Hi, Janet —
Abstinence from
meat means to refrain from eating
meat.
Eating fish on Friday was never a
requirement. It used to be required that we abstain or not eat
meat on Fridays because they are considered penitential days (Canon 1250), so instead
people ate fish.
Today, we are no longer bound by
that specific sacrificial act. Canon
Law states:
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. |
Most Episcopal Conferences have determined
that, instead of abstaining from
meat, Catholics may perform an
act of penance of their choosing.
The main rule is still to abstain
from meat on Fridays. The performance
of another penance instead is an optional
alternative.
We are still obliged to do some
personal penance on Fridays as
an offering to Our Lord, but we
are not obligated to [abstain from|not
eat] meat on Fridays, unless you
are in an diocese that has not
allowed the optional
alternative.
On the other hand, there
is nothing wrong with
Catholics abstaining from meat
on Fridays.
The Church has just broadened the
options for the lay Catholic to say:
"Thank-you Lord for your
saving death on the Cross. In
return, on this Friday,
I offer
you this personal sacrifice of
mine."
This is a matter of discipline and
not doctrine. While we must obey
it, it is subject to change by Holy
Mother Church.
Fasting has always been part of the
Christian life and it is something
that Jesus expects us to do in one
form or another. The Gospel of Matthew says,
16 When you fast, do not
look somber as the hypocrites
do, for they disfigure their faces
to show men they are fasting.
I tell you the truth, they have
received their reward in full.
— Matthew 6:16 |
Notice that Jesus does not say: IF
you fast He says : WHEN you fast.
When we fast we unite ourselves to
Jesus and His suffering. We learn
to deny ourselves as He did for us.
Thus we strive to be more like Him.
Further, fasting has the additional
benefit of increasing the virtue
of self control in us. If we learn
to say "no" to a prime rib dinner,
it makes it easier to say "no" to other
sinful acts.
Having said that, not everyone can
fast or abstain from certain foods.
One might have medical reasons, eating
disorders, and so on, but there is
always something we can deny ourselves
from.
I hope this helps.
God Bless and thanks for the question.
Under His Mercy,
John and Mike
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