[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Ok, Now I am confused, I know that it used to be that Catholics never ate Meat on Friday. I thought however that now it was only during Lent? Not that never eating meat on Friday is a bad thing, in fact, it is a small sacrifice, but a sacrifice, so, is it, all Fridays or just Fridays in Lent as I have always been told?

[NYer]

Now I am confused, I know that it used to be that Catholics never ate Meat on Friday. I thought however that now it was only during Lent?

And your confusion is justified! As a 'seasoned' citizen, I grew up with meatless Fridays and was in high school when the rules were 'relaxed'. Perhaps I wasn't paying much attention but I don't recall any admonitions to maintain abstinence, on the part of the bishops.

Earlier this year, someone else in the forum issued a reminder to the catholics. Like you, I was truly stunned. But, after researching it, I have now voluntarily elected to personally restore Friday abstinence. As the canon law states:

"The Code also gives the conference of bishops the power to substitute another penance to be observed on Fridays in place of abstinence from meat."

According to the USCCB:

Canons 1252 and 1253 - Observance
of Fast and Abstinence

c. 1252: All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

c. 1253: It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

Complementary Norm: Norms II and IV of Paenitemini (February 17, 1966) are almost identical to the canons cited. The November 18, 1966 norms of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on penitential observance for the Liturgical Year continue in force since they are law and are not contrary to the code (canon 6).

Approved: Administrative Committee, September 1983

Promulgated: Memorandum to All Bishops, October 21, 1983

Amended: "... the age of fasting is from the completion of the twenty-first year to the beginning of the sixtieth" (Paenitemini, norm IV) is amended to read ‘... the age of fasting is from the completion of the eighteenth year to the beginning of the sixtieth' in accord with canon 97."

Promulgated: Memorandum to All Diocesan Bishops, February 29, 1984

[Salvation]

ROTC,
The suggestions are a definite for Lent and Advent, but the fast and abstainence from meat are recommended year around. It is merely voluntary other than in Lent and Advent when it is currently mandated.