Double Solemnities of the Sacred Heart and Nativity of St John the Baptist

Solemnities of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. John the Baptist

This Friday, June 24, 2022 – is a double-solemnity! The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Solemnity; The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Solemnity. This is also the final "Cheeseburger Friday" of this liturgical year.

This is a great opportunity, for those of you who abstain from meat on ALL FRIDAYS of the year, not just during Lent (per Canon Law 1251) and have friends and family who are aware of your abstinence - and they see you eating a cheeseburger (or steak, or chicken, or pork, etc.) and they question you about it. "Why are you eating meat today, it's Friday!" This opens the door for you to explain the fact that this Friday is not just *A* solemnity, but a *DOUBLE* solemnity - and on *ANY* solemnity it is treated like a Sunday (all Sundays are like "little Easters") and there is no fasting or penance (like abstinence) on Sundays *OR* solemnities. As mentioned earlier, this is the final "Cheeseburger Friday" for this liturgical year.

This may also lead to the discussion of why you abstain from meat on Fridays, throughout the year. Your answer can be "Just like every Sunday is a 'little Easter' - every Friday is like a 'little Good Friday' when we remember the day our Lord died for our sins. Every time we would have had that piece of meat on a Friday, we should make a little meditation on *WHY* we are not eating meat - and it is to recall the Passion and Death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now, while it is true - one does not *HAVE* to abstain from meat on all Fridays - *BUT* - you *MUST* do something equivalent, be it abstaining from something else *OR* participating in one of the Corporal Works of Mercy (see below). That said, you should remain consistent in what your regular Friday penance is. Again, this is part of what is said in Canon 1251 of Canon Law (see below). This canon is still in force for all non-Eastern rite Catholics - so we are ALL obliged to obey this under the penalty of mortal sin. 

Since we all HAVE to do this and it must be something equivalent to meat - why not just stick with meat?! Having fish-fries on Fridays is like a Catholic identity! Help bring it back! Share this with your friends!

So what is different about Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent as opposed to ALL Fridays throughout the year? On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday during Lent we are to abstain from meat (and it HAS to be abstinence from meat during Lent, no alternatives) AND fast (one full meal plus two smaller snacks which, if combined, do not add up to a full meal). On the rest of the Friday of Lent and Fridays throughout the year it is only abstinence, not fasting. Again, see Canon 1251 (below).

 

 

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Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Another of the "not-so-ordinary" days in Ordinal Time!

Remember too, when a solemnity falls on a Friday - there is no fasting or abstinence, so have that cheeseburger without guilt today! Just remember WHY you can have that cheeseburger today! If someone who knows you and knows you typically abstain from meat on Fridays asks you why you are having that cheeseburger, it gives you an opportunity to share just a little more of your faith with them.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Friday, June 8, was the Feast of the Sacred Heart - a solemnity. Usually I like to keep track of Friday solemnities because the Friday penance is not applicable on a solemnity. It also serves as a reminder to everyone that there still is a Friday penance to be observed by EVERY Catholic! Before the 1960's that penance was the same for all Catholics around the world - EVERY Friday, not just those in Lent, we were to abstain from meat. Yes, it was changed back then - but it was not removed! Every one of us MUST still observer SOME sort of penance which would be equivalent to abstaining from meat according to one's episcopal conference (like the USCCB for Catholics in the United States). My point remains - if it must be equivalent to meat - why not stick with meat?! 

Another example too of things not being so "ordinary" this time of year - and we're only to the 3rd Week After Pentecost! By the post-conciliar "counting" this was the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, more on that in an upcoming post.

Next time I'll try to give notice in advance to a "Cheeseburger Friday!"

Another nice reason to recognize a "Cheeseburger Friday" is the fact that those who know you don't eat meat on Fridays may see you enjoying that cheeseburger, or steak, or other meat - and ask you about it. This gives you the opportunity to tell them why you abstain from meat on Fridays and why that particular Friday is different from the rest.

