Why stop now?

For the last six weeks Catholics have been abstaining from meat on Fridays as part of their Lenten observance. Lent is over!…Easter is here!…does that mean that we can stop now?

In centuries past

Christians have historically done penance on Fridays to remember our Lord’s Passion, as well as on Wednesdays to recall Judas’ betrayal:

…fast on [Wednesday] and [Friday] – The Didache (1st Century), Chapter 8

What about now?

There has been some confusion over this subject in recent years, but Canon Law states:

The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent – Canon 1250

So, it’s clear that every Friday is a penitential day. But what kind of penance is required?

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 [from meat] and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday – Canon 1250

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 – Canon 1251

This shows that the default kind of penance given by the Church is abstinence from meat (as long as the Friday isn’t a solemnity of the Church, such as it is today).

However, it is possible for the local bishops to request permission from the Holy See to adjust this (except for during Lent when abstinence is still required). This is true in the case of the U.S. Bishops. They acquired permission for U.S. Catholics to substitute abstinence from meat with some other kind penitential act of their choosing.

For example, an alternative penance might include an extra rosary (prayer), limiting food during the day (fasting) or some kind of charitable donation or service (almsgiving). On the occasions when I forget that it’s Friday, it’s great to be able to make a substitution.

I’m pleased that there is some leeway in the United States on the kind of penance to be observed, but I would encourage people to stick with the default penance of the Church: abstinence from meat. Abstinence from meat has a long history in the Church, it marks you out as being Catholic and, c’mon, who doesn’t like fish?