Friendly Lent Reminder for Ash Wednesday for Catholics

Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal.

Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat.

According to Father John Huels in The Pastoral Companion (Franciscan Herald Press), abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are not forbidden. So it is permissible to use margarine and lard.

By STEVENYCER on Feb 25, 2009, 08:40 in Friendly Talkzone.

lucid510 says on Feb 25, 2009, 09:09:

ah that explains it

the wife just came home with the symbol of the cross 'painted' on her forehead. When I told her she had some mud on her face she looked at me funny

oops my mistake

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Simon says on Feb 27, 2009, 16:20:

Thanks for the reminder.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 27, 2009, 18:29:

I won't fast... Nelly won't fast... And even though we're both Catholics, we sure don't need anyone to tell us what we have to do.

At the end of the day, being a Catholic (in Colombia or not) is about having a choice...

A choice about HOW we accept and manage our religion.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Papi de Alejo says on Feb 28, 2009, 10:04:

Azunoman, with regards to your question regarding the appropriateness of taking communion as a non-Catholic; the Catholic church says that it shouldn't be done. The church (Roman Catholic) teaches that communion is only for those who are in communion with the Holy See. So persons who are Baptist, Episcopalian, Mormon, etc. cannot partake in Holy Communion in the Catholic Church.

Having said that, I'm sure that if you went into an unfamiliar church and went for Communion, the priest would not deny you. I, as an Episcopalian, think that the Catholic church is saying that if you are not Catholic, it has no meaning, but for me partaking of the Sacraments is beyond whether I or my church is in communion with the Vatican. I take Communion because my soul requires it. It means something to me. If they want to take away its meaning, that's their business. I know what it means to me.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

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STEVENYCER says on Mar 2, 2009, 08:43:

The sacrament of communion in a Catholic Church is reserved for those who are of Catholic faith since Catholics believe in transubstantiation, not just symbolically body and blood.

Ashes are not a sacrament, therefore are open to all Christians.

Darloup, fasting is simply giving up something pleasureable to allow us to get spiritually closer to God. You can also do good deeds in lieu of fasting...this world could definitely use more random acts of kindness.

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gamm2 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 2, 2009, 11:25:

"The sacrament of communion in a Catholic Church is reserved for those who are of Catholic faith since Catholics believe in transubstantiation, not just symbolically body and blood.

Ashes are not a sacrament, therefore are open to all Christians. "

Thanks steven, i´d been meaning to say that... :)

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 2, 2009, 13:11:

True, Stevenycer,

I just wanted to stay that I didn't need "rules" to tell me what my personal relationship with God should be - that's between Him and me.

Most of those (stupid) rules were drawn up in 325 AD during the Nicaea council and were based on the lowest common denominators at the time (to fight aryanism and to try to get everybody to agree on SOMETHING common).

Priests should exclusively be males (because Jesus only had male apostles)
Priests should never marry (because Jesus never did)
You'll de damned to Hell if you use conctraceptives (because Jesus said "Go forth and multiply")

Christ, all this was drawn up in 325 AD!

Thank God for the Catholic Orthodox church (allowing for priests to marry and thus understand daily problems MUCH better). Not to mention that the Catholic Orthodox church also allows divorces (up to two - since we all can make mistakes!).

Thank God for the Anglican church for allowing women priests to be ordained...

Thank God for all those Christians who are pragmatic without feeling that they are not "lesser" Christians for not being dogmatic.

As they say in Colombia, may all the angels and "angelitos" look after each of you.

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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