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codefro
Guest
Ive decided I want to continue meatless Friday indefinitely. That being said- I have forgotten twice already and remembered after I ate. What are some ways people remind themselves not to eat meat on Fridays?
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Indyann
Guest
I know that Friday follows Thurs., so on Thurs eve.l plan what I will have to eat the next day. If going out to eat, I make sure there is a fish or veggie dish on the menu.
When I first started abstaining on all Fridays, I did have some slip-ups. On those days. I usually read an extra 20 minutes, or so of Scripture.
The longer you abstain on Fridays, the easier it gets to remember.
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revert_jen
Guest
All of this. ^
Especially the last part. I never have trouble remembering not to work on Saturday or remembering to go to church on Sunday. (Even when I was away from the Church, I didn’t forget to go to church on Sunday, just sometimes I remembered and decided not to because I didn’t have to.
) Not eating meat on Friday is almost the same. Basically, not eating meat on Friday is almost part of my preparation for the weekend. It really becomes second nature after a while (but in a good way). Or rather, it becomes habitual both to abstain from meat on Fridays and also to remember at each meal why I’m doing so.It’s been a gift from God, so maybe if you pray for help, you will be able to get to that place easier. Maybe next time you forget, you could say a rosary for the intention of remembering in the future.
–Jen
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Kithrus
Guest
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AnneElliot
Guest
Use technology to your advantage… do you usually check your e-mail in the morning? Set up a computer alert for Friday mornings around the time you check your e-mail. For a while in the beginning I set a “reminder” on my phone that would go off around mealtimes on Fridays. Now it’s just sort of an automatic thing for me such that today I had to remind myself that I could eat meat since it’s a solemnity.
I would also second the sushi suggestion, except that since it’s typically supposed to be a kind of penitential day, sushi (being so deliciously tasty) might not be the best route.
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yinekka
Guest
Put a sticker on your fridge to remind you. I agree with the person who said that the longer you skip meat on Friday the easier it is to remember.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Don’t forget that there is no fasting/abstinence on the Friday after Easter and Christmas, and if any moving Feast Day that falls on a Friday for a certain year.
Why not get a Catholic Calendar with those fish symbols on days of fasting and abstinence?
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Rich_C
Guest
Find a friend who keeps Fridays and text each other Friday mornings until you don’t need the reminder anymore. Worked for me.
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Tarpeian_Rock
Guest
Meaning no disrespect, but if the idea of meatless Fridays is penitential, how penitential is a treat like sushi? Which is why I feel that things like salmon, lobster, crab etc. are as much a violation of the intent of Friday penance as a hamburger would be, even though they are within the “letter of the law.”
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giuseppeTO
Guest
Since the meatless Friday is to bring to mind Christ’s passion, perhaps also adding a special devotion to Fridays like an extra rosary, daily Mass, or Stations Of The Cross will help. In other words, having to remember two things on Friday having to do with the body and the spirit will be a more constant reminder. I would suggest the spiritual thing be something done first thing in the morning every Friday - to help remember the abstinence.
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KCT
Guest
Cell phone alarms
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Splagchnizomai
Guest
Be careful about this perspective. See Matthew 7:3-5.
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OurBeloved
Guest
Well, the key is practice of course (and being aware that it is actually Friday
)But something that might help is have a set meal for Friday. In my case, though we eat different meals on other days, we have a specific set of meals that we eat on Friday. So when we say Friday, we already know its “XXXX meal day”. Even when go groceries, we keep in mind to buy less meat since don’t need any for Friday.
I guess it is sort of a feedback loop too. You do those things, and those things help you to remember and in turn, it helps you to do those things well ahead of time etc. The hard thing is to get through couple of cycles to get the loop going
Once you do that, I think it will come naturally and easily for you.
O
OurBeloved
Guest
I think what matters is the change of ones daily pattern in life for the sake of the Lord. For some, this is easy. At times, when one is fed up with Sushi for an example, this can be a pain to do. It is up to God on how difficult he might want to make it for you on that Friday. He only requires that you care on Friday that you try to abstain from meat for his sake.
