Author Topic: Question about the Lenten "big meal." (Read 2184 times)

Raoul76 · « **on:** March 02, 2011, 04:52:15 PM »

During Lent we can have one big meal each day.

Does this "big meal" have to be after a certain time, does it have to be dinner, or can I have it for lunch, BEFORE the two small meals even?

I'd heard somewhere that it should be after 5 PM, Alex says it can be at any time.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2011, 05:04:11 PM »

Quote from: Raoul76

During Lent we can have one big meal each day.

Does this "big meal" have to be after a certain time, does it have to be dinner, or can I have it for lunch, BEFORE the two small meals even?

I'd heard somewhere that it should be after 5 PM, Alex says it can be at any time.

I think it's pretty much up to you, unless you want to find the specific instructions in force before the period of sede vacante.

Quote

In the first place more than one meal was strictly prohibited. At this meal flesh meat, eggs, butter, cheese, and milk were interdicted (Gregory I, Decretals IV, cap. vi; Trullan Synod, Canon 56). Besides these restrictions abstinence from wine, specially during Lent, was enjoined (Thomassin, Traité des jeûnes de l'Église, II, vii). Furthermore, during Holy Week the fare consisted of bread, salt, herbs, and water (Laymann, Theologia Moralis, Tr. VIII; De observatione jejuniorum, i). Finally, this meal was not allowed until sunset. St. Ambrose (De Elia et jejunio, sermo vii, in Psalm CXVIII), St. Chrysostom (Homil. iv in Genesim), St. Basil (Oratio i, De jejunio) furnish unequivocal testimony concerning the three characteristics of the black fast. The keynote of their teaching is sounded by St. Bernard (Sermo. iii, no. 1, De Quadragesima), when he says "hitherto we have fasted only until none" (3 p.m.) "whereas, now" (during Lent) "kings and princes, clergy and laity, rich and poor will fast until evening". It is quite certain that the days of Lent (Muller, Theologia Moralis, II, Lib. II, Tr. ii, sect. 165, no. 11) as well as those preceding ordination were marked by the black fast. This regime continued until the tenth century when the custom of taking the only meal of the day at three o'clock was introduced (Thomassin, loc. cit.). In the fourteenth century the hour of taking this meal was changed to noon-day (Muller, loc. cit.). Shortly afterwards the practice of taking a collation in the evening began to gain ground (Thomassin, op. cit., II, xi). Finally, the custom of taking a crust of bread and some coffee in the morning was introduced in the early part of the nineteenth century. During the past fifty years, owing to ever changing circuмstances of time and place, the Church has gradually relaxed the severity of penitential requirements, so that now little more than a vestige of former rigour obtains.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02590c.htm

TKGS · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:45:45 PM »

According to the Missal published by the SSPX, the traditional requirements for a fast is that only one full meal can be eaten on a day of fast but a small amount of food may be consumed in the morning and in the evening.

Furthermore, the midday and evening meals may be interchanged, that is, one may eat the main meal in the evening and two small portions of food in the morning and at mid-day to maintain strength.

TraceG · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2011, 10:27:42 PM »

Big meal is misleading. It does not mean that you may gorge yourself to the point of gluttony. Tkgs is right it is a normal meal that may be had. The other two meals may not equal one normal meal in size either.

Off topic, my prottie brother in law was supposed to fast on a mission of his. My sister wailed that if he was going to be physically working he needed to eat and they told him he had to fast. I told her what a (religious) fast was, of course she had no clue. Prots don't know the difference between fasting and starving.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2011, 01:21:20 AM »

Thanks for answering, so I'm gathering you can take the main meal at any time.

I must admit, I did gorge myself during other Lents. I remember once eating so much spaghetti that it was piled up all the way to the back of my throat, it felt like, and I had to pull over the car and wretch. I would try to store up food in my belly like a squirrel stores chestnuts in a tree during my main meal. I see I was mistaken...

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2011, 02:35:27 AM »

Is it true that all foods coming from animal sources are forbidden?

