What does the Church allow regarding meat on Lenten Fridays?

[neill]

On the front page your web site Father Vincent Serpa answered the question, May we eat juices and sauces from meat on Lenten fridays?, by saying the church allows the eating of soups and sauces made with broth made with meat. I had read an article from Colin Donovan stating that on Lenten fridays it is forbidden to eat soups or gravies made from meatbut permitted is animal derived products such as margarine and gelatin which do not have any meat taste. To me it sounds like one is saying yes you can have soups and sauces made with meat and the other person is saying that you cannot. I am confused? Is there some place i can go to to find out what the church asks of us concerning what is considered eating meat and what is not, of course excluding obvious pieces of meat? Thank you for your help. I do want to follow what the church requires of us.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Neil,

I grew up with the old code of canon law and was used to not having soups and gravies made with any meat by-products whatsoever.

However, Paenitemini, the Apostolic Constitution on Fast and Abstinence, promulgated in 1966 rules otherwise. It states: “The prescriptions of ecclesiastical law regarding penitence are totally reorganized according to the following norms [Norm I:2].” And further: “The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat [Norm III:1].” Bullion and liquid stock are made of the latter.

If you need more, I suggest that you check Jimmy Akins’ blog with this link:

jimmyakin.org/2005/02/soups_redux.html

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.