Friday Penance

[Romans1513]

So the Friday abstinence from meat isn't working out here, its just one of those things that I don't want to have to go through explaining in spanish to a non-practicing Catholic family... I've half-heartedly tried a few various other things but I tend to forget or just not do them... any suggestions for a Friday replacement for not eating meat?

[XIX]

Try avoiding screens for a day maybe. i.e. no computer and no television.

Maybe skip a meal. Go until noon without food. Would you be able to do that without them noticing? Because then, you wouldn't have to explain it.

You could always explain it to them anyway.

No junk food on Friday is something I did for awhile--giving up meat is rather pointless for me because I don't eat meat half the time anyway.

[matthew1618]

You could clean your house
You could go to Adoration (unless you do that normally on Fridays)
You could wake up an hour earlier and pray
You could Pray a Rosary or a Divine Mercy Chaplet (unless you do that normally)

Also, that fasting from junk food sounds like a good idea, too.

[MissyP89]

I do a Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, and sometimes a Rosary, on late Friday nights before I go to bed. Most of the time I'm really tired when I do it, so I can better reflect on Christ's sacrifice.

[Archaeology cat]

I usually say an extra decade of the Rosary with my husband, but I've thought about starting to say the Divine Mercy Chaplet as well. I only eat meat about have the time anyway, though we do generally keep away from meat on Fridays.

[Ziggamafu]

[quote name='XIX' post='1380508' date='Sep 7 2007, 02:58 PM']Try avoiding screens for a day maybe. i.e. no computer and no television.[/quote]

Mega-seconded. You will be shocked at how much time you suddenly have to pray or meditate.

[Romans1513]

I've tried the junk food; the fasting wouldn't be so great because I usually have a 2 hour dance class on Fridays. I think one of the problems is that some of these things are things I'm trying to cut down on anyway... but I might try the screens thing at least partially. I don't watch TV anyway but the computer is my downfall... I could say like no computer until a certain point in the evening, or after I check my mail once in the morning. I also will probably do the Divine Chaplet idea.

Thanks guys! Keep any more suggestions coming if you'd like

[Saint Therese]

Avoiding tv or computer is a good one. How about giving freely something of your own to someone who asks, like your time, or patience, etc. ?

[morostheos]

You could also pray the stations of the cross, or even just meditate briefly on one station.

[Resurrexi]

If I didn't abstain on Fridays, I would pray the Stations of the Cross.

[N/A Gone]

Im a neophyte, I made the conversion to catholicism in a theological way early but still taking babysteps and stumbling on the day-to-day stuff. Whats this friday penance you speak of?

[Resurrexi]

[quote][b]1983 Codex Iuris Canonici:[/b]
CHAPTER II : DAYS OF PENANCE

Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 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.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.
[url="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM"]http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM[/url][/quote]

[Totus Tuus]

Great suggestions guys.

[XIX]

[quote name='Revprodeji' post='1381753' date='Sep 9 2007, 02:34 PM']Im a neophyte, I made the conversion to catholicism in a theological way early but still taking babysteps and stumbling on the day-to-day stuff. Whats this friday penance you speak of?[/quote]
Basically, we are called to make a sacrifice on every Friday.

During Lent, we give up meat. Some replace meat with light bulbs.
When it's not Lent, we are still to make a sacrifice. Giving up meat is what some Catholics do, but others replace that sacrifice with something else.

Hope dat helps.

[N/A Gone]

WHy dont we teach people about this/

If not for phatmass I wouldnt know...thus, I go to hell?