinence* The law of abstinence requires a Catholic 14 years of age until death to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Moral theologians have traditionally considered this also to forbid soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles and shellfish are permitted, as are animal-derived products such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste.

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. Since this was not stated as binding under pain of sin, not to do so on a single occasion would not in itself be sinful. However, since penance is a divine command, the general refusal to do penance is certainly gravely sinful. For most people the easiest way to consistently fulfill this command is the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year which are not liturgical solemnities. When solemnities, such as the Annunciation, Assumption, All Saints etc. fall on a Friday, we neither abstain or fast.*

During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere, and it is sinful not to observe this discipline without a serious reason (physical labor, pregnancy, sickness etc.).

Source: ewtn.com/faith/lent/fast.htm

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

OP, see the answers in the threads you’ve already started:
Canon law 1249-1253
Still not understanding this, can you help me until I find the right answer
Why does EWTN say this?

Stop reading canon law – it is clearly not helping you. The basic rule in the US is: During Lent, abstain from meat on Fridays. Outside of Lent, choose your own penance on Fridays.

Mostly, stop worrying. The point of doing penance is to bring about a change of heart and bring you closer to the Lord. Focus on what will help make that happen.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

OP, see the answers in the threads you’ve already started:
Canon law 1249-1253
Still not understanding this, can you help me until I find the right answer
Why does EWTN say this?

Stop reading canon law – it is clearly not helping you. The basic rule in the US is: During Lent, abstain from meat on Fridays. Outside of Lent, choose your own penance on Fridays.

Mostly, stop worrying. The point of doing penance is to bring about a change of heart and bring you closer to the Lord. Focus on what will help make that happen.

Thank you.

 

[Ilovejesus1234]

For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

Freely just gets me, I mean when they say freely, I kind of get the impression it isn’t required. I mean my brain is been worrying about this for 3 weeks or so. I don’t know what else to do. My mom read this all and keeps saying it isn’t required but you guys do, my mom is usually my spiritual director in most cases maybe she isn’t in this one?

 

[Vico]

For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

Freely just gets me, I mean when they say freely, I kind of get the impression it isn’t required. I mean my brain is been worrying about this for 3 weeks or so. I don’t know what else to do. My mom read this all and keeps saying it isn’t required but you guys do, my mom is usually my spiritual director in most cases maybe she isn’t in this one?

Continue to read on:24. Among the works of voluntary self-denial and personal penance which we especially commend to our people for the future observance of Friday, even though we hereby terminate the traditional law of abstinence binding under pain of sin, as the sole prescribed means of observing Friday, we give first place to abstinence from flesh meat. We do so in the hope that the Catholic community will ordinarily continue to abstain from meat by free choice as formerly we did in obedience to Church law.

One is free to choose the observance of Friday because the episcopal conference may “substitute abstinence and fast wholly or in part with other forms of penitence”, as stated in 1966 Paenitemini:VI. 1. In accordance with the conciliar decree “Christus Dominus” regarding the pastoral office of bishops, number 38,4, it is the task of episcopal conferences to:
A. Transfer for just cause the days of penitence, always taking into account the Lenten season;
B. Substitute abstinence and fast wholly or in part with other forms of penitence and especially works of charity and the exercises of piety.

1. By way of information, episcopal conferences should communicate to the Apostolic See what they have decided on the matter (See note at end.)

ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P6PAEN.HTM

 

[G_S]

A few years ago my wife and I returned to year-round Friday abstinence as the most fitting way to observe Friday as a day of penance. The continued mandatory practice of abstinence from meat on the Fridays of Lent illustrate the value of a communal penitential practice rather than an individualized one. As was true year round in my younger years, I find that non-Catholics (and sometimes even Catholics!) will ask me why we abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent and it provides a wonderful opportunity to explain our remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

 

[Bookcat]

For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

Freely just gets me, I mean when they say freely, I kind of get the impression it isn’t required. I mean my brain is been worrying about this for 3 weeks or so. I don’t know what else to do. My mom read this all and keeps saying it isn’t required but you guys do, my mom is usually my spiritual director in most cases maybe she isn’t in this one?

1. In the USA - outside of Lent and Good Friday- is penance required? Some will say yes and some will say no. I am meaning here - those who study such questions - Theologians etc not just posters here. Unfortunately in the 1960’s the document for the USA was not as clear as one would like - one could make a case today either way. The concern at that time I think was to make it clear that outside of Lent and Good Friday the abstinence from meat was no longer an obligation. But that Fridays were still days of penance (and remember it was written years before the current code of Canon Law (1983) - so do not expect it to mirror the way that is written in terms of language necessarily).
2. So your Mom can have grounds for her judgment there.
3. What is certainly the case here is that Fridays remain a “day of penance” (unless a Solemnity or Holy Day of Obligation). So even if there is not “requirement” to do a particular penance - or to “substitute one” in the USA- it remains a day of penance. So do penance. There is nothing here to worry about. Just treat it as the day of penance it is - even if there is not obligation - but do not fret overly over it.

