It’s Okay To Eat Meat Today (Solemnities in Lent)

Although eating meat on Fridays during Lent normally is prohibited, this does not apply on Fridays that are solemnities. The Code of Canon Law provides that:

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. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (Can. 1251).

Since today–Friday–is the solemnity of St. Joseph, the law of abstinence doesn’t apply.

Patrons of the highly-effective Atkins Diet, rejoice!

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

10 thoughts on “It’s Okay To Eat Meat Today (Solemnities in Lent)”

  1. Am I correct in thinking that St. Patrick’s is NOT a solemnity, and thus Canon 1251 doesn’t apply there? (It’s relevant for 2006 since St. Patrick’s falls on a Friday.)

  2. Whether or not St. Patrick’s day is a solemnity can depend on the diocese you live in.
    Also, liturgically a parish church named for St. Patrick could celebrate his day as a solemnity.

  3. Some bishops suspend the rule on abstinence if St. Patrick’s Day falls on Friday, but, of course, each bishop’s authority pertains only to his own diocese.

  4. THE MOST REVEREND JOSEPH A. GALANTE, D.D.J.C.D
    THE BISHOP OF CAMDEN NEW JERSEY
    SAID MEAT MAY BE EATTEN IN HORNOR OF ST. PATRICK YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE SOME THING ELSE AS A PENANCE FOR THAT DAY.
    THIS WAS IN OUR CHURCH BULLETIN LAST SUNDAY.

  5. THE MOST REVEREND JOSEPH A. GALANTE, D.D.J.C.D
    THE BISHOP OF CAMDEN NEW JERSEY
    SAID MEAT MAY BE EATEN IN HONOR OF ST. PATRICK YOU MAY SUBSTITUTE SOME THING ELSE AS A PENANCE FOR THAT DAY.
    THIS WAS IN OUR CHURCH BULLETIN LAST SUNDAY.

  7. If St. Joseph’s Day (March 19th) had fallen on a Friday in Lent would anyone even have thought to ask for a dispensation from the abstanence rule? St.Joseph’s day is widely celebrated by Americans of Polish and Italian descent.

  8. Jimmy,
    The way I read things, the penetential practice is suspended for a Friday in Lent, but abstaining from meat is not. For example, if you gave up chocolate for Lent, and March 19 was a Friday, in honor of St. Joseph, the chocolate cake is fair game, but since it’s still Lent, I’m not sure the canon 1251 also suspends the Lenten practice of abastining from meat. The norms can be take multiple ways.

  9. Thanks Jimmy, but as questioned above, what about personal penances and Solemnities. Like today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, does the Church “encourage us ” NOT to do Penence today, but to celebrate the Solemnity, of course no celebration ought to occurr at Notre Dame University.

  10. what about personal penances and Solemnities.

    Dear Terry
    Jimmy has said that any solemnity dispenses from the (obligatory in US) abstinence from meat on Fridays in Lent, regardless of whether or not it’s a holy day of obligation.
    Since the personal penances that you mention are not obligatory, I think you may safely imply that those may also be interrupted today.

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