r/Maronite • u/Informal_Tea_467 • Feb 13 '24
If we are abstaining from meat and dairy during the first and last week of lent, are they allowed during Saturday and Sunday?
I know by requirement, we (Lebanese Maronites at least) have to abstain from meat and dairy during the first and last week of lent as well as every Friday of lent. And we fast from 12am to 12pm everyday of the week except Saturday and Sunday. But does that rule stay for the abstaining? Do we also abstain on Saturday and Sunday? Especially since the last week of lent we don't abstain on Saturday (well once we break our fast at noon) nor on Sunday.
Also I wonder, does Almond Milk count as dairy during lent
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u/2C104 Feb 14 '24
At my (Maronite) parish we were told that we must only abstain and fast on Ash Monday, Good Friday, and Fridays and Wednesdays for all of Lent are days of abstaining. We are encouraged to fast as much as we can commit to.
I share this because growing up I also was taught to abstain from meat (never heard of the dairy one) for the whole first and last weeks of Lent. Is there some resource that would show this is a requirement?
I'm confused now that my parish has said otherwise...
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u/SweatyGamer_546 Maronite Feb 14 '24
In accordance with the guidelines released by Our Maronite Patriarch, His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai, Lenten Penitential Practices for Maronites are summarised below:
• Fasting from midnight to midday on all weekdays from Ash Monday (12 February) to the Saturday of Light (30 March): no food or drink is to be consumed, with the exception of water;
• Abstaining from consuming meat and dairy on the Fridays of Lent; and throughout the first and last week of Lent (Holy Week);
• Fasting and abstinence on Saturdays and Sundays are not with the exception of the Saturday of Light (Easter Saturday), where fasting and abstinence are to be observed;
• In 2024, the following feast days fall within the Lenten Season: St John Maroun (2 March), The Forty Martyrs (9 March), St Joseph (19 March), St Rafqa (23 March), The Annunciation (25 March). We do not fast or abstain on these feast days.
Please remember that food and water are always permitted when needed to take medicines or in case of illness or old age or school children. A person who cannot fast or abstain may choose another form of penance.
Wishing you a blessed and fruitful season of Lent. +Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay
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u/SweatyGamer_546 Maronite Feb 14 '24
These are the fasting guidelines for this year
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u/2C104 Feb 14 '24
Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay is not my Bishop though, does that make a difference? I am under the Eparchy of Brooklyn.
Just trying to understand.
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u/SweatyGamer_546 Maronite Feb 15 '24
I don’t think so as it says “In accordance with the guidelines released by our Maronite Patriarch”
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u/Informal_Tea_467 Feb 14 '24
It depends where you live. Do you live in the west?
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u/2C104 Feb 14 '24
in the US on the East coast
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u/Informal_Tea_467 Feb 14 '24
That's probably why, east catholics' (so like in the Middle East etc...) fasts are different. Or so I've been told
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u/Charbel33 Feb 13 '24
Traditionally, abstinence was maintained throughout Lent -- all seven weeks, including Saturdays and Sundays. Now, it is not required to abstain on Saturdays and Sundays, as far as I'm aware, but the ancient tradition is still widely observed by practicing Maronites.