The Easter Season And Personal Discipline

[CatholicCid]

Christ is risen!

As we have enter this Easter season, I've noticed that the Fish has disappeared from the Fridays on my calender due to this season of celebration and joy.

I was wondering if it would be considered appropriate to continue with personal forms of disciplines, such as fasting, during this season? Or should one forgo such acts until after Pentecost?

Thanks for the assistance.

[CatherineM]

Abstinence is first mentioned in the documents of the Council of Toledo in 447AD. It is a way for us to gain some control over our bodies so that our spirit can be in the driver's seat for a change. The big misconception is that Abstinence from meat on Friday stops at Easter. The pertinent canons from Canon Law are:

[quote]Canon #1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on [b]all Fridays[/b], unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Canon #1253: The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.[/quote]

The USCCB has allowed us to substitute abstinence on Fridays outside of Lent with other acts of piety. That second part is what we seem to forget. We always hear the first part when it is something good, and then don't stick around to hear the disclaimer at the end. If you want to practice abstinence during the rest of the year, that's great. If you want to fast, I would recommend that you discuss it with your doctor to decide how often is advisable. Someone with weight to lose might be fasting the rest of their lives in a way without doing damage to their health. Someone who has trouble keeping on weight or has other health issues shouldn't do damage to their health for piety. Though, most of us don't fall in that category anymore.

[CatherineM]

Just wanted to highlight the fact that abstaining from meat on Fridays doesn't include Solemnities. All 8 days of the Easter Octave are Solemnities, so if you are going to start year around abstinence, don't start this Friday. This is one of the reasons that when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday that the feast is moved to the Saturday in many dioceses. It's not St. Patty's without corned beef I guess.