What if your birthday is on Ash Wednesday?

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Wonko_the_Sane

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As we all know, the Church requires us to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.And, Jesus’ command to not fast on “wedding feasts” is often interprereted into a command not to fast on Sundays, since it is the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection, and thus the Sundays of Lent are not counted in the forty days.
Can this command not to fast on “wedding feasts” encompass birthday celebrations? Is one requied to fast during their birthday, or is it simply downgraded to abstinence, or does it not apply at all?
 
We’re bound to observe the Church’s precepts on pain of sin, including days of fast and abstinence. Unless we have a grave reason not to do so. A birthday doesn’t constitute a grave reason.

It’s only six or seven days a year that we are required - it’s shamefully little to give to God. I think you should leave the birthday celebrations until the day after. Or if you must go, eat very little for the rest of the day and avoid the meat dishes. And drink plenty of fluids to keep the stomach full.
 
LilyM said:
We’re bound to observe the Church’s precepts on pain of sin, including days of fast and abstinence. Unless we have a grave reason not to do so. A birthday doesn’t constitute a grave reason.

It’s only six or seven days a year that we are required - it’s shamefully little to give to God. I think you should leave the birthday celebrations until the day after. Or if you must go, eat very little for the rest of the day and avoid the meat dishes. And drink plenty of fluids to keep the stomach full.
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Hahaha, it’s not my birthday I’m talking about. I’m trying to come up with a sufficient argument to get my fiance to fast. She has never fasted before in her life, because she was told not to as a child. She doesn’t understand that now she is an adult, she is bound to.
 
Actually, observation of one’s NAME day is supposed to be the time for celebration for Christians.
 
Wonko_the_Sane said:
Hahaha, it’s not my birthday I’m talking about. I’m trying to come up with a sufficient argument to get my fiance to fast. She has never fasted before in her life, because she was told not to as a child. She doesn’t understand that now she is an adult, she is bound to.
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You’re in Sydney, yeah? Hasn’t your church got a statement about Lent posted up on the door, or else in the bulletin? :confused:

If not, here’s a link to Cardinal Pell’s statement about Lenten Penance (including the rules on fast and abstinence).
 
Wonko_the_Sane said:
As we all know, the Church requires us to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.And, Jesus’ command to not fast on “wedding feasts” is often interprereted into a command not to fast on Sundays, since it is the feast of the Lord’s Resurrection, and thus the Sundays of Lent are not counted in the forty days.
Can this command not to fast on “wedding feasts” encompass birthday celebrations? Is one requied to fast during their birthday, or is it simply downgraded to abstinence, or does it not apply at all?
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Sucks to be that person. The only solution I could think of is eating all you want during your birthday party…then you can head over to confession the next day after your hangover. :rotfl:

I’m only kidding, by the way (or am I :D).
 
My son’s first birthday is on Ash Wednesday this year. 🙂

We had his party on Sunday. Of course, he’s too little to notice, but really it’s not all that important in the big scheme of things to celebrate on the actual day. The celebration is what’s important, and you can do that before Lent.

ETA: Helps to read the thread. 😃 From here:
In his “Apostolic Constitution on Penance,” Pope Paul VI did more than simply reorganize Church law concerning fast and abstinence. He reminded us of the divine law that each of us in our own way do penance. We must all turn from sin and make reparation to God for our sins. We must forgive and show love for one another just as we ask for God’s love and forgiveness.
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Don’t know if that’ll help, but I hope so.

Happy birthday to your fiancee!
 
Celebrate the “vigil” of your birthday and rock out to Mardi Gras! In some places, you get a couple of weeks even!
 
Thanks Lilly, I’ve seen +Pell’s statement many times before.
She had her birthday party on Friday just gone, so she celebrated very much, I just needed something to show her that she is bound to fast.
I think showing her this statement would be leverage enough, I think.

Oh, and ChemicalBean, Sydney Catholics do not rock out to Mardi Gras here, for this reason.
 
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