He will make it as difficult as it needs to be by making you crave meat perhaps which will make Sushi feel like bread and water
But it is up to him, we can only do our part. So in this sense, Sushi or any other meal one likes is fine.P.S. I am someone who dislikes cooked fish and find it repulsive to eat most of the time. Sushi for me is not an option either because its usually pretty expensive. I usually go vegetarian in the morning and then have salmon in the evening which is prepared in a way I love. On the other hand I know people who love to eat fish and would find Friday to be an absolute joy. But both of us would be fulfilling our obligation to equally.
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Batfink
Guest
I second the note on the fridge.
I would always remember to prepare a meatless meal on Fridays, but would catch myself picking chorizo, cooked chicken etc. from the fridge as a snack, or eating meaty leftovers from my child’s plate (another good tip is to try to encourage the rest of your household to join you). It has been much easier since I decided to fast as well as abstain, and even on days when I don’t fast the regular practice of fasting makes me more mindful (and grateful) about what I am putting in my mouth rather than just absent-mindedly munching away.
I’ve abstained on Fridays for years and not had many ‘accidents’. However, since my country brought back required abstinence in September last year, it took a few months for me to settle down. I started out really scrupulous and would be worrying from about Tuesday-Wednesday onwards whether it was Friday yet. You get used to it!
I would always remember to prepare a meatless meal on Fridays, but would catch myself picking chorizo, cooked chicken etc. from the fridge as a snack, or eating meaty leftovers from my child’s plate (another good tip is to try to encourage the rest of your household to join you). It has been much easier since I decided to fast as well as abstain, and even on days when I don’t fast the regular practice of fasting makes me more mindful (and grateful) about what I am putting in my mouth rather than just absent-mindedly munching away.
I’ve abstained on Fridays for years and not had many ‘accidents’. However, since my country brought back required abstinence in September last year, it took a few months for me to settle down. I started out really scrupulous and would be worrying from about Tuesday-Wednesday onwards whether it was Friday yet. You get used to it!
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Mrs_Sally
Guest
Lot’s of good ideas so far. I like the cell phone alarms. Another one is to simply plan your meals in advance. So shopping for tuna, mac’n cheese fixings, or whatever will not only help you remember, but will make it easier to actually do since you’ll have the food you need in the house.Well, the key is practice of course (and being aware that it is actually Friday
But something that might help is have a set meal for Friday. In my case, though we eat different meals on other days, we have a specific set of meals that we eat on Friday. So when we say Friday, we already know its “XXXX meal day”. Even when go groceries, we keep in mind to buy less meat since don’t need any for Friday.
I guess it is sort of a feedback loop too. You do those things, and those things help you to remember and in turn, it helps you to do those things well ahead of time etc. The hard thing is to get through couple of cycles to get the loop going
One thing that used to be very difficult is that we liked to eat out on Friday nights and it’s easy to forget and order a meat dish. We now do ‘date night’ on Thursday (and coincidentally often go to a sushi place.
)So use Friday as the night to relax at home with cheese pizza and go out on Saturday (or Thursday!)
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Big_Feet
Guest
Here is an interesting article indicating a difference of reasoning on this.
take a look…
newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-do-catholics-abstain-from-meat.html
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Rina_Badal
Guest
Excuse me, but why would you say that and quote Mathew 7:3-5
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
He respectfully expressed his opinion. You might not agree with it, but it is his and you are entitled to your own.
Yes. It is not for us to judge, but the Lord is the one to look into hearts and intentions and decide which offering to accept (Abel and Cain’s story comes to my mind as I think about this).
Dear OP, I’m sure you will find the suggestions presented by the other posters very helpful. Personally, I usually just find myself starting to think about abstinence on Thursdays, probably because there are other penitential things I do as well on Fridays. Best wishes!
Peace,
Rina
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Splagchnizomai
Guest
I respectfully offered him my opinion. Sushi may be a treat for some, but for others it is not. One man’s fast may be another’s feast. Our individual prejudices and predilections or cultural perspectives can blind us as we castigate or admonish someone else. I know that it has done so for me, and if I am guilty of it now, I apologize.
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