Friday Penance Ideas?

Look Homeward Anglican · Jan 19, 2007

I'm a vegetarian, so abstaining from meat on Fridays is probably not sufficient for me for Friday penance (I'm not sure about this, but it would seem so.) I also realize that, since in the United States abstaining from meat is only required during Fridays of Lent, many people opt for some other Friday penance.
So, I am looking for some fresh ideas. I would like to hear what people do for Friday penance, or even just some good suggestions. Thanks.

Cecilia · Jan 19, 2007

I am personally deciding my own penance but I would imagine that any penance done for the Lenten season would be appropriate for Fridays. When I made my concecration to Mary with the help of Saint Louis de Montefort, I gave up technology for my day of penance. I carried my cell phone just in case but it was off and I never turned on my computer. For me, it was a sacrifice because I really love being online and talking to my friends. Choose something that means a lot to you and give it up for a day to show God that He means so much more to you than anything of this World.

WarriorAngel · Jan 19, 2007

I abstain from meats.

But most of the time, if I am concentrating on the day.... I will remember to abstain from chocolate too. Which is usually hard for me.

BUT if you are so inclined...go a whole fast on bread and water. If you do not have health issues.

DedicatedLittleFaith · Jan 19, 2007

I had health issues which prevented me from fasting. So as penance, I chose to not have any sweets on that day. Fridays are not so bad,,, but Lent is harder hehe

If you have a sweet tooth, you could try that. The basic idea, from my understanding, is to not eat something that you really enjoy as penance.

Virgil the Roman · Jan 19, 2007

I thought that Friday penance or fasting had been abolished. If not, then what is one to fast or abstain from?
-sincerly,
Ravenonthecross

Look Homeward Anglican · Jan 20, 2007

Thank you for all the great ideas. (Cecilia, I think it is beautiful how many young people are making total consecration according to Saint Louis De Montfort's method. I am actually reading True Devotion right now, in preparation for making Total Consecration on the Feat of the Annunciation this year.) I really like your idea of giving up technology -- that is a biggie for me, too.

Chocolate and sweets are really excellent things to give up. I am a sweet-addict. I think that will be what I give up for Lent.

Ravenonthecross said:
I thought that Friday penance or fasting had been abolished. If not, then what is one to fast or abstain from?
-sincerly,
Ravenonthecross

I found this at Jimmy Akin's blog: Since Tomorrow is Friday . In this entry, Akin goes peeling through the canon laws and writings of the U.S. bishops concerning Friday penance. While it does appear that the obligation to do Friday penance no longer exists, it is still strongly encouraged as a pious practice. Voluntary acts of self denial on Fridays are extremely helpful in the cultivation of personal holiness.

jasper123 · Jan 20, 2007

SeenAndUnseen said:
I'm a vegetarian, so abstaining from meat on Fridays is probably not sufficient for me for Friday penance (I'm not sure about this, but it would seem so.) I also realize that, since in the United States abstaining from meat is only required during Fridays of Lent, many people opt for some other Friday penance.
So, I am looking for some fresh ideas. I would like to hear what people do for Friday penance, or even just some good suggestions. Thanks.

A priest told me there are many ways to give pennance.
If you give up anything you like it is a pennance such
as giving up forms of intertainment, food, drinks or
anything for a time is a pennance.
Ron

Fantine · Jan 20, 2007

Do a random act of kindness (RAOK.)

Really, eating macaroni and cheese instead of meat and potatoes isn't that much of a penance unless you take the difference between what the meat and potatoes would cost and what the macaroni and cheese cost and do something positive with it--like buying some canned goods and bringing them to a food pantry, or buying a cake mix and making a cake for your neighbor who's a shut in...

If you're giving up sweets not only for penance but so you can fit into those one-size smaller clothes in your closet, you're making a tradeoff for a benefit, not doing penance...

(Not that God doesn't want us to be fit and healthy, because I think He does....)

But then what will your newly fit and healthy body do?

How will you use that fitness?

Will you give up your seat on the subway for a tired middle-aged woman?

Will you shovel your elderly neighbor's snow?

Or will you lie on a beach, delighted that you can fit into that small-size swimsuit?

A priest I used to know (he was young when I knew him, but he'd be in his 60's now) used to say, "Giving up meat on Friday isn't a penance if you have lobster...."

I think about that a lot, because we usually have cheese pizza on Fridays in Lent, and not only do I like pizza, but I get out of cooking.....

It's really not a sacrifice.

Markh · Jan 20, 2007

Catholics should fast every non feast day of the year. We are not pathetic worldlings. We are meant to be the salt of the earth and our bodies are meant to be constantly mortified.

Catholics should take only bread and water on friday.

