March 17 is a FRIDAY in LENT:
a day to abstain from eating meat.
BUT - it's also Saint Patrick's Day and in many dioceses
(including my own, Boston) the local bishop will dispense
Catholics from Lenten Friday abstinence - especially if
Saint Patrick happens to be the patron saint of the diocese.
In some dioceses, the bishop is dispensing from abstinence
from meat but suggesting/requiring some other penitential
practice in its place. Here's a fine article on this topic.
And if your bishop isn't dispensing you - here's the usual info:
Catholics over 14 years of age
are expected to abstain from eating meat
on the Fridays of Lent.
For more on this topic, check out this earlier post...
Note: Individual, personal health concerns and "doctor's orders" always take precedence over regulations for fast and abstinence!
Fast and Abstinence In Lent
In addition to personal Lenten practices, Catholics are also called to a communal practice of self-denial by abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and on Good Friday.
All Christians are called to special prayer, fasting and caring for the poor in the season of Lent.
Each person determines how he or she will personally live out these ancient Lenten exercises.
Each person determines how he or she will personally live out these ancient Lenten exercises.
In addition to personal Lenten practices, Catholics are also called to a communal practice of self-denial by abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays of Lent and on Good Friday.
DISPENSATIONS?
DISPENSATIONS?
Pastors often receive requests from parishioners asking to be “dispensed” from fast and abstinence for particular social occasions.
Of course, it is precisely on such occasions that the self-denial of fast and abstinence might be most meaningful. Such a “dispensation” is not a pastor’s to give.
The Church tells us that in this matter individuals have freedom to excuse themselves but that, “no Catholic will lightly hold himself/herself excused from so hallowed an obligation as this penitential practice.”
Of course, it is precisely on such occasions that the self-denial of fast and abstinence might be most meaningful. Such a “dispensation” is not a pastor’s to give.
The Church tells us that in this matter individuals have freedom to excuse themselves but that, “no Catholic will lightly hold himself/herself excused from so hallowed an obligation as this penitential practice.”
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