www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Lent and Pope Francis

Santiago Tarsicio:

Christ is in our midst!!

May I direct your reading to our Town Hall section where you will find a thread that explains "Who We Are." This is a forum where we discuss the Christian East. And may I suggest that when you mention "Catholicism" in the ways you have done in your previous posts, you refer to "Latin Catholicism" so you are specific about what you are referring to. There are many Catholics of the Eastern Catholic Churches here and their points of reference are akin to those of our brethren who are of the Byzantine and Oriental traditions not in communion with the Bishop of Rome. There is no unanimous agreement that the word "catholic" mentioned in the Nicene Creed specifically and exclusively refers to the Bishop of Rome and those in Communion with him.

The suggestion that Pope Francis accept a fasting challenge and that you just thought is "erroneous and incompatible with Catholicism" was not meant to be a theological statement. It was just someone's thought backed by money. His Holiness probably never even heard of it, as with so many things out there on the Internet.

Your definitions of fast and abstinence are also strictly Latin Catholic. In my experience when those of the Christian East refer to fasting, they mean FROM foods as well as from VOLUME OF foods.

Bob
Moderator

theophan,
Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ


Normally when I say "Catholic", "Catholicism" or "Catholic Church" I do not confine myself to the Latin Church, I use it in the sense of being in communion with Rome. Is it possible to separate members from the same divine body?
Unless, of course, the context allows to specify whether the Catholic in question is of the Latin Rite or of some Oriental rite. Given the context, my answer refers to Catholics in Latin rite. In my country Catholics of Latin rite are allowed to substitute for abstinence, usually replaced by Mass.



I'm not sure of that. I do not know if it is correct to say that they are distinctions valid only for Catholics of the Latin rite, because I also see among Eastern Catholics. For example:

http://www.stsophiaukrainian.cc/resources/fastingandabstainingfaq/

http://www.archpitt.org/regulations-for-the-season-of-the-great-fast-2016/

https://www.milliondollarvegan.com/faqs/

Challengers do not seem to be concerned about abortion and other essential and urgent issues. I believe that there is no need to investigate further to conclude that the "worldview" of these people is not compatible with the Fathers, with Laudato Si, etc. The point is: if I were the Pope, I would not take the challenge, lol.

But the Pope gave feedback, but only said that he would pray for the child: https://www.milliondollarvegan.com/pope-francis-responds-to-12-year-old-activist/

"Fasting is depriving the body of food from midnight till noon. For the Christian the hunger that results is a real call to be mindful of our thirst for God. It is a call to identify with the poor, whom God loves especially."

"Abstinence refers to the practice of foregoing all foods that come from animals (meats, poultry, dairy products, eggs).
From the creation of our Parents in Paradise to the time after the great flood, people ate only fruits, grains and vegetables. This is the food of paradise! The practice of abstinence reminds us of our high calling to manage all creation in the Name of the Lord."

https://melkite.org/faith/faith-worship/holy-week-traditions#FastAbstinence

Nice. But I'm not a Melkite, is that so?
PS: By the way, the Melkite source distinguished between fasting and abstinence.