23 March 2011

Can we eat meat this Friday?

Just a short time ago I received a text message from one of my former students asking, "Can we eat meat this Friday?" It is a good question and, since he asked so early, I thought I'd post it here; if he is wondering, surely others are, as well.

The answer is: Yes, we can eat meat this Friday.

Why, you ask? Because this Friday, March 25th, is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (and the day before my birthday).

A solemnity is a day for celebration, not for penance; hence, no dispensation or permission is needed to eat meat on a solemnity if it falls on a Friday, even in Lent (canonist Ed Peters explains in greater detail here).

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:19 PM

    Certainly we can eat meat this Friday.

    But why should we is the question some of us may ask even if we aren't the holiest of rollers.

    Maybe instead my wife and I will head to a notoriously vegetarian Indian restaurant and graze at the buffet.

    The chef, a Hindu, says he believes in one God, not many. Maybe, for desert, he can explain that to me. He certainly can cook.

    Donal Mahoney

    ReplyDelete
  2. That seems an excellent question to ask the chef.

    We should remember that the Church is not telling us to eat meat this Friday, only that we may.

    Personally, I'll follow the thought of Saint Francis that it is proper to eat meat on the Solemnity; he went so far as to say that meat should be smeared on the walls of the room so that it, too, can rejoice (that's a bit much for me, though).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stumbled upon this blog as a carnivore seeing a chance for satisfaction this Friday. :)

    Title alaso caught my attention as "servants of Christ, stewards of God's mysteries" is in the deacon ordination rite and on a medallion I will get for diaconal candidacy...so I thought maybe this was a deacon's blog...

    Then read more...read your birth story...read your vocation story. WOW, Father. WOW. Its about all I can say right now. I am moved and I will be praying for you even though I am way out on the California Coast in the City of (get ready he is your favorite) St. Francis. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  4. First I'm sorry if this is not the proper forum for this, but we are a new prayer website (www.webprayze.com) and want to know your Reprint Permission Policy. Our membership comes from our local CA parish prayer groups (the twinned parish of St. James the Less, La Crescenta & Holy Redeemer, Montrose).

    Specifically, we are interested in your post titled "Can we eat meat this Friday" and want to Blog it for the information of our members.

    We have been able to secure reprint permissions from CNA (Catholic News Agency), Catholicity, CatholicCulture.org, etc. by providing full attribution of authorship of articles as well as an active link to the respective websites. We will be happy to abide in turn by your requirements.

    Thank you for your kind attention!

    JMJ,
    Maria "Connie" I. Ko
    webprayze.com admin

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6:58 PM

    Don't tell too many people...I chair a very large fish fry lol!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, I had no idea. And I like the way Saint Francis thought! I could use some of his enthusiasm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maria, you may feel free to blog whatever articles of mine you wish; simply give proper attribution and provide a link. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Fr. DZ! Man, do you get a lot of readers. I am noticing a steady stream of hits coming from your site over to mine to look at my comments on Friday abstinence and the Annunciation. Interesting.

    Think of you whenever we go through Casey and Greenup and Effingham and Vandalia on our trips to St. Louis.

    Prayers, edp.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Dr. Peters! My post yesterday has brought an extraordinary number of visitors to my log; I'm glad to learn they click through to your blog.

    Thank you for your prayers; when you're back in the area I'd be happy to visit with you.

    ReplyDelete