Which teaching takes priority?

[Crepusculum]

Evening all, I’m not sure this was the correct area to post this, but couldn’t see one that seemed to fit the bill. Do please move if incorrect.

I am trying to keep to the disciplinary teaching of fasting before receiving communion, but a question arises: what happens if, with the best intentions, one’s parents decide to prepare a meal during that period of fasting? Furthermore (more hypothetical at least from my point of view as a strict vegetarian) what would one do if a parent cooked meat and served it up on a Friday? Are we bound to refuse it, or are we bound to “honour thy mother and father” and eat it? Ideally I don’t want to disobey either one.

Thanks in advance,

 

[OraLabora]

Interesting question.

My wife is Protestant, and she is the “cook” in the family. At every start of Lent, I reminder her not to cook meat for dinner on Fridays (I look after my own lunch).

Once in a while she forgets.

Fortunately I am not scrupulous, I just eat what she serves us and include it in my examen of conscience before Compline.

There is some dietary leniency for fasting that applies to the ill, the traveling, and those over a certain age.

For the communion thing, you are not obligated to receive every Sunday, so if that happens you can always skip communion (but not skip Mass).

But then the fasting period is 1 hour before receiving (not before Mass as I understand it). So if Mass is an hour long, and communion happens at the half-way point, it means you can’t eat starting a half-hour before Mass. Are you cutting it that tight? It takes me half an hour to drive to mass, and I like to get there half an hour early to pray, so it means it’s practically impossible for me to mess up on this rule, even if I skip the half hour of praying beforehand.

I am curious to learn why you are a strict vegetarian, incidentally. There is certainly no Church doctrine requiring it. Be careful about worshiping false Gods.

 

[EmeraldWings]

although it would be polite to accept such a thing, it would not be against the 4th commandment to refuse, and your parents would not order you to sit and eat would they?
although family comes before religious duty and obligation in the case of sickness or some other dire need,
but when your family is not in any real danger by your decision to go to mass, or refuse a meal, then your first duty is to God and not them,
charity is important of course, loving and helping our neighbor is important, but not if in result of that we actually deprive God of the love and service we owe to Him,

are you over 21 or married? if so, then you are no longer obligated to obey your parents, although you still must love and respect them as long as they live, help them in their old age and sickness, and to see that they receive the Last Sacraments and a Catholic funeral, or if they are not Catholic, encourage them to join the True Church.

and children are to obey your father and mother in all things except sin, so yes you must refuse meat on Fridays during lent, which would be mortally sinful to eat during that time.

it would be good to talk to your priest about your duty to God and your duty to your parents and your neighbor, and in what cases one duty or obligation comes before the other,
and also, i think it would be good for you to pray to God for wisdom and discretion in your faith and in your life.

alright, hope this helps, tc.

 

[Crepusculum]

For the communion thing, you are not obligated to receive every Sunday, so if that happens you can always skip communion (but not skip Mass).

True, but I’d really rather not forego receiving our Lord if I can possibly help it.

But then the fasting period is 1 hour before receiving (not before Mass as I understand it). So if Mass is an hour long, and communion happens at the half-way point, it means you can’t eat starting a half-hour before Mass. Are you cutting it that tight? It takes me half an hour to drive to mass, and I like to get there half an hour early to pray, so it means it’s practically impossible for me to mess up on this rule, even if I skip the half hour of praying beforehand.

Well, two things: firstly, I live within 15 minutes walking distance (5 minutes drive) from my local church, so it is quite possible for this situation to come up; secondly, I endeavour not to eat or drink from midnight onwards whenever possible. I know this is not the rule any more, but it feels so wrong that our grandfathers and their fathers before them were asked to do more than we are. I realise this much is self imposed, but since it’s the promise I make to God to keep to it, I still break that promise just as much as if it were still part of Canon Law, no?

I am curious to learn why you are a strict vegetarian, incidentally. There is certainly no Church doctrine requiring it. Be careful about worshiping false Gods.

Ah, no fear there - my vegetarianism was a habit that formed due to irrational sentimentality as a child before my conversion and now it’s stuck

 

[Crepusculum]

Thanks for the reply EmeraldWings - lots to think about. I shall take your advice and consult Fr. Jim.

Thanks again,