Friday Fast
Encyclopedia
The Friday Fast is an Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays. According to Pope Peter of Alexandria
, the Friday fast is done in commemoration of the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ on Good Friday
. Abstinence is colloquially referred to as "fasting" although it does not necessarily involve a reduction in the quantity of food.
After the Second Vatican Council
it has not been widely followed by Roman Catholics apart from Lenten Fridays and Good Friday itself. Specific regulations are passed by individual episcopates. In the US in 1966 the USCCB passed Norms II and IV that bound all persons from age fourteen to be bound to abstinence from meat on Fridays of Lent
, and through the year. In September 1983, Canons 1252 and 1253 expressed this same rule, and added that Bishops may permit substitution of other penitential practices on Fridays outside of Lent only, but that some form of penance
shall be observed on Friday in commemoration of the day of the week of the Lord's Crucifixion.
Abstinence is not optional for Catholics on Fridays during Lent. Abstinence on all Fridays is still the preferred practice among many Catholics.
Anglican formularies, particularly the Book of Common Prayer
, have generally required abstinence from meat on Fridays, though it is difficult to gauge how widely followed this practice has been among Anglicans. The wording in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church describes the fourth Friday of March as the only Friday acceptable during lent to eat meat.
Many South Indians Saivite Hindus
also follow a similar practice of abstaining from meat, but also fish and eggs, on Fridays while similar meatless and fishless fasting is commonly practiced on other days of the week across India. A large section of the population praticed life-long vegetarian diets in traditional India although these have gradually decreased nowadays.
Pope Peter of Alexandria
Pope Peter of Alexandria was Pope of Alexandria . He is revered as a saint by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church.-Life:...
, the Friday fast is done in commemoration of the crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
of Jesus Christ on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
. Abstinence is colloquially referred to as "fasting" although it does not necessarily involve a reduction in the quantity of food.
After the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
it has not been widely followed by Roman Catholics apart from Lenten Fridays and Good Friday itself. Specific regulations are passed by individual episcopates. In the US in 1966 the USCCB passed Norms II and IV that bound all persons from age fourteen to be bound to abstinence from meat on Fridays of Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
, and through the year. In September 1983, Canons 1252 and 1253 expressed this same rule, and added that Bishops may permit substitution of other penitential practices on Fridays outside of Lent only, but that some form of penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
shall be observed on Friday in commemoration of the day of the week of the Lord's Crucifixion.
Abstinence is not optional for Catholics on Fridays during Lent. Abstinence on all Fridays is still the preferred practice among many Catholics.
Anglican formularies, particularly the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, have generally required abstinence from meat on Fridays, though it is difficult to gauge how widely followed this practice has been among Anglicans. The wording in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church describes the fourth Friday of March as the only Friday acceptable during lent to eat meat.
Many South Indians Saivite Hindus
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
also follow a similar practice of abstaining from meat, but also fish and eggs, on Fridays while similar meatless and fishless fasting is commonly practiced on other days of the week across India. A large section of the population praticed life-long vegetarian diets in traditional India although these have gradually decreased nowadays.