I am again referring to days outside of Lent and Good Friday (this week is Good Friday so there is obligation according to age).

 

[Sunbreak]

Yes a Friday penance is required. I lived through the time when the transition occurred from having to abstain from meat every Friday to having a choice of either abstaining from meat or doing some other type of penance. It was definitely understood that something was required, so I don’t get why anyone would question the requirement. Plus, Fr. David here made it clear that a penance is required.

 

[FrDavid96]

1. In the USA - outside of Lent and Good Friday- is penance required?
   …

Yes, penance is required. The law is clear.

Any ambiguity only comes from reading someone’s misinterpretation on a blog.

If one sets aside the blog and reads only what the US bishops actually did and what they actually said (as well as what canon law actually says they are empowered to do), there is no ambiguity.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes a Friday penance is required. I lived through the time when the transition occurred from having to abstain from meat every Friday to having a choice of either abstaining from meat or doing some other type of penance. It was definitely understood that something was required, so I don’t get why anyone would question the requirement. Plus, Fr. David here made it clear that a penance is required.

More importantly, the US bishops (in 1966) made it clear that some penance is required.

They merely said that an individual can substitute some other form of penance. Quite simply, they never (not ever) said that penance as such was either abrogated or optional.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

My mom read this all and keeps saying it isn’t required but you guys do, my mom is usually my spiritual director in most cases maybe she isn’t in this one?

It seems like you have two choices.

Option 1. Listen to your mother and stop second-guessing her by asking other people.

Option 2. Find someone with more expertise in this area than your mother and listen to that person. If you choose this option you might consider Fr. David who has repeatedly answered your questions.

Choose one, follow it, and let this issue go.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes, penance is required. The law is clear.

Any ambiguity only comes from reading someone’s misinterpretation on a blog.

If one sets aside the blog and reads only what the US bishops actually did and what they actually said… there is no ambiguity.

Yes I understand you are one persons believes that yes it is required.

We can add you to that side of the debate.

Yes there is ambiguity. Hence the disagreement among sound theological minds. (I myself have seen the arguments on both sides and have been on both sides at various points in time…I can now see points on both sides (including that such is simply a permitted substitute but that something ought to be done) …for me it is solved in practice by simply remembering that it is a day of penance -so lets do some penance).

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes I understand you are one persons believes that yes it is required.

We can add you to that side of the debate.

Yes there is ambiguity. Hence the disagreement among sound theological minds. (I myself have seen the arguments on both sides and have been on both sides at various points in time…I can now see points on both sides (including that such is simply a permitted substitute but that something ought to be done) …for me it is solved in practice by simply remembering that it is a day of penance -so lets do some penance).

No, there is not a debate.

On the one hand, we have what the US bishops have said in a public, canonically binding, document. What they said is that an individual Catholic may substitute other forms of penance in place of abstaining from meat–which is no longer the sole means of satisfying the still-obligatory penance.

On the other hand, we have someone’s web blog which contradicts what the bishop’s conference has said.

That’s not a debate. It’s not ambiguity.

 

[porthos11]

… **I asked other people this same topic, **…

This is your problem. You are scrupulous, you try interpreting Canon Law, you hop between multiple people for answers and you’re posting your questions on a public Internet forum with tons of varying opinions.

It’s already been said: if you’re scrupulous, you don’t go around trying to interpret Church law. You’re now feeling the consequences of this kind of endeavour.

Speak with your confessor, listen to him, believe him and obey him UNCONDITIONALLY. His is the only opinion that matters.

 

[Bookcat]

No, there is not a debate.

On the one hand, we have what the US bishops have said in a public, canonically binding, document. What they said is that an individual Catholic may substitute other forms of penance in place of abstaining from meat–which is no longer the sole means of satisfying the still-obligatory penance.

On the other hand, we have someone’s web blog which contradicts what the bishop’s conference has said.

That’s not a debate. It’s not ambiguity.

I understand your view.

And yes one can say that it is common among theological commentators (writers online etc) to understand that such penance on Fridays outside of Lent and Good Friday that are not Solemnities or Holy Days- in the USA- is required (giving up meat or a substitution by the person of some other penance).

I readily admit that such is common and such was my long held view too - indeed I even called a very well known Catholic Theologian and argued with him about the matter in my younger days. (Now I can see arguments on both sides).

And (a different person )- Jimmy Akin the senior apologist at Catholic Answers explains his take -here: jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html

To which he concludes:

"Thus we conclude that the American bishops have exercised their competence, later acknowledged by canon 1253 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, to determine more particularly the manner of abstinence by restricting it to a few days a year (Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday–the last being part of Triduum rather than Lent) and by recommending the continued practice of abstinence on other Fridays. Rome confirmed this document, and thus it is the law for Latin Catholics in the United States.

This also is the understanding indicated in the Canon Law Society of America’s New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law. The commentary on canon 1253 summarizes the obligations and recommendations without indicating that a legal obligation to do penance continues to exist on typical Fridays of the year."

