Most people know that on Fridays in Lent, we Catholics abstain from eating meat. But did you know that, until a few decades ago, not eating meat was required on normal Fridays throughout the year too here in the United States?
Though we don’t hear much about abstaining from meat on regular Fridays, we’re still supposed to engage in some sort of penance, in accord with Canon 1251 of the Code of Canon Law.1 Canon 1249 states:
The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence.
Canon 1249 of the Code of Canon Law2
Shortly after we read those instructions in Canon Law, we also see that Canon 1251 permits bishops’ conferences, including our conference here in the United States, to release Catholics from the requirement to abstain from meat on Fridays.3 In so releasing us from the requirement, it was desired that we would continue to abstain from meat not out of obligation but out of a voluntary sense of penance.4
Now, many people these days don’t abstain from meat on Fridays, and that’s okay–they aren’t bound to cut out meat, though they should find some way of living out their Friday penance.
But what about someone who does want to find a suitable way to observe the traditional practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays?
Firstly, while there’s no technical rule against enjoying a fancy fish dish on a Friday, it does seem to go against the whole idea of penance when we end up eating more luxuriously on Fridays than we do normally. It seems backwards for us to eat a more expensive meal on Friday simply so that we can say that we had fish instead of meat.
Secondly, though vegetarian meals have gained in popularity recently, especially for so-called “Meatless Mondays”, it again seems a bit wrong that many of these vegetarian meals–even when they don’t even have fish in them–are far fancier and richer than our normal, everyday meals. And if we go out with friends, chances are that we’ll end up somewhere with really expensive vegetarian meals. So what are we to do? Well, finding simple meatless meals seems like the perfect opportunity to rediscover our grandparents’ simpler meals or to act creatively in coming up with our own meals. (I have a soft spot for simple meals.)
So, without any further delay, here’s a list of ideas for some simple meatless meals!
-Baked potatoes with cheddar cheese
-Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
-Grilled cheese and tomato soup
-Egg salad
-Tuna salad
-Spaghetti (without meat in the sauce, of course!)
-Potato soup
-Macaroni and cheese (boxed or homemade)
-Pizza (frozen is easiest, of course, but homemade also doesn’t require too much work: you can make the crust yourself or use English muffins or French bread, but I’ve also recently discovered that Matzos make a fantastic crust)
-Creamed peas on toast (though my family never seems enthused when I suggest them…)
-Bean burgers (if you want to go bold)
-Stuffed peppers with rice (no meat, remember!)
-Pizza rolls and tater tots
-Eggs and hashbrowns (scramble, fry, boil, etc. the eggs; get creative!)
-All sorts of casseroles
And on the topic of casseroles, here’s a simple tuna casserole recipe, adapted from casseroles made by my dad and easily adjusted to whatever size you need:
Ingredients:
-About 1 lb egg noodles
-1 can tuna, drained
-A cup or two cooked peas
-1 can cream of mushroom soup
-Milk
-1 pkg. French fried onions
-1/4 tsp. black pepper
-Salt (if desired)
Instructions:
First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook pasta according to instructions on package.
Once pasta is cooked, drain it, and then put it in a large casserole dish.
Then add tuna, peas, and soup to casserole dish. Using the empty soup can, measure out about 1 can’s worth of milk, and add the milk to the casserole dish.
Next, add about 2/3 of the package of French fried onions along with pepper to the casserole dish. Add salt if desired.
Thoroughly mix the casserole.
Bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes, then mix thoroughly again and sprinkle the rest of the fried onions on top of the casserole. Bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Remove casserole from oven; be careful, as it’s hot. Enjoy!
So, there you go! Meatless Fridays don’t have to intimidate you.
What’s your favorite simple meatless recipe?
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1. Code of Canon Law, Canon 1249, http://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann1244-1253_en.html#TITLE_II.
2. Ibid.
3. Code of Canon Law, Canon 1251, http://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann1244-1253_en.html#TITLE_II.
4. USCCB, “Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence,” https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/us-bishops-pastoral-statement-on-penance-and-abstinence.