AMDG,
Scott<<<

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Well, I like to post things relating to the calendar BEFORE they happen, but this time I'm a couple days late.  Why?  Last Friday was a solemnity - the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This feast day always falls on a Friday - it is to be the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi (set by Pope Pius IX in 1856), and is always 19 days after Pentecost Sunday (or 68 days after Easter).  In 1889 it was raised to the highest rank of Double of the First Class - or in other words, a solemnity.  Even though so highly ranked, it is not a holy day of obligation in most jurisdictions.  While I am "late" for this year - let us say I am "early" for next year!

Can We Eat Meat?

Well, yes!  Being a feast which is Double of the First Class, this feast is also a solemnity - and as such there is no fasting or abstinence to take place.  Think about it, why would we "fast" or "abstain" on such a "feast day?"  Note both the current Code of Canon Law and the previous agree that such fasting and abstinence ceases "days of our Lord" or "a solemnity."

Abstinence on ALL Fridays?

Bear in mind, while the current Code of Canon Law does not absolutely require abstinence from meat on all Fridays - it still requires SOMETHING and first on the list is abstaining from meat - STILL.  Yes, you MAY offer up some other form of penance or act of charity, as set forth by your local episcopal conference (conference of bishops), but I continue my campaign of keeping the tradition of abstaining from meat.  Why do I continue to promote abstinence from meat on Fridays?  First and foremost it is part of our Catholic identity!  Secondly, why complicate things?  While you COULD choose something else, you should be consistent in what you choose, not picking and choosing from week to week what you will offer up or do for this canonically required penance - required of ALL Catholics. Back to the subject of this article... the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a solemnity, even though it falls on a Friday (every year) the rules of fasting and/or abstinence do not apply and would actually be contrary to the law of the Church to willfully fast or abstain knowing the Church has officially recognized the day as a solemnity.

1917 Code of Canon Law

Can 1252 §1. Lex solius abstinentiae servanda est singulis sextis feriis.
 §2. Lex abstinentiae simul et ieiunii servanda est feria quarta Cinerum, feriis sextis et sabbatis Quadragesimae et feriis Quatuor Temporum, pervigiliis Pentecostes, Deiparae in caelum assumptae, Omnium Sanctorum et Nativitatis Domini.
 §3. Lex solius ieiunii servanda est reliquis omnibus Quadragesimae diebus.
 §4. Diebus dominicis vel festis de praecepto lex abstinentiae, vel abstinentiae et ieiunii, vel ieiunii tantum cessat, excepto festo tempore Quadragesimae, nec pervigilia anticipantur; item cessat Sabbato Sancto post meridiem.

Can 1252 §1. Is to be observed on every Friday, the law belongs only of abstinence.
 §2. At the same time the law of abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday, the Fridays and Saturdays of Lent and of the Ember Days, the vigils of Pentecost, the Mother of God assumed into heaven, all the saints and of the Nativity of the Lord.
 §3. The only fast observed all the remaining days of Lent.
 §4. From the days of the Lord or on the feasts of obligation, law of abstinence, or of abstinence and fasting, or fasting only ceases, with the exception of the feast of the time of Lent, nor vigils anticipated; Likewise, they refrain the Holy Saturday in the afternoon.

1983 Code of Canon Law (currently in force)

Can 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can 1251 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 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Addendum:

The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Not to be remiss - Saturday was also the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Originally set for August 22 (set by Pope Pius XII in 1942) it was moved to the Saturday after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sources:
Devotion to the Sacred Heart, Catholic Encyclopedia:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07163a.htm
1983 Code of Canon Law:  http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM
1917 Code of Canon Law:  http://www.jgray.org/codes/cic17lat.html
Cross-Reference Guide:  http://www.jgray.org/codes/cross_reference_83_17.xls
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Catholic Encyclopedia:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07168a.htm
About the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary:  http://www.thesacredheart.com/feastmar.htm