Friday Abstinence (again)

Sometimes you keep saying it and saying it, but people look at you like you are nuts, then God comes along and grants a grace so that you can confirm (outside the references you have been using) that you are not nuts (there are reasons to doubt this at times), and were right on the mark; this is one of those instances. When you keep repeating the same facts and the vast majority around you say that you must be wrong, or that they "never heard that before" it does give grounds to question your own mental stability; thank God for making His truth to be known.

I cannot count how many times I have told cradle Catholics (and a few converts who went to RCIA classes at another parish) that all Fridays of the year (except Solemnities) are days of penance and therefore we are to abstain from something on those days. Most countries require abstinence from meat; America has allowed something different to be chosen by the faithful. On the majority, allowing this to happen (back in 1966) did not work very well. Most Catholics abstain from nothing on Fridays outside of Lent and have no idea it is a sin to do so.

It appears (see here) that there is a possibility this may change. A number of American Bishops have recognized that a return to the traditional practice of requiring it to be meat that we abstain from on Fridays throughout the year is a good idea. They have realized that most of the faithful are not very faithful in this well established Catholic practice (and are thus out of accord with the majority of the rest of the Catholic Church throughout the world).

As I understand it, the majority of Ordinariate Catholics already follow our Bishop's encouragements to choose abstinence from meat all year long. So, if you are one of the few who is not doing so already, it might be a good idea to start now. It is a beautiful way to practice our faith and let Fridays once again become a clear day of penance; it is also a terrific way to show the world who we are. Let this traditional practice of the faith remind us of our need to let our Lord touch every area of our lives.