I am a vegetarian, so I do not eat meat or fish. The Church tells me to do penance by not eating meat on Fridays, but I already do that and for me it is not penance, it is a habit. Do I need to do another penance on Fridays, especially during Lent?
Stefânia Machado – São Paulo
The Church teaches us that “divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way.” Thus, “penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence” (CIC, can. 1249).
It should be remembered that the “penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent” (CIC, can. 1250). It is beneficial for the spiritual life, especially during Lent, to offer God small sacrifices, such as: praying more, cutting back on time spent on social media, not buying superfluous things, not eating or drinking something pleasant, being more attentive in dealing with family members.
As for the point raised in the question, the law is clear: “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” (CIC, can. 1251). And tradition has always understood this to apply to meat or meat broth. Therefore, Stefânia, as a vegetarian you already fulfil the canon law materially. However, for the purposes of your spiritual progress, it would be praiseworthy for you to offer the sacrifice of not eating some other tasty food on Fridays, or of eating something that is beneficial for your health but which is not to your liking.
On the other hand, the bishops’ conference of each country has the authority to replace this obligation, in whole or in part, with other forms of penance (cf. CIC, can. 1253). Many bishops’ conferences allow the faithful to commute abstinence from meat on all Fridays of the year, with the exception of Fridays during Lent. In Brazil, even during this period, abstinence can be replaced by another practice of penance, charity or piety, particularly participation in the Sacred Liturgy (cf. NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS OF BRAZIL. Legislação complementar ao Código de Direito Canônico).
It is important to remember that on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, in addition to abstinence, fasting must be done. Abstinence is an obligation for the faithful from the age of fourteen; fasting for those from the age of eighteen to fifty-nine. Of course, those who are unable to fast due to health problems are exempt.
Fasting can be carried out in various ways. One of them consists of eating something very light for breakfast and dinner, and having a full meal for lunch.
I made a promise for this coming Lent and now I realize I will not be able to keep it. I know I can make more of an effort, but I want to know if I can change the promise or be excused from it.
Miguel de Oliveira Cunha – Niterói (RJ)
The Code of Canon Law prescribes in this regard: “A vow, that is, a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good, must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion” (CIC, can. 1191 § 1).
The following can grant dispensation from the fulfilment of a vow or promise: the bishop of the diocese, the parish priest or some other priest delegated by the bishop for this function (cf. CIC, can. 1196). Therefore, the most practical way to obtain the dispensation is to ask your parish priest for it.
Finally, you yourself can modify your promise for a good that is greater than or equal to what was promised (cf. CIC, can. 1197), but it seems more prudent to seek advice from a priest you trust, since no one is a good judge in their own cause…
