Hey Catholics.... is your diocese allowing you to eat meat tomorrow?

[SunFloridaDisney]

My diocese is allow the meat-eating tomorrow, which personally I think is silly. Why make an exception?

I won't be eating meat regardless of what the bishop decided.

 

[puggymom]

It's not that it's o.k. to eat meat, but it's o.k. to eat corn beef tomorrow. You still shouldn't go out and have a steak. Certain diocese's are allowing corn beef to be eaten in celebration of St Pat's Day.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I have a question and I in no way mean to be rude about it- but if your bishop says it's ok to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day, and you'd really like to have your corned beef or shepherds pie or whatever- why would you still abstain, why not just go ahead and eat the corned beef on Friday? Do you not think the bishop is correct in allowing the dispensation, or is it just a matter of custom, or personal belief (outside of what you're told to do by the Church?)

 

[Divamomto3]

My diocese said we could eat meat tomorrow and honestly, even if they didn't, I would have anyway. I'm not the best Catholic in the world.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Despite the heavily German background of most of the people in our diocese (of St. Cloud), our Bishop is Irish. We'll be eating corned beef tomorrow.

 

[elizke]

Our Bulletin said IF you are Irish you have dispensation to eat corned beef in this diocese.

As for the reasoning for abstinence, it's symbolism, as are many things in most religions.

It helps bring to mind things we want to remember and think about during Lent. I must say it often works for me. (Ooops, I can't have that for supper, oh yeah it's Lent...and then I'm thinking of the more meaningful aspects of Lent.)

I'm Irish but I hate corned beef.

E.

 

[helenabear]

I have a question and I in no way mean to be rude about it- but if your bishop says it's ok to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day, and you'd really like to have your corned beef or shepherds pie or whatever- why would you still abstain, why not just go ahead and eat the corned beef on Friday? Do you not think the bishop is correct in allowing the dispensation, or is it just a matter of custom, or personal belief (outside of what you're told to do by the Church?)

For me it is twofold. We've gotten the dispensation in the past. But not this year with the new Bishop. Honestly I don't care for corned beef, and even though I am part Irish, I do not heavily celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Since I do not, I see no point in breaking abstinence anyway.

Second, I think Lent is about sacrifice and being aware of Jesus being our own personal sacrifice. I know many Bishops feel like the heritage is important, but for me the sacrifice aspect will always trump anything else.

I won't go as far as saying they are wrong. They just do not share my personal beliefs.

Given a lot of towns do St. Patrick's Day celebrations on other days of this month, I don't see what the big deal of having a traditional meal one day later is anyway.

 

[golfgal]

I posted this on the other thread about this but how the no meat on Fridays started was a Pope a long time ago owned a fish factory. In order to make money, he required people to eat fish on Fridays. It has morphed into a symbol of sacrifice, which during lent is a good thing to think about.

Our priest has said in the past that if giving up meat on Fridays isn't a big deal to you, don't, but give up something else like soda, coffee, snacks, etc. instead. You should really have to think about what you are doing vs just trying to figure out what seafood restaurant you are going to go to this week.

Our Bishop did not give a dispensation for our diocese.

 

[helenabear]

I posted this on the other thread about this but how the no meat on Fridays started was a Pope a long time ago owned a fish factory. In order to make money, he required people to eat fish on Fridays. It has morphed into a symbol of sacrifice, which during lent is a good thing to think about.

Funny, I have never heard that a Pope owned a fish factory. As far as I have researched it was done as Penence on Fridays since meat was considered a "luxury" item to have during a meal. Do you have some back up for this? I am more curious than anything on that one!

 

[AMcaptured]

Before Vatican II, it was common practice that Catholics NEVER eat meat on Fridays year round. It is still recommended by the church that people abstain from eating meat year round on Fridays but few in this country follow that practice. My father in law who is "hard core" and very old fashioned NEVER eats meat on Friday, he never has and he says he never will. Honestly, it is a very small sacrifice IMO

Catholics are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from meat on Friday's.

As I said earlier, I am not a fan of corned beef and so I will not be eating meat tomorrow. I make a great lentil and macaroni dish that I actually look forward to making this time of year.

