What's a sufficient Friday penance?

[leoncaruthers]

For the Fridays of the year outside of Lent, what constitutes a sufficient penance (I’m in the US where we have the option)? I’m very nearly a carnivore, so Fridays in Lent weigh heavily upon me. I’m not sure if the penance substituted for abstinence from meat is meant to be of equal personal burden or if it’s okay if it’s considerably less difficult for the individual performing the penance. I was confirmed at Easter of this year, and I admit I haven’t made the best attempt at any consistent penitential act on Fridays since then.

I guess I’m looking for little guidance here, and perhaps some suggestions or examples. I already pray the rosary every day (as should we all ), so I guess I could add another recitation, or possibly the Chaplet of St. Michael, but I don’t know if that’s enough.

 

[Jguerra]

How about these ideas for Friday penance: no meat at my meals. Instead of a typical lunch, I might have some ramen noodles with crackers. If I have coffee, I’ll do without creamer or sweetener. Instead of listening to the car radio, I’ll listen to a podcast from EWTN (that’s more edifying than penitential).

I’m sure with a little more thought you can come with more ideas.

Joe

 

[chimo]

For the Fridays of the year outside of Lent, what constitutes a sufficient penance (I’m in the US where we have the option)? I’m very nearly a carnivore, so Fridays in Lent weigh heavily upon me. I’m not sure if the penance substituted for abstinence from meat is meant to be of equal personal burden or if it’s okay if it’s considerably less difficult for the individual performing the penance. I was confirmed at Easter of this year, and I admit I haven’t made the best attempt at any consistent penitential act on Fridays since then.

I guess I’m looking for little guidance here, and perhaps some suggestions or examples. I already pray the rosary every day (as should we all ), so I guess I could add another recitation, or possibly the Chaplet of St. Michael, but I don’t know if that’s enough.

It seems the average Catholic prays more than the average Orthodox but the average Orthodox would fast more. The Orthodox fasts on Wednesday and Fridays throughout the year. Since you love to pray why don’t you pick up another devotion. I will recommend the excellent devotion of praying and reciting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy since you have not mentioned about this devotion in your post. It is an excellent devotion and one that Jesus had personally given for us to include it for the times we are in. You can also discover the other Divine Mercy devotions that will enhance anyone’s spiritual life. God bless you on your Confirmation and may the Holy Spirit be another Mentor for you as you participate into the many Graces to help increase His loving Presence in you and into the world.

 

[awsiukiewicz]

Good for You Leon…I too fast on Fridays…no meat…and usually only one full meal…which is really not a big meal…Catholics too fast on Friday…I believe Mary at Fatima had something to do with this practice…I know my mother in law/devout always fasted on Wed. and Fridays…I too have a great Marian devotion and pray usually all mysteries of he Rosary daily…It always gladdens my heart to hear someone like yrself share these things…fasting…almsgiving…and prayer…Pax

 

[Bonnie]

I, too, am very much a carnivore. Because of my dietary restrictions, I can’t eat many of the vegetarian things that others do, so I eat eggs. A lot of eggs.

To make it penitential, I also fast from treats that I’m allowed on other days (like cheese) but are more painful to give up.

 

[Jennifoo]

Hi there. My suggestions for Friday penance: 1) attend Mass, if possible 2) look up Mass readings for that day & meditate on them 3) pray the Stations of the Cross 4) pray the Precious Blood devotional prayers 5) or Sacred Heart devotions 6) refrain from negative assumptions about others 7) refrain from gossip 8) fast from internet & tech devices 9) be kind to someone you dislike.

Hope this helps. Obviously, #s 6,7 & 9 should be practiced every day.

 

[ethereality]

The point is to fast from something to somber the day and give respect to Jesus, whom we killed with our sins. (It could be some entertainment, or some convenience, or some food, e.g. getting tea instead of soda.)

If you are “very nearly a carnivore”, it sounds like eating vegetables is precisely what you need, anyway. That is, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you could improve this temple (and feel better at the same time!) by eating more vegetables. Since it sounds like you don’t get enough vegetables the other four (or six) days of the week, abstaining from meat entirely on Fridays might be precisely what you should do. It would facilitate your spiritual growth, increase your health, build up your temple for the Holy Spirit, and help the environment!

Of course, don’t overdo it; if you try to do too much, you’ll drop it entirely. Simply eating vegetables, period, could be enough suffering for you for now. (That is, halve your serving of meat and substitute in vegetables, rather than drop meat entirely, as a starting point.)

 

[leoncaruthers]

I don’t want to get into a discussion of diet or nutritional politics and derail the thread, but I eat paleo and resistance train regularly, and I’m healthy as an ox. I eat sufficient vegetables to supply my micronutrients.

My point was that giving up meat during Lenten Fridays is a big sacrifice for me, so does the weekly penance need to be similarly sacrificial, or is a prayer devotion or foregoing of entertainment sufficient? From the answers I’m seeing, it seems like that’s the case. Thanks to all who answered

 

[thistle]

For the Fridays of the year outside of Lent, what constitutes a sufficient penance (I’m in the US where we have the option)? I’m very nearly a carnivore, so Fridays in Lent weigh heavily upon me. I’m not sure if the penance substituted for abstinence from meat is meant to be of equal personal burden or if it’s okay if it’s considerably less difficult for the individual performing the penance. I was confirmed at Easter of this year, and I admit I haven’t made the best attempt at any consistent penitential act on Fridays since then.

I guess I’m looking for little guidance here, and perhaps some suggestions or examples. I already pray the rosary every day (as should we all ), so I guess I could add another recitation, or possibly the Chaplet of St. Michael, but I don’t know if that’s enough.

Its up to you. There is NOT a “sufficient” definition/requirement.

CCC 1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and alms-giving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

 

[JRS_88]

You could pray the Stations of the Cross. I know some Latin rite Catholics that use that as their Friday penance.

 

[Bonnie]

My point was that** giving up meat during Lenten Fridays is a big sacrifice for me**, so does the weekly penance need to be similarly sacrificial, or is a prayer devotion or foregoing of entertainment sufficient?

I’ve been thinking about this and if I were you, I’d give up the meat one day a week. It won’t kill you and just might make you stronger spiritually.