Friday Abstainance Outside Lent

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

What types of penance can be substituted for the eating of meat on Fridays outside of Lent? Is the neglect of these rules grave matter so as to be a mortal sin?

[cappie]

The universal law of the Latin Church is that ALL FRIDAYS of the year (unless a particular Friday is a solemnity) are to be "penitential".

The law of the Church states that the National Councils of Bishops may altar the requirement for Fridays outside of Lent, but that SOMETHING penitential MUST be done each Friday.

The rule for Fridays outside of Lent is that we are to EITHER abstain from meat OR choose some other act of penance (such as extra prayers, giving alms, doing acts of charity, etc).

Most people do not seem to know this, but unless a Solemnity falls on a Friday, we are to be DOING SOMETHING penitential on EVERY Friday of the year -- not just during Lent.

Failure to do this is not necessarily under the pain of sin. It depends on the "why". If a person deliberates and arrogantly refuses to hold Friday's in a penitential way and thumbs his nose at the Church, then he most likely will be committing the sin of rebellion and pride