[areafiftyone]

The vast majority of Catholics today do not know that there is an existing obligation to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year.

Jeeze I knew that since I was a kid. I guess the Catholics nowadays don't have to go to Mandatory Religious Instruction once a week like I did as a kid. It was required for all Catholic public school kids.

[zerosix]

Precisely what does "meatless Fridays" have to do with the teachings of Christ?

[stuartcr]

What are the repercussions of eating meat on Fridays?

[B Knotts]

More on Friday penance:

http://www.jimmyakin.org/2004/07/since_tomorrow_.html
http://www.jimmyakin.org/2004/07/more_on_friday_.html
http://www.jimmyakin.org/2004/07/friday_penance_.html

[IamConservative]

Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays

Brussel sprouts definitely fall in the category of "some other food."

[siunevada]

Must be an older article. How many years has it been since the NCCB changed their name to the USCCB?

I would agree with Father that I would like to hear some mention of Friday penitential practice from the pulpit more than once in a lifetime. Considering that I still hear the "Vatican II changed all that" nonsense from laity on a regular basis.

Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics

[bremenboy]

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

[old and tired]

I think there is an awareness of this coming back and I think we can thank Dr. Atkins. For so many years, people lived on pizza and pasta and we all suffered under the delusion that it was good for us. In the 80's and 90's, it was nothing for people to abstain from meat. For many young people, their dinner wasn't going to include meat anyway.

Enter the glycemic index and the Atkins diet. We all eat more chicken than we did 10 years ago. Anyway, it seems to me that now when adults have to have pizza, in the back of their heads they're thinking, "that's enough carbs for today. No dessert."

Now people hear this information and it sticks with them, and guess what? No meat's a sacrifice again!

[Cheverus]

I remember I when I was at the Archdiocese and I tried to discuss this self same discipline (it had been covered by Fr. Corapi the night before) with a Priest who I was friendly with (awesome guy btw) and he told me "don't believe everything you hear on EWTN"

I was disappointed, he doesn't promote any heterodoxy and is a great guy, but still.....

[DTwistedSisterS]

Just a clarification.

Who are these guys:
The National Conference of Catholic
(American) Bishops - NCCB

I've heard of the USCCB, but not of the NCCB.

Just wondering.

Thanks.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Realizing how hard it was to remember to do penance on Fridays, my hubby and I decided to go back to the meatless Fridays. I like it because the need to do something different reminds us why we are doing it - to commemorate Jesus' sufferings, and keep them fresh in our minds.

These little signs are (or ought to be) signals to ourselves and others of our personal committment.

And that is a good thing.

[bert]

Will this mean the return of tha Baloot boys to the streets of Manila?

Every Friday you could hear their cries....Baaaloooot! BaaaLooot!

Balot is a ready to hatch chick which though meat is an egg and legal on Friday in heavily Catholic Manila.

[Coleus]

About a year ago, my pastor started talking about this subject. I think the new bishop had something to do with this. We must abstain from meet on all Fridays during the year.