Year-round meat abstinence on Fridays?

[YoungTradCath]

Why would they need to seek this permission given that Friday abstinence is the universal norm set up in canon law? Aren’t they just saying that they’re no longer the exception to the rule?

I actually think that would be correct. They originally had an exception to the rule, which required recognitio. I do not think that to remove the exception it requires another recognitio.

 

[LilHomemaker]

I heard that the USCCB was mulling the idea of bringing back the requirement for year-round abstinence from meat on Fridays in the United States. Has anyone else heard about this possibility?
I know some, even many, still do observe this particular discipline of the Friday fast, but not all of us do. I am curious if anyone has any links to articles on this discussion.

I hope they do. I think it would be another way to help remind Catholics of their Catholic identity and that being Catholic is a way of life and bring them closer to the Lord, remembering his sacrifice for us when we sacrifice just a little for him.

 

[batman1973]

Dumb question: Wouldn’t it be easier instead of telling everyone to abstain from meat every friday, just ask? Myself, I’d rather be asked. It shows respect, IMHO

 

[LilHomemaker]

Dumb question: Wouldn’t it be easier instead of telling everyone to abstain from meat every friday, just ask? Myself, I’d rather be asked. It shows respect, IMHO

Well, it does include choice. One isn’t forced to follow the Church’s rule, we have free will and plus if just asked people might follow it for a time but will sooner or later be forgotten until asked again.

 

[corsair]

The wife and I have followed the “No meat on every Friday” for the last couple of decades. I personally support the requirement to be mandatory, but my opinion doesn’t count for a whole lot.

 

[Chatter163]

I’m traditional Catholic and never eat meat on Fridays. Meatless Mondays is a secular environmental thing and has no religious affliation at all. I think they picked Monday for the MM combo. I only brought it up in light of the fact that people suggested that their might be a backlash among American non-Catholics if the old tradition was reinstated. I was merely saying that secular people want American’s to eat less meat to save the environment. That if the Catholic Church were to reinstate an old church tradition, that is designed to strengthen us spiritually while recalling the sacrifice of our lord, that the general public might not view it as “Catholic’s being crazy” and more like “Catholic’s being responsible”. I was also saying that fear of a backlash isn’t reason enough to avoid a change like this, especially because you might not see a backlash from the Non-Catholic groups on the account they might view it as a responsible descion and have more respect for the church, based soley on the environment. I doubt an Atheist will say “It’s good they are honoring their Savior” but an Atheist might say “It’s good the Catholic church is standing up for the environment, perhaps they aren’t as bad as I thought them before.” And sometimes it’s the small steps that make people want to reconsider their own beliefs.

This scheme has no appeal to me. It simply sounds like Catholics seeking approval from the world, in order to observe their own religious practices. Our Lord died on Good Friday, and no amount of new age or environmental practice should change our desire to honor that Friday.

 

[LemonAndLime]

This scheme has no appeal to me. It simply sounds like Catholics seeking approval from the world, in order to observe their own religious practices. Our Lord died on Good Friday, and no amount of new age or environmental practice should change our desire to honor that Friday.

They’re not seeking approval from the world. But accepting that approval may naturally come from what they do already.

 

[MissRose73]

I would have no issue if we were to revert to all Fridays of the year to be meatless.

I did not know that in the UK, Catholics now have reverted back to that. Maybe that explains why fish n chip orders were higher on a Friday I was in the UK a few months ago when I was on vacation there then again its a popular meal any day of the week in pubs.

 

[Inego_de_Loyola]

I would have no issue if we were to revert to all Fridays of the year to be meatless.

I did not know that in the UK, Catholics now have reverted back to that. Maybe that explains why fish n chip orders were higher on a Friday I was in the UK a few months ago when I was on vacation there then again its a popular meal any day of the week in pubs.

All Fridays are meatless. There is no indult exempting the U.S. from Can. 1249, though as I understand it we exercise Can. 1253 in such a way that generally on Fridays outside of Lent an equivalent sacrifice may be made. I would say that it is for your pastor to decide what sacrifice is equivalent.

 

[wcknight]

Oh please, this is the same tired old argument that people use who are apparently blind to the fact that 99% of Catholics refuse to abstain and fast voluntarily. These are integral parts of our faith, spoken of by countless Saints, and it was a disastrous change to abrogate fasting in the 1960s (one I reject).

And even with the rules in place, and individual still has free will in the matter. It’s still done out of love for God and respect for His Church.

Sorry, but I still fast every Friday even though I have a choice, and I just think it means more now than when I used be required to.

 

[MissRose73]

I abstain from meat on Lenten Fridays and Ash Wednesday. I eat less on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday but do not complete fast as it would be detrimental to my health. In the USA, I’ve never heard of year round no meat on Fridays now like it was pre Vatican II (my parents’ time where they grew up with that ).

