Year Round Meatless Fridays

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A couple of years ago I decided to observe meatless Fridays as it keeps me focused on doing penance on that day. In all honesty I had fallen away from doing Friday penance.

I was a teen, and had only been Catholic for a couple of years, when the American Bishops allowed substitution of a different penance.

Now I have a question or two.

First, if you are from the USA do you observe year round meatless Fridays, and if you do not are you substituting a different penance instead?

Secondly, for outside my homeland are you still obliged to observe meatless Fridays year round?

Thanks all.
 
Milt said:
A couple of years ago I decided to observe meatless Fridays as it keeps me focused on doing penance on that day. In all honesty I had fallen away from doing Friday penance.

I was a teen, and had only been Catholic for a couple of years, when the American Bishops allowed substitution of a different penance.

Now I have a question or two.

First, if you are from the USA do you observe year round meatless Fridays, and if you do not are you substituting a different penance instead?

Secondly, for outside my homeland are you still obliged to observe meatless Fridays year round?

Thanks all.
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There are different norms for Latin and eastern Catholics. I am Byzantine and observe abstinence from meat on every Friday, except where it is a Solemnity or it is not required because it falls in a specific liturgical week that specifies not. There are also certain Wednesdays and even Holy Saturday included for Byzantines. (And there are age ranges specified.)
 
in the US there is no obligation for “meatless” fridays other than during Lent

i follow the “Lent Rule” but, to be honest, it is a little silly

so: i can’t eat a hot dog on a friday in Lent, but i can consume oysters rockefeller & lobster newburgh?

c’mon, folks…
 
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I don’t observe any penance on Friday. One day I plan on starting to do meatless Fridays.
 
if i were to get serious about “meatless” friday (which i have no plans to do)

i would do “vegetarian” friday

no animal flesh of any kind; now that would be a sacrifice…
 
We are required to observe another form of penance, if not abstaining from meat.

That would mean we should also not have extravagant meals, probably not go out eat, or indulge because this is a penance after all.

I, myself, didn’t know meatless Friday existed until last year.
 
Milt said:
First, if you are from the USA do you observe year round meatless Fridays, and if you do not are you substituting a different penance instead?
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I’ve been trying in the last couple months to do year round meatless Fridays. It’s more of a symbolic gesture than a penance because there are many days when I just normally do not get around to eating meat - for instance, I might have cheese pizza or cheese nachos. Once or twice it has been a sacrifice when I see some meat item I might eat otherwise if it wasn’t Friday.

As for “substituting a different penance”, I try to offer things up every day just as they come up (like if I spill my coffee on myself, or get cut off in traffic), but I didn’t have a specific act of penance lined up for Fridays and not sure what I’d pick. I know the Catechism suggests doing some service for your church, but as I have explained on other threads, it’s difficult for me to commit to doing something regularly at a specific church due to my current work and travel schedule. That’s part of why I went back to the “no meat” idea as it seems like that is something you can do wherever you are.
 
Yeah, a lot of seafood dishes aren’t really penitential. Still, I find that abstaining from meat on Friday is a way of making me a little more mindful. I feel the same way about Sundays – I avoid doing housework and chores on Sunday and try to focus more on prayer and recreation. That means on Saturday I need to think that Sunday is coming so I’d better get that laundry done or get to the store if I need some groceries. It’s a way of focusing on what’s important.
 
In the US if you do not do meatless Friday, you are supposed to do another form of penance on Friday. It has not gone away.
It is the day we remember Christ’s Passion. Fish represent Christ, but it is flesh and blood poured out for our sins that we recall, and abstain from meat.
 
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I just don’t eat meat. I gave it up for Lent one year, and just never ate it again. I was never supposed to end up a vegetarian, it just kind of happened. Of course, you have myths perpetuated by people who know nothing about vegetarianism, but whatever. I’m not saying you necessarily have to do that, but my vegetarianism did originate as a form of penance. Serve the Lord, the best way you know how.
 
It’s difficult if you are travelling, which of course adds to the penance I suppose. Though then again I suppose it depends where you’re travelling.
 
It’s actually not hard to find meatless food when you’re travelling. Especially if you’re like me and enjoy eating black beans, cheese, donuts, and McD’s Filet-o-fish.

It is, however, hard to commit to a volunteer job with your parish when you’re not even in the state half the time.
 
Last Friday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception so I ate meat then, but since we learned you’re supposed to do it we’ve been trying to do it every Friday you’re supposed to. Growing up, it was no meat on Fridays during lent instead of all year round, but now we know that it’s all year round and do that.
In recent memory we screwed up and ate meat before realizing what day it was, and so I said an extra Rosary
 
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ok, guys. save the fried flounder & clams on the half shell for me on fridays 🙂
 
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Yeah, I’ve had to stop myself from buying some lobster…said to myself, “That is not a penance”.

I got some maple syrup cured salmon instead. I’m happy to report I didn’t much like it, so it was penance.
 
It might have been okay as a hot dish,but for cold salmon to put on your bagel or eat as a snack, I’d say stay with the good ol’ smoked kind.
 
i agree; nothing makes a better brunch than smoked salmon on a bagel w/ a schmear of cream cheese & capers 🙂
 
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Yes meatless Fridays year round for me. I might splurge and get the fish sandwhich combo at McD’s for lunch but usually tuna fish for lunch and dinner.
 
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