Meating the Church's Requirements
Meating the Church's Requirements
Saint Faustina wrote:
"Our meals shall be such that not even the poor will have any reason to envy us" (546). So, it's no surprise that St. Faustina didn't eat meat on Fridays even outside of Lent. That was Canon Law. But since St. Faustina's time, Canon Law has allowed us, depending on our bishops conferences, to choose another penance on Fridays in place of abstaining from meat. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops allow a substitute penance. Nevertheless, the USCCB gives "first place to abstinence from flesh meat" (24, Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence)
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Are you afraid about the state of the country and the world right now? You're not alone in your fear.Turn to any page of St. Faustina's Diary, and you'll find spiritual gems. Like this one:"When I was somewhat overcome by the fear … Jesus said to me, ‘… What are you afraid of? If you are with Me, who will dare touch you? Nevertheless, I am very pleased that you confide your fears to Me, My daughter’” (797).
Turn to any page of St. Faustina's Diary, and you'll find spiritual gems like this one:Suddenly, I found myself in a strange cottage where an elderly man was dying amidst great torments. … When I began to pray … The soul became calm and, filled with trust, rested in the Lord. At the same moment, I found myself again in my own room. How this happens... I do not know. (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1797)
I also withhold My punishments only because of you. You restrain Me, and I cannot vindicate the claims of My justice. You bind My hands with your love (Diary, 1193).
