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Must I Abstain from Eating Meat on the Solemnity of St. Joseph?

Posted on March 16, 2021 in: News, Lent

Must I Abstain from Eating Meat on the Solemnity of St. Joseph?

As you know, this year, the Solemnity of St. Joseph falls on a Friday. This has given rise to a number of questions from both clergy and faithful concerning whether or not the usual requirement to abstain from the eating of meat applies.

Canon 1251 of the Code of Canon Law states:

Abstinence from eating meat or some other food according to the prescripts of the conference of bishops is to be observed on every Friday of the year unless a Friday occurs on a day listed as a solemnity. Abstinence and fasting, however, are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Therefore in accord with the above, this Friday, being the liturgical solemnity of St. Joseph, is NOT a day of abstinence. The faithful can be assured that they may eat meat this Friday and that no special dispensation from the Bishop in this regard is required.

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