Penance

Web Master: Fr Simon Broughton

Friday Penance

Because each Friday recalls the crucifixion of Our Lord, it is set aside as a special day of penance. The Church does not prescribe that fish must be eaten on Fridays. It never did. Abstinence has always meant the giving up of meat rather than the eating of fish as a substitute. What the Church does require, according to the new Code of Canon Law, is that its members abstain on Fridays from meat OR some other food OR that they perform some alternative work of Penance.

Why is Penance important?

It helps me to imitate Christ. It is a response to Christ’s call to take up the cross. It is a participation in the suffering of Our Lord. It is an expression of inner conversion. It is a reparation for sin.

The form of Penance we adopt each Friday is a matter of personal choice and does not have to take the same form every Friday. Failure to undertake this penance on a particular Friday would not constitute a sin. However, Penance is part of the life of every Christian and the intention to do Penance on Friday is of obligation.

How should Catholics do Penance on Fridays?

In one or more of the following ways.

1. By abstaining from meat or some other food.

2. By abstaining from alcoholic drink, smoking or some form of amusement.

3. By making the special effort involved in Family Prayer, taking part in the Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, or praying the Stations of the Cross.

4. By fasting from all food for a longer period than usual and perhaps by giving what is saved in this way to the needy at home and abroad.

5. By making a special effort to help somebody who is poor, sick, old or lonely.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Lent is the traditional season of renewal and repentance in the Church. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are to be observed as days of fasting and abstinence.

Fasting means that the amount of food we eat is considerably reduced.

Abstinence means that we give up a particular kind of food or drink or some form of amusement.

In the place of Abstinence other forms of Penance (as with Friday Penance) may be substituted.