Tag Archives: abstinence

ASK FATHER: Dispensation for the 4th of July?

From a reader… The Fourth of July is on a Friday this year. I’ve been told that there used to be a dispensation from the requirement to abstain from meat on a Friday 4th. Is that true? It would be … Read More

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9 Comments

Lent, Alligators and You – Revisited

Once again, someone wrote to ask me if it is okay to eat alligator on Friday during Lent. Is this a put on? Is this a joke? Of course it’s okay to eat alligator! And crocodile, if you have some. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Classic Posts, Lighter fare, Linking Back, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , ,
41 Comments

How you would have observed Lent in 1873

For those of you who may think that Lent is a pretty tough time to be a Catholic, giving up chocolate and all year in and year out, this came to me email today.  This is what our forebears did … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
28 Comments

ASK FATHER: Gelatin during Lent

Now that we are coming up on Lent, people are starting to think about what may be eaten on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays.  May I eat insects?  May I eat crocodile?  May I drink Mystic Monk Coffee? Yes, and … Read More

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29 Comments

TV station to broadcast Muslim call to prayer

From WND: An announcement by a television station in the United Kingdom that it will broadcast the Muslim call to prayer daily during the month-long religious observation called Ramadan has sparked concerns by those who point out that the nation’s … Read More

Posted in I'm just askin'..., Linking Back, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
23 Comments

QUAERITUR: Ember Days during Octave of Pentecost… penitential?

From a priest: For those that follow the 1962 calendar or simply follow the traditional penitential days, are the ember days in the octave of Pentecost days of fast? It would seem not since the octave days, similar to Easter, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill | Tagged , , , , ,
11 Comments

QUAERITUR: Is it a sin to fast during the Easter Octave?

From a reader: I listen to the Catholic Channel on Sirius/XM a lot and yesterday a priest who is usually fairly reliable made the comment that it is a sin to fast during the Octave of Easter. My wife started … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , , ,
29 Comments

Good Friday – fast and abstinence

Most of us here are bound by the Church’s law to fast and abstain today. What’s your plan?

Posted in SESSIUNCULA | Tagged , ,
125 Comments

QUAERITUR: Can I eat insect parts on Fridays?

Since the topic came up elsewhere, I thought it a good idea to revive this question from a reader and repost it: From a reader: Do insect products count as meat products, and therefore prohibited on Fridays and other days … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, Linking Back, O'Brian Tags, Our Catholic Identity, Preserved Killick | Tagged , , , , , , , ,
28 Comments

Lent, Alligators and You

Someone sent me a copy of a letter written by the Archbishop of New Orleans to a member of his flock about eating alligator during Lent.  The answer is “yes”.  You may eat alligator during Lent. This is old news … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Lighter fare, Linking Back | Tagged , , , , ,
32 Comments

OLDIE POLL: Should the US Bishops implement “meatless Fridays” during the whole year?

As the U.S. bishops prepare to meet in their autumn assembly, I represent this poll (originally HERE): The bishops of England and Wales did this. You can vote even if you are not registered here. Please give your reasons in … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, Year of Faith | Tagged , , , ,
64 Comments

“And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads.”

Under the entry about our obligation to attend Holy Mass, someone posted this comment (I removed it to here): I’ve always had a fantasy where I make wallet sized Catholic obligation cards.  These would have check boxes or punch boxes … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Four Last Things, GO TO CONFESSION, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants, Year of Faith | Tagged , , , , , , ,
43 Comments

QUAERITUR: Abstinentia de carne lacertina aut crocodrillina

Ex lectoris e-pistulis extractum: Reverendo patro Ioanni Zuhlsdorfo discipulus C. salutem et commemorationem in precibus suis. Gratias meas, sivis, ob opum tuam tibi agere volo. [Acceptae.] Mihi, catholico iuveni et discipulo in collegio liberalum artis et liberalum (aut impudicarum) mentum, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged , , , , , ,
17 Comments

QUAERITUR: Friday fish and chips cooked in beef fat? WDTPRS POLL: “meatless Fridays”.

POLL BELOW! From a reader: I was watching TV last night & on the program they were talking about fish & chips fried in rendered beef fat at a restaurant. Fish & Chips is one of my favorite Friday dishes … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Fr. Z's Kitchen, Our Catholic Identity, POLLS | Tagged , , , , ,
73 Comments

A suggestion before Christmas: fast and abstain and perform works of mercy

It is a Christian custom that we fast before our feasts. Our friends at Rorate remind us that before 1965, 23 and 24 December were days of fasting and abstinence. May I suggest to you good readers that you do … Read More

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13 Comments

Have a meatless day!

GMTA. Over at His Hermeneuticalness’s place we find a photo of eggs and toast.  “But Father! But Father!”, I thought.  “I also had an egg and toast today!”  Then, I continued needlessly, “Why?  I’ll tell you why.  Which it’s Friday, … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", Fr. Z KUDOS, Our Catholic Identity, Preserved Killick | Tagged , , ,
34 Comments

WDTPRS KUDOS to the Bishops of England and Wales: meatless Fridays re-established

If perhaps the Conference of England and Wales won’t be enthusiastic about Universae Ecclesiae I read this with pleasure from the site of Peter Jennings: Fish on Friday re-established by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales By Peter … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Brick by Brick, Clerical Sexual Abuse, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , ,
55 Comments

QUAERITUR: Friday Lenten penance on Solemnity of St. Joseph

From a reader: Friday is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. I know that according to canon law, solemnities take precedence over any day of penance, at least in ordinary time. Are we still bound to abstinence from meat on March … Read More

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45 Comments