TKGS · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2011, 06:56:55 AM »

Quote from: spouse of Jesus

Is it true that all foods coming from animal sources are forbidden?

No.

Milk, eggs, and fish are authorized to be eaten on days of abstinence. Again, according to the Missal published by the Society, the traditional days of abstinence are All Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Saturdays during Lent and the Ember Days during Lent. All other days of Lent are days of partial abstinence (that is, meat may be consumed at one meal only), Ember Days outside Lent, and the vigils of certain feasts.

By the way, the regulations on fasting and abstinence have changed often during the life of the Church. The Missal from which I obtained this information says that the regulations have, at times, become more strict and, at times, become less strict. The regulations I have listed are those that were in effect immediately prior to the start of Vatican II.

TraceG · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2011, 12:05:05 PM »

There is a book called My Catholic Faith it is from 1949 and a recommended book by my Trad Priest. I recommend anyone to purchase the book. It covers your fasting question and a lot more.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2011, 12:39:29 PM »

Quote from: spouse of Jesus

Is it true that all foods coming from animal sources are forbidden?

That was long long ago.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2011, 12:40:06 PM »

Quote from: Raoul76

Thanks for answering, so I'm gathering you can take the main meal at any time.

I must admit, I did gorge myself during other Lents. I remember once eating so much spaghetti that it was piled up all the way to the back of my throat, it felt like, and I had to pull over the car and wretch. I would try to store up food in my belly like a squirrel stores chestnuts in a tree during my main meal. I see I was mistaken...

I believe I have read there is no limit on the size of the main meal.

Jamie · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2011, 01:49:59 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

Quote from: Raoul76
Thanks for answering, so I'm gathering you can take the main meal at any time.

I must admit, I did gorge myself during other Lents. I remember once eating so much spaghetti that it was piled up all the way to the back of my throat, it felt like, and I had to pull over the car and wretch. I would try to store up food in my belly like a squirrel stores chestnuts in a tree during my main meal. I see I was mistaken...

I believe I have read there is no limit on the size of the main meal.

Except the limit exceeding which would constitute gluttony.

Emerentiana · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2011, 08:25:52 PM »

Quote from: TraceG

There is a book called My Catholic Faith it is from 1949 and a recommended book by my Trad Priest. I recommend anyone to purchase the book. It covers your fasting question and a lot more.

Here is the book link to Amazon.com, my favorite site for books It has been reprinted many times.........my advice? the older the better

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963903268?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwchanco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0963903268

copticruiser · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2011, 01:35:56 AM »

Ok all I have is my coptic orthodox rules which are so easy to remember so hard to apply. No animal no diary no breaking the fast either not even Sundays.

Ive been pregnant alot during my catholic life (lol) so I have been very exempt but of course I exclude my favorite ( chocolate and dessert)

Moderate eating, abstinence from desserts, of course No T.V or music unless religious. Lots of spiritual reading and of course who wouldnt do the stations of the cross?

Thats about as religious as I get. When I did the hard core no meat and no diary all I did was think about FOOD! I think I missed the point then. So this year it will be challenging but not so impossible. My thoughts

ora pro me · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2011, 10:39:14 PM »

Quote from: Emerentiana

Quote from: TraceG
There is a book called My Catholic Faith it is from 1949 and a recommended book by my Trad Priest. I recommend anyone to purchase the book. It covers your fasting question and a lot more.

Here is the book link to Amazon.com, my favorite site for books It has been reprinted many times.........my advice? the older the better

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963903268?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwchanco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0963903268

I was also going to recommend this book. You can also ask your priest. Your church bulletin may have the church laws on fast and abstinence printed.
I was always taught that the large meal shouldn't be before 1:00 P.M. but I just looked it up in this book and it says:

"The one full meal may be taken either at noon or in the evening. Only at this meal may meat be taken; but both fish and meat may be taken at the meal.

Sigismund · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2011, 05:40:56 PM »

As copticruiser notes, the rules vary by Rite. My son is a Byzantine Rite priest. Their rules are a lot more complicated than even the traditional Latin Rite rules.