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The law is to abstain from meat on Fridays.

Are you allowed to make rare exceptions? Like you are going with your family to a restaurant, once a year?

No. If you go out, order something without meat.

Jack3 wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 11:46 am The law is to abstain from meat on Fridays.

Are you allowed to make rare exceptions? Like you are going with your family to a restaurant, once a year?

Maybe if your family would be insulted if you turned down an invitation to a restaurant or didn't order meat once there? You should probably talk this over with your priest if this is an actual concern.

This year, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is on a Friday (June 7). I may be wrong, but I think it will be o.k. to eat meat that Friday.

It is. There is no abstinence on solemnities.

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:47 pm It is. There is no abstinence on solemnities.

I'm sure that depends on the sui juris Church to which one belongs

peregrinator wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 8:56 pm

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:47 pm It is. There is no abstinence on solemnities.

I'm sure that depends on the sui juris Church to which one belongs

Absolutely true, Eastern Churches have different canon law and do not necessarily celebrate the same Holy Days on the same date, I doubt the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated outside the Latin Church.

UPDATE

So we went today. I had planned to not order meat for myself; and things were fine, until -

It was a new place, and we went as a family of seven, exploring the options, and whatever everyone ordered was kinda broken, with the social expectation that everyone take a piece. And so, I joined in.
If I were to say I was abstaining out of religion, I would have appeared sanctimonious. The people around me were also Christian (my family obviously); but they ate meat, and I didn't want to make a scene.

Now, did I sin?

I am not one to address that last question...probably best left for a conversation with your confessor in person.

And I don't recall where you are so this might not apply to you...

But, it is my understanding that in the United Stated outside of Lent it is permissible to substitute another Friday penance for abstinence from meat. Is that not the case?

It is indeed the case in the USA. I do not know what other countries still have such an exception in place.

Jack, I agree that this is a matter for your confessor.

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 2:34 pm It is indeed the case in the USA. I do not know what other countries still have such an exception in place.

Jack also doesn't belong to the Latin Church.

Also true.

Friday abstinence is Friday abstinence. Syro Malabar particular law does not mention such substitution. I shall bring it up in Confession.

Jack3 wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 8:52 am Friday abstinence is Friday abstinence. Syro Malabar particular law does not mention such substitution. I shall bring it up in Confession.

I just realized that (at least in the West) this Friday, May 24 is part of the Octave of Pentecost and is not a day of abstinence. After all these years, I'm finally making note of the solemnities before they occur.

anawim wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 6:12 pm I just realized that (at least in the West) this Friday, May 24 is part of the Octave of Pentecost and is not a day of abstinence. After all these years, I'm finally making note of the solemnities before they occur.

There is no Octave of Pentecost in the new Calendar, but even if there were, only the Easter Octave has this feature that every day is a solemnity.

And in the old Calendar the Friday within the Octave of Pentecost is an Ember Day.