Note that part there too about the Canon Law Society of America’s new Commentary on the Code of Canon Law.

Theologians can differ on their understanding of what was meant to be stated and as I have seen other Canon Lawyers (priest (not- obligation) and layperson (obligation)) as well differ on this matter.

I can now see points on both sides (including that such is simply a permitted substitute but that something ought to be done) and I have been on both sides …for me it is solved in practice by simply remembering that it is a day of penance -so lets do some penance).

 

[FrDavid96]

I understand your view.

And yes one can say that it is common among theological commentators (writers online etc) to understand that such penance on Fridays outside of Lent and Good Friday that are not Solemnities or Holy Days- in the USA- is required (giving up meat or a substitution by the person of some other penance).

I readily admit that such is common and such was my long held view too - indeed I even called a very well known Catholic Theologian and argued with him about the matter in my younger days.

And (a different person )- Jimmy Akin the senior apologist at Catholic Answers explains his take -here: jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html

To which he concludes:

"Thus we conclude that the American bishops have exercised their competence, later acknowledged by canon 1253 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, to determine more particularly the manner of abstinence by restricting it to a few days a year (Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday–the last being part of Triduum rather than Lent) and by recommending the continued practice of abstinence on other Fridays. Rome confirmed this document, and thus it is the law for Latin Catholics in the United States.

This also is the understanding indicated in the Canon Law Society of America’s New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law. The commentary on canon 1253 summarizes the obligations and recommendations without indicating that a legal obligation to do penance continues to exist on typical Fridays of the year."

Note that part there too about the Canon Law Society of America’s new Commentary on the Code of Canon Law.

Theologians can differ as I have seen other Canon Lawyers as well on this matter differ on this matter.

Yes there is ambiguity. Hence the disagreement among sound theological minds. I can now see points on both sides (including that such is simply a permitted substitute but that something ought to be done) and I have been on both sides …for me it is solved in practice by simply remembering that it is a day of penance -so lets do some penance).

What you do not understand is that I’m not expressing my “view.” I’m merely repeating what the law says. There is a very significant difference.

The absence of any statement that the penance is binding, in the canon law commentary, does not translate into a positive statement that the penance is optional. Absence of proof is not proof of absence. There is plenty that’s not contained in the commentary. That doesn’t mean it does not exist.

Check out this link:
catholic.com/quickquestions/outside-of-lent-do-we-have-to-do-anything-special-on-fridays

Right here on Catholic Answers.

Here’s the conclusion (with my emphasis added)

Thus the law of abstinence from meat is still binding unless one’s national bishops’ conference has provided for alternate forms of penance. In the United States, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has obtained permission from the Vatican for such substitution. Catholics are obliged to do some form of penance on Fridays and keep the day as per canon 1249, but now they can choose the form of penance they wish to do.

 

[Bookcat]

What you do not understand is that I’m not expressing my “view.” I’m merely repeating what the law says. There is a very significant difference.

The absence of any statement that the penance is binding, in the canon law commentary, does not translate into a positive statement that the penance is optional. Absence of proof is not proof of absence. There is plenty that’s not contained in the commentary. That doesn’t mean it does not exist.

Check out this link:
catholic.com/quickquestions/outside-of-lent-do-we-have-to-do-anything-special-on-fridays

Right here on Catholic Answers.

Here’s the conclusion (with my emphasis added)

Thus the law of abstinence from meat is still binding unless one’s national bishops’ conference has provided for alternate forms of penance. In the United States, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has obtained permission from the Vatican for such substitution. Catholics are obliged to do some form of penance on Fridays and keep the day as per canon 1249, but now they can choose the form of penance they wish to do.

Your yes expressing your view of what the law currently is in the USA.

The link you gave there was written by Jimmy Akin - and he has changed that view expressed there after more in depth research.

This is his view now.

Jimmy Akin the senior apologist at Catholic Answers explains his take -here: jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html

To which he concludes:

"But the fact that the bishops nowhere state an alternative obligation indicates that one does not exist.] Legal obligations do not exist that are not legislated.

Thus we conclude that the American bishops have exercised their competence, later acknowledged by canon 1253 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, to determine more particularly the manner of abstinence by restricting it to a few days a year (Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday–the last being part of Triduum rather than Lent) and by recommending the continued practice of abstinence on other Fridays. Rome confirmed this document, and thus it is the law for Latin Catholics in the United States.

This also is the understanding indicated in the Canon Law Society of America’s New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law. The commentary on canon 1253 summarizes the obligations and recommendations without indicating that a legal obligation to do penance continues to exist on typical Fridays of the year."

Note that part there too about the Canon Law Society of America’s new Commentary on the Code of Canon Law.

 

[FrDavid96]

Your yes expressing your view of what the law currently is in the USA.
…

By no means am I expressing only my view. I am posting what the law says.

You might not like it, but the law says what it says.