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Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:26 am
by Gob
Catholics in England and Wales are being asked to abstain from eating meat on Fridays as an act of penance, reviving a centuries-old tradition.
Bishops say Friday should be a day of penitence as it is the day on which Christ is said to have died.
They say Friday penance will be "a clear and distinctive mark" of Catholic identity and an act of common worship.
A resolution in May said penance would begin on 16 September to mark the first anniversary of the Pope's UK visit.
In a statement issued earlier this month, the bishops said it was important that followers of the Church were united in a common, identifiable act of Friday penance because "the virtue of penitence is best acquired as part of a common resolve and common witness".
Those who cannot or already choose not to eat meat as part of their daily diet are being asked to abstain from some other food or activity.
Those aged under 14, the sick, elderly, pregnant women, seafarers, manual workers or others in situations where there are moral or physical reasons for eating meat are excused from abstaining.
The Catholic Church defines meat as the flesh of warm-blooded animals, so eating fish is permitted on Fridays.
The practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays is centuries-old, but in 1985 the Catholic Church in England and Wales allowed Catholics to substitute another form of penance in its place.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14929199
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:12 am
by thestoat
Maybe they should try mortification too
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:39 pm
by dgs49
I agree completely. There is nothing even faintly ridiculous about the suggestion that Christians should adopt a practice that reminds them regularly (weekly) about what is probably the central and defining belief of their faith, i.e., that Christ died for our sins.
Bravo. They never should have dropped it before.
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:00 pm
by Scooter
If that is how it had been approached by all, or even most, of those who practiced it, you might be right. But robotically substituting a Fillet O Fish for a McChicken when one runs out for a fast food lunch on a Friday did not, and still does not, achieve that goal.
Encouraging the faithful to limit the volume of food they consume, by eating lighter meals or even skipping a meal, and thereby engaging in a sacrifice that might make them more likely to remember those who have nothing to eat at all, would be a more meaningful penance.
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:34 pm
by BoSoxGal
Practicing Catholics take the body & blood of Christ every week at Mass as a reminder that he died for their sins, dgs.
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:42 pm
by dales
Scooter wrote:
Encouraging the faithful to limit the volume of food they consume, by eating lighter meals or even skipping a meal, and thereby engaging in a sacrifice that might make them more likely to remember those who have nothing to eat at all, would be a more meaningful penance.
Not to mention the health benefits.
The Roman Chruch's "No Meat on Fridays" is not Sriptural and should be approached with that in mind. If a believer wishes to eat or not eat fish on Friday, who cares?
Jesus the Christ remarked how those that wish to fast do so "secretly" and not parade about in sack cloth and ashes as the Pharasees do.
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:54 pm
by dgs49
Skipping meals and eating less (and not eating meat on Fridays) are part of the program in Lent.
Not that many Catholics take that very seriously any more.
The Church is guided not only by Scripture but also by Traditions. Self-denial, however, is something that has become obsolete for most Catholics (including me).
Re: Nothing even faintly ridiculous about this notion
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:51 am
by The Hen
Scooter wrote:Encouraging the faithful to limit the volume of food they consume, by eating lighter meals or even skipping a meal, and thereby engaging in a sacrifice that might make them more likely to remember those who have nothing to eat at all, would be a more meaningful penance.
I often have a food-free Friday.
I find fasting to be very beneficial. It also means that when the 40 Hour famine comes around, I find it VERY easy to go without contemplating food for the time period.