Need Some Help With Lent Stuff And Tradition Vs Tradition

[Pauly Walnuts]

I was in theology class and my teacher said "we have to believe in Tradition/dogma to be catholic, but we dont have to believe in tradition."

2 or so years later I am here at lent. I do NOT understand holy days of obligation and lent.
Besides going to church on sunday Sunday, is it sacred tradition to go to mass for the assumption of Mary or other days of holy obligation ? I would like a Catechism quote please. Also, about lent, I dont see why it is a sin to not fast on lent for Fridays. I feel like it is adding a pointless burden on the people, and that it isnt really necessary. I would also like to know too if this is Sacred Tradition.

Believe me when I say I am a devout Catholic. One of the hardest things for me to accept is that masturbation is a sin. I now have accepted this though. Its crazy that this little thing over fasting and holy days of obligation made me want to leave the church! But then I realized that it could be "tradition" not "Tradition"

( in simpler format )

1) Is it sacred Tradition for fasting on Fridays of lent?

I heard it was started in the middle ages because meat cost so much back then, so people fasted.

2) Is it sacred Tradition to go to holy days of obligation?

I feel that I must go to mass on Jesus birthday of course , but for Mary? Or some saint? I thought mass was the perfect form of worship for God, not saints. ( I recognize and respect them for being holy people )

Thanks

Edited February 24, 2009 by Pauly Walnuts

[CatherineM]

There are more levels than just dogma and doctrine or tradition. There is Dogma which we must take as an act of faith. Next is Definitive Doctrine which we should accept as true. Third is Authoritative Doctrine which we should strive to assimilate while recognizing the remote possibility of church error. Last is Church discipline and Prudential admonitions which we should obey in the spirit of any law of the church even if we question it.

Dogmas are the things like what we recite in the Creed. It also includes things proposed by popes and councils, especially in the early church, in response to a controversy such as the divinity of Christ or the real presence in the Eucharist. They are things core to our salvation, and basically if you don't believe them, you're not a Catholic.

Definitive doctrines are those things not elevated to dogma, but are "necessary for safeguarding and expounding divine revelation." These things are so important that they are elevated to the level of infallible, such as which books are included in the bible.

Authoritative Doctrine is drawn from the wisdom of the church as it draws from scripture and tradition. This is where many concrete moral teachings fall including just war, prohibitions on certain fertility things like in vitro. The church speaks authoritatively on these matters, but isn't yet ready to call them infallible. It is possible, yet highly unlikely, that the church might change its mind about them some time in the future. In the meantime, we are to accept these teachings.

Prudential Admonitions and Church Discipline are things like pastoral letters from your bishop, or the paper the American bishops put out condemning a first nuclear strike. We should give these things serious consideration, but we are allowed to discuss, debate, and prayerfully consider our feelings in the matter. This is the only area that Catholics can disagree in good faith. Priestly celibacy falls in the area of church discipline, so if the church were to change its mind in the future on that topic, no big deal.

Canon Law says in Canon 1252: "All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance."

Canon # 1253 says: "It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety."

From the Catechism: #2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor."

#2042 “The first precept ("You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor") requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.

The second precept ("You shall confess your sins at least once a year") ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism's work of conversion and forgiveness.

The third precept ("You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season") guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord's Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.”

#2043 “The fourth precept ("You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

The fifth precept ("You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church") means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.

As to wanting to leave the church over being required to fast, I suspect that you are just at an age where we all don't like anyone to tell us what to do. You shouldn't look on fasting as a burden, but as an opportunity. This is from Pope Benedict's Lenten message this year with the link to the entire message below, "The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it....Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word. Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God."


[url="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081211_lent-2009_en.html"]Lenten Message 2009[/url]

[StColette]

[quote name='Pauly Walnuts' post='1789831' date='Feb 23 2009, 10:19 PM']Also, about lent, I dont see why it is a sin to not fast on lent for Fridays. I feel like it is adding a pointless burden on the people, and that it isnt really necessary. I would also like to know too if this is Sacred Tradition.

1) Is it sacred Tradition for fasting on Fridays of lent?

I heard it was started in the middle ages because meat cost so much back then, so people fasted.[/quote]

The following Catechism quote will explain why we celebrate Lent:

[b]540[/b] Jesus' temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him.244 This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning."245 By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.

And as Catherine above me already pointed out, I believe. Yes, we are required by the Church to fast.

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the very necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2043 The fourth precept ("You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

The following are some Code of Canon Law quotes that may shed some light as well.

Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Can. 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

It is neither pointless nor burdensome. Fasting is there to teach us how to sacrifice and go without. Now there are exceptions for Fasting such as age and illness that would make fasting or abstaining unwise. By Fasting and abstaining we are offering up to God a sacrifice which He is more than worthy and deserving of. Sacrifices of this nature help us to grow closer to God. And yes Fasting and Abstaining during Lent is part of Sacred Tradition. You can also find the call to Fast and Abstain in the New Testament as well as in the Old Testament from our Jewish brethren.

[quote]2) Is it sacred Tradition to go to holy days of obligation?

I feel that I must go to mass on Jesus birthday of course , but for Mary? Or some saint? I thought mass was the perfect form of worship for God, not saints. ( I recognize and respect them for being holy people )[/quote]

When we have Masses said in honor of a Saint either the Blessed Virgin or whomever you wish to fill in the blank with, we are giving glory to good. The Mass is not being celebrated in worship of them but in honor of them. We give give Latria (adoration) only to the Most Holy Trinity and to the Saints we give dulia meaning honor. When we celebrate Mass we do so in Adoration of God but if its a particular Saints feast day it is in honor of them. God always comes first. And we honor these holy Saints, especially Mary, because of the lives that they lead on earth. Honoring a Saint at Mass does not equate to Latria (adoration).

Finally: Yes, it is Sacred Tradition to attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation. There used to be many more Holy Days of Obligation on the Church Calendar but sadly society today can't bring themselves to attend Church more than once a week, some people only attend on Christmas and Easter. We should not be comfortable in our mediocrity and be satisfied with doing the bare minimum. We are called to go beyond the minimum and unite ourselves even more fully to God.

As for proof of requirements for attendance for Mass on Holy Days of Obligation please see the following:

[b]The Sunday obligation[/b]

2180 The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "[b]On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.[/b]"117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God's holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2183 "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families."120


117 CIC, can. 1247.
118 CIC, can. 1248 § 1.
119 Cf. CIC, can. 1245.
120 CIC, can. 1248 § 2.

If you have any more questions please feel free to post.

God Bless,
Jennie