Meat on Friday?

Can I have some clarification on this subject. Recently, we had daily Rosary prayers in my area BEC, for the holy month of Mother Mary.

Nov 06, 2015

Dear Editor,

I am an adult convert, and was taught catechism, by a Capuchin Priest. I am a bit confused.

Can I have some clarification on this subject. Recently, we had daily Rosary prayers in my area BEC, for the holy month of Mother Mary. On a certain Friday, the host of the house prepared a sumptuous spread for all the members of the BEC. I made a statement, that Friday is a holy day, and meat should not be eaten by practising Catholics. My statement was not well received by the members, and most of them ate meat after the prayers. I recollect that Church Canon Law is quite clear on this subject, and any dispensation or exemption can only be granted by the Bishop’s conference, or the Holy Father. Has Church doctrine changed on this subject, and is meat now allowed on Fridays ?

Stephen Selvalingam
Kelana Jaya

EDITOR’S NOTE: Days of penance from the Code of Canon Law numbers, 1250-1253)

1. The days and times of penance for all the Latin Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

2. Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Bishops’ Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, except when a solemnity falls on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

3. All are bound by the law of abstinence who have reached the age of fourteen.

4. The law of fasting applies to all who have attained their majority until after their fifty-ninth birthday. Pastors of souls and parents should ensure that even those who are still too young to be bound by the laws of fasting and abstinence are trained to have a true appreciation of penance.

5. Those who are unable to observe fasting and abstinence may do penance in one of the following or similar ways instead. As examples: Going to the Holy Mass, praying the rosary, praying the Stations of the Cross, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, doing works of mercy, such as giving money to the poor, visiting the sick, praying for the dead, depriving themselves of some enjoyable food, abstaining from alcoholic drinks, giving up a show on TV or Video and many other ways of mortification. Eating meat on Friday would not be a sin if an alternative penance as suggested above is performed. (Conference of Bishops of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei on February 25, 1984)

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