[Salvation]

**On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. Since this was not stated as binding under pain of sin, not to do so on a single occasion would not in itself be sinful. However, since penance is a divine command, the general refusal to do penance is certainly gravely sinful.**

 

I wonder how may U. S. Catholics actually do the act of pentitence to substitute for abstaining on Fridays during the entire year?? 

[Tax-chick]

I have no idea. The good part about the Friday abstention rule, imo, is that it was simple and obvious, easy to plan for. You didn’t have to ask yourself, “Is it penitential to make a big, labor-intensive, multi-item meal for the family when what I really want is toast?” I guess it is. We’d fast every Friday, if it were up to me, because I’m ready to die by the end of the week ... but I’ve still got nine other people and the dog demanding tons of food.

[pegleg]

I wonder how may U. S. Catholics actually do the act of pentitence to substitute for abstaining on Fridays during the entire year??

Guilty as charged :-)

[Miss Marple]

I do not eat meat on Fridays. On the rare occasion when I am in a position where I have to (such as being the guest of someone for dinner) I abstain from alcohol and dessert.

I find that this makes me remember Christ's sacrifice, enforces my Catholic identity, and encourages me to a life of more discipline.