 

[Mike_Searson]

I have always abstained from meat on Fridays throughout the year. It is difficult at times, because I am a strength athelete (Bodybuilder and MMA) but I make it work.

I am glad to see so many people for it in this thread, I get sick of the people who whine about it during Lent, it really is not that hard. Christ gave His life for us, can we not give up something in appreciation for that?

 

[mattkubes]

Sorry, but I still fast every Friday even though I have a choice, and I just think it means more now than when I used be required to.

“It means more” - what does that mean? It’s not like obligatory acts aren’t meaningful. We’re obliged to attend Mass weekly and to receive communion at least once during the Easter season, yet these have the potential of being the most meritorious acts we can perform on this earth. Would they mean more if all obligations were done away with by Holy Mother Church? I can’t imagine that being the case.

I still observe the 40-day Lenten fast even though the Church no longer requires it, yet I pray for the Church to restore traditions like these every day. They wouldn’t mean any less to me if the Church, in Her role as our Mother, told all Her children to perform these spiritually beneficial acts.

In fact, the way I see it, mandatory fasting carries an added benefit. Not only are you performing the same penance, but it’s also an act of obedience to the Church and an act of faith in recognizing Her laws as coming from God.

 

[Padraig1972]

Abstaining from meat and uneccecary activties on fridays is as much about attitude and respect as it is of faith. Remember that Lord Jesus Christ went through for us on a friday. For His love to us.

• What matters most? To be free of choise or to pay dues and an act of true heart?

That is what one should ask themselves. Not one friday or during Lent. But each friday, every month and in every year.

 

[wcknight]

No one says required acts are not meaningful. When one does something extra like stopping in to church meditate, or pray for the souls in Purgatory or does something out side of the required actions, I think it is good for the soul.

We are to build up treasure in Heaven. Acts of kindness, acts of mercy, extra penance, fasting, prayers, giving alms etc all help in this regard.

Anyone can just abide by the rules, do the minimum to meet the requirements, and they will be perfectly fine in doing so. BUT if one were to follow the examples of the saints, they took the extras to heroic levels. They spent their lives with extra fasting, extra penance, extra acts of mercy. IF you want to get by on the bare bone minimums, you are perfectly okay to do so.

 

[mattkubes]

Anyone can just abide by the rules, do the minimum to meet the requirements, and they will be perfectly fine in doing so. BUT if one were to follow the examples of the saints, they took the extras to heroic levels. They spent their lives with extra fasting, extra penance, extra acts of mercy. IF you want to get by on the bare bone minimums, you are perfectly okay to do so.

Who said anything about doing the bare minimum? You’re not even trying to respond to my points. I do far from the bare minimum, but then the traditional practices of the Church are hardly bare or minimal. We’re not talking about going beyond what the Church asks. You implied that Friday abstinence somehow means more when practiced in areas where it’s now optional. It doesn’t. And Friday abstinenceay be admirable, but it’s far from heroic.

Lol bare bone minimums…absurd.

 

[Rich_C]

I heard that the USCCB was mulling the idea of bringing back the requirement for year-round abstinence from meat on Fridays in the United States. Has anyone else heard about this possibility?
I know some, even many, still do observe this particular discipline of the Friday fast, but not all of us do. I am curious if anyone has any links to articles on this discussion.

I keep Fridays year-round because we’re still obligated to make a Friday penance under Canon Law,as I understand it. It’s easier to remember and more fruitful for me to abstain from meat than to think of a different substitution, but either way we’re supposed to do something already.

 

[Big_Feet]

Lol bare bone minimums…absurd.

I am sorry, but what is absurd about the “bare bone minimums?” I believe the minimums give us good guidance for what is acceptable as, in this case, our personal sacrifices. This is good, general spiritual direction given to the whole Church. For some, who find these minimums difficult, they may be enough. For those whom these minimums are easy, of course it would be better for them to go further (especially under appropriate spiritual direction).

Matt, I sincerely request that you please take the apparent air of superiority that you have brought to this thread elsewhere. Your sacrifices or mine will help us achieve sanctity only in the eyes of the Lord, and no one else, nor should one consider them in order to “impress” others.

 

[mattkubes]

Read the post before mine. He implied that following the traditional practices of the Church, if they were to be law, is just doing the bare bones minimum. I then laughed at that assertion.

Glad I could help you vent though.

Ohhh CAF.

 

[floresco]

Matt, I sincerely request that you please take the apparent air of superiority that you have brought to this thread elsewhere. Your sacrifices or mine will help us achieve sanctity only in the eyes of the Lord, and no one else, nor should one consider them in order to “impress” others.

I’m not seeing any air of superiority in Matt’s posts. Nor is there the slightest suggestion that Lenten sacrifices are to impress others. You seem to be reading things in that are not there.