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FATHER’S CORNER –
Penance on Fridays through the year
As we conclude the season of Lent and enter into the joyful
Easter season, it is good to review the penance and fasting which the Church
requires of all Catholics throughout the entire year. Indeed, we know that
penance is the badge of our spiritual combat; and, as the Christian warfare
against vice and temptation knows no rest, neither do we rest from the regular
practice of penance.
Let’s review the Canon Law of the Church:
Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law,
each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined
together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are
prescribed. […]
Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal
Church are each Friday of the whole year
and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251 Abstinence
from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal
Conference, is to be observed on all
Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. […]
Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more
particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of
abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of
penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.
It is clear that each and every Friday through the entire
year is a day of penance. This is prescribed by the Law of the Church. In the
Universal Church, Catholics are obligated to abstain from meat on all Fridays
of the year. Because Americans are weak in their faith, the US Bishops have
obtained permission for some other form of penance for Fridays outside of Lent.
However, we must recall that all US Catholics are obligated to do penance of
some sort on every Friday of the year (excepting if it be a solemnity; for
examples this year, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on June 12, or Christmas
on December 25). Penance on Fridays is binding on all Catholics from 14 years
until death. There is no upper age limit
to abstaining from meat or some other form of penance outside of Lent.
However, the two days of fasting (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) bind only from
18 to 60 years – Catholics are strongly encouraged, but not bound, to fast also
on Holy Saturday.
But how serious is this obligation? After Vatican II, Pope
Paul VI issued a declaration regarding the necessity of penance in the
Christian life. Regarding abstinence from meat (or some other penance as
determined by the Bishops’ Conference) on every Friday throughout the year, the
Pope states, in 1966, “Their substantial observance binds gravely.” (Paenitemini,
Norm II.2) This was further clarified by the Vatican, stating that omitting a
part of the prescript of penance “which is notable either quantitatively or
qualitatively, without an excusing motive” is a grave sin. (Dubium of 31 March
1967).
What does this mean? It means that Catholics are bound under
pain of mortal sin to practice penance on every Friday throughout the year, and
not just during Lent. The universal way in which Catholics practice this
penance is by abstaining from meat. However, in the USA other forms of penance
may be substituted, but some sort of penance is mandatory. To omit penance on
numerous Fridays (even outside of Lent) without a grave reason would be a
mortal sin.
Let us take up our Cross and follow Christ! He is truly
Risen from the dead! Those who share in his Cross will one day share also in
the glory of his Resurrection!
