Friday: Abstain From Meat Today

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1250197' date='Apr 20 2007, 11:25 AM']no, the only Fridays when this does not apply are solemnities (Holy Days of Obligation), and that doesn't happen too often.

In Lent penance is in the foreground, celebration regulated to Sundays only.

In Easter celebration is in the foreground, penance regulated to Fridays only.

we don't forget that Christ is Risen during Lent (and we don't forget that Christ was born during Advent); nor do we forget that Christ was crucified on a Friday during Easter (or that the world waited 4 written biblical millenia during Christmas)[/quote]
I was just thinking about this the other day. You have provided me the answer I was looking for Thanks.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1250428' date='Apr 20 2007, 02:48 PM']It is not gravely required. No one can go to hell for not doing it. They may venially sin, weakening their strength and faith, but they cannot mortally sin.

one can mortally sin by intentionally disobeying the Church's abstinence requirement during Lent; the Church has bound that requirement gravely. She has bound the requirement for the other fridays venially.[/quote]
I think this is correct (for Latin Catholics), but it may be that if a Latin Catholic fails to do any kind of penance or act of charity on Fridays his is sinning gravely, because he is still required to do something to commemorate Christ's passion. I would have to look at the original legislation of the USCCB (originally called the NCCB) again.

God bless,
Todd

P.S. - I believe I posted the NCCB document in the Q and A section a couple of years ago, and it should supply the answer in connection with this question. Aloysius is probably correct, but my memory is a bit befuddled at the moment, and so I cannot remember for sure.

[Aloysius]

That was the understanding I acheived after reading the document when I became aware of Jimmy Akin's thesis that we were no longer required at all. What I determined was that the Universal Law did not permit Bishops Conferences to abrogate the requirement (nor did the USCCB claim to do so) but because they only exhorted the faithful and said that they were not requiring it, it became a venial matter of obedience.

[N/A Gone]

So wait...

this is every friday? Here I was thinking that there was something different about today.

[Apotheoun]

Here is the post that contains the document I mentioned earlier:

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=29579&st=0&p=528287&hl=nccb%20fasting&#entry528287"]Meat on Fridays[/url]

Based on what is said in the document, I believe that the bishops have allowed the lay faithful of the Latin Church to choose a form of penance (or a work of charity) that can subsitute for abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year (excluding Lent). Nevertheless, it appears that it would still be a mortal sin if a person did absolutely nothing to commemorate Friday as a day of penitence. In other words, the requirement of abstaining from meat has been lifted, but something else must be done in its place or one commits a mortal sin.

Sadly, the text is poorly worded, like most documents issued by the U.S. bishops.

[Moneybags]

[quote name='Revprodeji' post='1250733' date='Apr 20 2007, 08:58 PM']So wait...

this is every friday?[/quote]

Yep

[N/A Gone]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1250746' date='Apr 20 2007, 09:11 PM']Here is the post that contains the document I mentioned earlier:

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=29579&st=0&p=528287&hl=nccb%20fasting&#entry528287"]Meat on Fridays[/url]

Based on what is said in the document, I believe that the bishops have allowed the lay faithful of the Latin Church to choose a form of penance (or a work of charity) that can subsitute for abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year (excluding Lent). Nevertheless, it appears that it would still be a mortal sin if a person did absolutely nothing to commemorate Friday as a day of penitence. In other words, the requirement of abstaining from meat has been lifted, but something else must be done in its place or one commits a mortal sin.

Sadly, the text is poorly worded, like most documents issued by the U.S. bishops.[/quote]

Like the Clarification on the filioque eh?

So, this makes me very upset. I have never heard of this before. My father's side is devotied irish catholic-mass everyday types, my wife comes from an italian catholic family. (my mom is a less-hateful Budgian protestant, but besides the point) Yet I have never heard of this before. If anything, i see it as pointless. But now I need to think of what to cook my wife for supper. Is fish ok? I took the spine out..

[kateri05]

fish is always phine (not phishy) :

[N/A Gone]

isnt it the eastern way that only spinless fish is ok?

Honestly. I gave up and had some chocolate. Thought it would be safe.

[Maria]

Fish is perfectly fine.
In my family we don't really like fish, so we tend to have pasta or something with coagulated milk.

[KnightofChrist]

My family and I have always ate fish on Fridays, or something other than red meat, for the reason posted for this thread.

[Jaime]

The catechism

[quote]1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).[/quote]

[Era Might]

[quote name='Maria' post='1251154' date='Apr 20 2007, 11:25 PM']In my family we don't really like fish, so we tend to have pasta or something with coagulated milk.[/quote]
I would rather have peanut butter and jelly than fish. Maybe even peanut butter and fluff.

[KnightofChrist]

Fluffernutter? Thats good... Peanutbutter and marshmallow cream, with a bit of cinnamon, yum yummy