If they are unable to do that, have no snacks and 1/3 or 2/3 of the meals as bread and water.

obviously, we Catholics should be praying the rosary and going to daily mass and spending an hour or so in mental prayer- perhaps additionally on firdays we should meditate on the stations of the cross.

A person's penance, mortifications, and optional devotional practices ought to be prudently decided upon between a person and his or her spiritul director/ confessor.

All of those things are good- but they are not beneficial for all people in all states and phases of life

Michael G · Jan 20, 2007

If you are a vegetarian who consumes dairy you could always give up dairy? Or you could go to bread and water for the day.

Virgil the Roman · Jan 20, 2007

I'll try my best towards Traditional Friday Observerance of Penance. I feel that spiritually my soul needs be made more Christ-like via more in-depth ascetic practices. So to this end, I am going to try my best to be more involve in my parish church from now on( prior to now, I haven't been involved at all.), and I'll struggle to maintain the Traditional Friday Penance rigourously as if its obligation was not rescended.
sincerly,
Ravenonthecross

Globalnomad · Jan 21, 2007

Markh said:
Catholics should fast every non feast day of the year. We are not pathetic worldlings. We are meant to be the salt of the earth and our bodies are meant to be constantly mortified.

Catholics should take only bread and water on friday.

If they are unable to do that, have no snacks and 1/3 or 2/3 of the meals as bread and water.

obviously, we Catholics should be praying the rosary and going to daily mass and spending an hour or so in mental prayer- perhaps additionally on firdays we should meditate on the stations of the cross.

Markh, the advice you give is all good and holy, but cut out the "should". That's laying on a guilt trip. You are describing things that go way beyond Church rules. If one can do them, wonderful. If not, don't imply he/she is not a good Catholic.

RoseofLima · Jan 21, 2007

SeenAndUnseen said:
Thank you for all the great ideas. (Cecilia, I think it is beautiful how many young people are making total consecration according to Saint Louis De Montfort's method. I am actually reading True Devotion right now, in preparation for making Total Consecration on the Feat of the Annunciation this year.) I really like your idea of giving up technology -- that is a biggie for me, too.

Chocolate and sweets are really excellent things to give up. I am a sweet-addict. I think that will be what I give up for Lent.

I found this at Jimmy Akin's blog: Since Tomorrow is Friday . In this entry, Akin goes peeling through the canon laws and writings of the U.S. bishops concerning Friday penance. While it does appear that the obligation to do Friday penance no longer exists, it is still strongly encouraged as a pious practice. Voluntary acts of self denial on Fridays are extremely helpful in the cultivation of personal holiness.

No way- Friday penance is still required by Canon Law-- it reads that one can abstain from meat, or perform some other penance. It's the kind of penance which is optional on Fridays-- not the penance itself.

That being said- what are some things you love which are unecessary? Deserts, soda, internet, watching TV, going shopping. A day of speaking only when spoken to can be serious penance...trying to learn to maintain inner silence.

RoseofLima · Jan 21, 2007

Markh said:
Catholics should fast every non feast day of the year. We are not pathetic worldlings. We are meant to be the salt of the earth and our bodies are meant to be constantly mortified.

Catholics should take only bread and water on friday.

If they are unable to do that, have no snacks and 1/3 or 2/3 of the meals as bread and water.

obviously, we Catholics should be praying the rosary and going to daily mass and spending an hour or so in mental prayer- perhaps additionally on firdays we should meditate on the stations of the cross.

Hmmmm....a bit sanctimonious, no? A person's penance, mortifications, and optional devotional practices ought to be prudently decided upon between a person and his or her spiritul director/ confessor.

All of those things are good- but they are not beneficial for all people in all states and phases of life. For example- if a mom is shirking her duties in order to run of to daily Mass...she is not being faithful to the place where God has placed her in order to become holy. She is a mom- not a contemplative nun. An hour of mental prayer probably ain't happening for her...that doesn't mean that her life ought not be rooted and anchored in prayer and prayer be her first priority. But you must realise that the prayer life of a pregnant mom of 4 is going to look vastly different from the prayer life of an unmarried 20 year old. One is not better than the other-it is only what is right and fitting to their state in life.

Also- I think we should fast and do penance specifically because we are pathetic worldlings who need to grow in strength to rejoice when big Crosses come our way.

Markh · Jan 22, 2007

you're right there, I have updated my previous post to take in your comment.

Dewi Sant · Jan 22, 2007

How about prayer?

Surely there is nothing more worthy of the title of penance?
Also, going to Church for available services and saying the Rosary. z

DanielLionsDen · Jan 22, 2007

I have just commited during my time on the school of Music in Missions, to fast on Fridays. I will have a meal on Thursday evening, then nothing until a meal Friday evening, thus covering a 24 hour period. Almost.

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