Lent will be here in a few days which means Catholics are to abstain from mean on Fridays but did you know that abstinence from meat on Fridays is still in affect according to Canon Law 1251.
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Now according to Canon Law 1253 the conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.
My question is does anyone know what the conference of Bishops has determined or if Bishop Finn or Bishop Naumann have commented on this requirement, and what they consider to be a suitable substitute?
So why do Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays anyway? There are many reasons and it can be explained in many ways but I will take a shot at giving a brief but complete answer.
The abstinence from flesh/red meat on Fridays is in remembrance and in honor of our Lord’s passion on Good Friday. Catholics have set apart Friday for special penitential observance for which we suffer with Christ that one-day we may be glorified with him. No many may say giving up red meat on Fridays is not even comparable to Christ’s suffering on the Cross and I would agree, but just try abstaining from red meat for one month just to see how difficult it can be. There are graces to be gained from self-denial.
The USCCB’s said in their “Pastoral Statement On Penance and Abstinence”, November 18, 1966, “Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday be freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.”
Lenten Fridays and Beyond
Lent will be here in a few days which means Catholics are to abstain from mean on Fridays but did you know that abstinence from meat on Fridays is still in affect according to Canon Law 1251.
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Now according to Canon Law 1253 the conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.
My question is does anyone know what the conference of Bishops has determined or if Bishop Finn or Bishop Naumann have commented on this requirement, and what they consider to be a suitable substitute?
So why do Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays anyway? There are many reasons and it can be explained in many ways but I will take a shot at giving a brief but complete answer.
The abstinence from flesh/red meat on Fridays is in remembrance and in honor of our Lord’s passion on Good Friday. Catholics have set apart Friday for special penitential observance for which we suffer with Christ that one-day we may be glorified with him. No many may say giving up red meat on Fridays is not even comparable to Christ’s suffering on the Cross and I would agree, but just try abstaining from red meat for one month just to see how difficult it can be. There are graces to be gained from self-denial.
The USCCB’s said in their “Pastoral Statement On Penance and Abstinence”, November 18, 1966, “Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday be freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.”