Drinking on St Patrick's Day during Lent In 2019, RTE reported: "Usually occurring in the middle of Lent, St Patrick’s Day was considered a welcome break from fasting for Catholics to enjoy meat Of those, 105 are offering some relief for St. Patrick’s Day: 80 have said yes to a dispensation; 25 are offering a “commutation,” requiring Catholics in their diocese to substitute some other penance if they plan to eat meat on Friday, March 17; and 32 have said No. As St. Patrick's Day falls within the Lenten season, Catholics are trying to figure out whether they get a pass to eat meat on that Friday. Many Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays The day is so highly regarded that during the season of Lent, if St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday (which happens about every six years) Catholic bishops in many dioceses lift the law mandating abstinence from meat on that day. Catholics who accept the dispensation are asked to perform some other penitential practice or, in some locales But some bishops are asking Catholics to observe a meatless day on another day ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, and others are asking for some kind of spiritual work to be taken up in lieu of abstaining from meat — such as attending Mass, praying the rosary or adoring the Lord in the Eucharist. Find out which dioceses in the U.S. are allowing Catholics to eat meat on March 17, the feast of St. Patrick, during Lent. See a map and a list of the bishops' decisions and requirements. Catholics are obligated to not consume meat on Fridays during Lent, per the Catholic Bishops of the United States order. However, in certain coincidental circumstances -- such as St. Patrick's Day Cardinal Blase Cupich had given a general dispensation for St. Patrick’s Day in 2017, according to the Chicago Catholic, but asked that those choosing to eat meat instead “substitute another PressReader. Catalog; For You; Irish Central. Are Catholics allowed to drink, eat meat on St. Patrick's Day during Lent? 2025-03-06 - Frances Mulraney . With St Patrick's Day 2025 falling during Lent, many Catholics are asking themselves if drinking on St Patrick's Day is considered breaking the rules or not. Catholics get a dispensation to enjoy ham or corned beef and cabbage guilt-free on St. Patrick's Day even though holiday falls on a Friday during Lent. The results showed more than 72% were offering some relief from the “no meat on Fridays during Lent” rule for St. Patrick’s Day. Close Thanks for signing up! In 1940 and again in 2008, St. Patrick’s Day fell during Holy Week, causing many dioceses to cancel their celebrations of the saint’s day, or move them to the week before. More than 70% of U.S. diocesan bishops are allowing Catholics to eat meat on St. Patrick’s Day this year, even though it’s a Friday during Lent. With a week to go, 125 of the 176 dioceses in For the first time in six years, St. Patrick’s Day is intersecting with a Friday in Lent and many local Church leaders have opted to give Catholics that day off of abstaining from meat. With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Lenten Friday this year, Archbishop Gregory Aymond is letting New Orleans area Roman Catholics eat meat March 17. Catholics customarily abstain from meat on Church leaders in a number of dioceses have opted to waive the fast for this Friday, March 17, allowing Catholics to enjoy the traditional corned beef to mark St Patrick's Day. 'Many people have been asking if I will allow Catholics to eat meat on St. Patrick's Day since March 17th falls on a Friday of Lent this year,' David A Zubik, Bishop of You see, Fridays in Lent are days when Catholics are bound by the law of the Church to abstain from meat. Every time St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, stories start to float around of special permission being granted for Catholics to eat corned beef. So is there really an exception to our normal Lenten penance for our favorite Irish saint? The dispensation will allow Catholics to eat classic St. Patrick's Day meals like corned beef and cabbage and shepherd's pie. D.C., the archdiocese suggested that Catholics who eat meat on St The dispensation allows Catholics to eat their favorite St. Patrick’s Day meals, but they are encouraged to visit churches, engage in pious acts, and perform other acts of penance to compensate Can Catholics Eat Meat on St. Patrick’s Day? It depends on your diocese. In many parts of Ireland and Irish-American communities , bishops have long granted special permission or dispensations on March 17th to allow meat consumption — particularly because traditional Irish meals are such an essential part of cultural identity and celebration.
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