 

[DebbieB]

I've always heard the saying that you can't be a "pick and choose Catholic", mostly in regards to birth control. If the church rule is no meat on Fridays in Lent for them to come along and say just because St Patricks Day is a Friday and everyone wants to have a good time, let's waive the rule for that day, isn't that "pick and choose" by the church?

 

[MN Dis Fans]

A parent of a student at our school is from Romania. The family is Eastern Orthodox and he said that during Lent, people there abstain from meat, eggs and all dairy products - daily. Now that is sacrifice.

 

[golfgal]

Funny, I have never heard that a Pope owned a fish factory. As far as I have researched it was done as Penence on Fridays since meat was considered a "luxury" item to have during a meal. Do you have some back up for this? I am more curious than anything on that one!

I guess I could research it more but most of the nuns, priests and brothers that I had for various religion/theology classes at the Catholic College I attended told us this was the origin of eating fish on Fridays, all Fridays, not just in Lent.

 

[joshsmom]

Yep--got my corned beef and cabbage ready to go!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

I have a question and I in no way mean to be rude about it- but if your bishop says it's ok to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day, and you'd really like to have your corned beef or shepherds pie or whatever- why would you still abstain, why not just go ahead and eat the corned beef on Friday? Do you not think the bishop is correct in allowing the dispensation, or is it just a matter of custom, or personal belief (outside of what you're told to do by the Church?)

I would eat corned beef if I celebrated St. Patrick's Day, but since to me, it's just another day, I go about my usual Lenten Friday routine and abstain (I think we're going to our parish fish fry tonight for dinner ). It's not about going against the Bishop's dispensation, it's just that the dispensation isn't something that really applies to me, since I'm not one to celebrate St. Pats Day.

 

[Laura]

I make a great lentil and macaroni dish that I actually look forward to making this time of year.

I know it's off topic, but what's in that other than lentils and macaroni? Just curious, since I'm a vegetarian--I'm always looking for good recipes.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

See, that's the whole thing behind abstaining from meat.

My mother is fanatical about not eating meat on Fridays during lent. But then again, she doesn't eat much meat anyway because she has problems with digestion. Where's the good deed in that?

I just think that sometimes Catholics (and other religions, quite frankly) get caught up in the letter of the law without respecting the spirit of the law. The law of meat abstention came about when eating meat was an extravagance. Humility and respect for the teachings of God should keep in mind that the letter of the law sometimes neglects the spirit of the law.

If it's meat that is extravagant, then abstain. I say that a more likely extravagence would include sweets, soft drinks, and doing everything that is excessive. That, I believe is what God expects from us.

 

[helenabear]

I guess I could research it more but most of the nuns, priests and brothers that I had for various religion/theology classes at the Catholic College I attended told us this was the origin of eating fish on Fridays, all Fridays, not just in Lent.

Thanks, I was once told that it was to help the fish market, but nothing about a Pope owning a fish farm. However, when I started looking it up as I got older, nothing could confirm anything.

On the contrary like I said, my research said it was a form of penance used when group confessionals were common.

Well said Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki I feel that way often!

 

[beattyfamily]

See, that's the whole thing behind abstaining from meat.

My mother is fanatical about not eating meat on Fridays during lent. But then again, she doesn't eat much meat anyway because she has problems with digestion. Where's the good deed in that?

I just think that sometimes Catholics (and other religions, quite frankly) get caught up in the letter of the law without respecting the spirit of the law. The law of meat abstention came about when eating meat was an extravagance. Humility and respect for the teachings of God should keep in mind that the letter of the law sometimes neglects the spirit of the law.

If it's meat that is extravagant, then abstain. I say that a more likely extravagence would include sweets, soft drinks, and doing everything that is excessive. That, I believe is what God expects from us.

That is why we also give up something we love during Lent BESIDES meat on Fridays (which is just a tradition now). We are also asked to do good deeds/charitible deeds as well.

We also fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

For me, the thought (thinking about not eating meat all day ) of not eating meat on Fridays (the day Jesus died) and remembering not to eat/drink what I gave up reminds me of what Lent and Easter are all about (Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection) and that is what not eating meat and giving something you love up are all about, IMHO. A reminder.

 

[elizke]

I really don't understand why abstinence or fasting or not, or the dispensations, would bother anyone who's not Catholic.

As explained, it is a symbolic reminder; a tribute of sorts. Why do non Catholics care?

E.