Author Topic: How Far Does Friday Abstinence Go? (Read 4993 times)

TKGS · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2016, 07:02:55 AM »

Quote from: AlligatorDicax

Thanks for the detailed citation. A recent Internet search didn't find such a detailed citation, never mind actual content on line, so I suppose what you posted, you had to transcribe via your own keyboard.

You can download the Commentary from which I quoted here:

https://archive.org/details/1917CodeOfCanonLawCommentary

I truly am not sure what you are asking or what information you are seeking by your post.

I believe the spirit of the law is that one is to abstain from the meat of animals, other than of fish, on Fridays as an act of penance. As such, I would not eat food that is prepared in such a way that would have the taste of ordinary flesh meat. As such, I would abstain from all normal (farm) animal meat, as well as other meats that are similar, such as frog legs. Having never eaten snake or sea mammals, if they also were similar to pork, beef, or chicken, I would abstain from them as well. I abstain from foods that have been artificially created so as to appear to be meat, such as "veggie burgers" (though I don't eat them anyway).

It seems to me that it is not much of a sacrifice to substitute, say, frog legs for chicken legs on Friday, though I believe the commentary I provided does not permit that substitution anyway and I don't believe the cold-blooded/warm-blooded criterion identified by a poster earlier is valid. I don't believe whale meat is legal in the U.S., but even if it is, I have never had any nor would I know where to get it--I'm sure it would be outside my budget anyway. But if it is similar to ordinary meats, I would abstain as well.

These are my personal opinions and describe how my conscience works on this matter. I do not say my opinion is binding on anyone other than myself. I do believe the Commentary I provided gives an authoritative explanation as to what is permitted and should be followed by all Catholics.

Student of Qi · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2016, 01:17:47 AM »

Quote from: TKGS

Quote from: Student of Qi

Quote
BTW flesh meat includes turkey, chicken, buffalo, venison, rabbit, etc. It has to be fish to be off the list.

A simple correction if I may.

Not all fish is permissible on Friday. Some fish are warm blooded and must be avoided. One example is (I think) the Yellow Fin Tuna.

All cold blooded animals are allowed: frogs, snakes, fish etc.

What is your source for this?

I have never seen any actual Church declaration or theological opinion that use the warm-blooded / cold-blooded animal issue. In fact, I once read a theological commentary that specifically identified whale meat (i.e., a warm-blooded mammal) as a fish and therefore not subject to the Friday abstinence. The commentary, by the way, knew that whales are warm-blooded and classified as mammals by biologists. The entire question revolved around whether whales were "fish" which has been defined at times as simply an animal that swims in the sea.

I have read many laymen use the warm-blooded / cold-blooded criterion, but no one has ever been able to give me a good reason for this criterion other than it just seems right.

Unfortunately, the only source I can provide is tradition. One example from history is of the Spanish explorer Orillana. He was traveling down the Amazon, the food supplies low, the men growing hungry, a soldier spots what turns out to be a manatee and hopes they may be eaten. The priest accompanying the expedition forbade them from consuming the beasts as manatees were determined to be of warm blood and it was Friday. This was in the mid 1600s I recall.

I have heard a of sermon on Friday abstinence and what seemed a logical explanation of why only beings of cold blood are permissible. Alas! That was a long time ago and do not remember it.

That's the best I can give to you for now, sorry.

Student of Qi · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2016, 01:34:01 AM »

Quote

I believe the spirit of the law is that one is to abstain from the meat of animals, other than of fish, on Fridays as an act of penance. As such, I would not eat food that is prepared in such a way that would have the taste of ordinary flesh meat. As such, I would abstain from all normal (farm) animal meat, as well as other meats that are similar, such as frog legs. Having never eaten snake or sea mammals, if they also were similar to pork, beef, or chicken, I would abstain from them as well. I abstain from foods that have been artificially created so as to appear to be meat, such as "veggie burgers" (though I don't eat them anyway).

It seems to me that it is not much of a sacrifice to substitute, say, frog legs for chicken legs on Friday, though I believe the commentary I provided does not permit that substitution anyway and I don't believe the cold-blooded/warm-blooded criterion identified by a poster earlier is valid. I don't believe whale meat is legal in the U.S., but even if it is, I have never had any nor would I know where to get it--I'm sure it would be outside my budget anyway. But if it is similar to ordinary meats, I would abstain as well.

These are my personal opinions and describe how my conscience works on this matter. I do not say my opinion is binding on anyone other than myself. I do believe the Commentary I provided gives an authoritative explanation as to what is permitted and should be followed by all Catholics.

I too have only fish on Fridays (That is all that is available). But consider this: A snake is the only creature you have to eat on a Friday, so you eat it. It is not seasoned, it does taste mildly of Gallus Gallus Domestcus, but it is tough and hard to chew. Overall it is not pleasant. Especially if not much meat is present on the bones.

This is personal experience and critique from the third sentence down.

Dolores · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2016, 07:54:03 AM »

This section from the 1917 Code of Canon Law may help answer the OP's question:

Quote from: Canon 1250

The law of abstinence forbids the eating of flesh meat and of broth made of meat, but does not exclude the use of eggs, milk and the products of milk (namely cheese and butter), and any seasonings of food, even those made from the fat of animals.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2016, 07:58:31 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

So eat all the locusts you want on Friday.

I'll remember that for Lent.