Editor’s Note: As noted in The Fatima Center’s devotional calendar, October 31, the Vigil of All Saints, is a traditional day of fast and abstinence. Hence, it seems timely to post this article in preparation for that oft ignored day of penance. Given the irrational obsession of our culture today over Halloween – which reflects an ever growing diabolical paganization of our civilization – we encourage all faithful Catholics to especially offer acts of reparation on this day.

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Can a Catholic consume meat broth on a day of abstinence? What about bouillon or lard? How has the Church taught this over the centuries? These are pertinent questions since Friday abstinence,[1] for instance, binds under pain of mortal sin.

To knowingly and willfully ignore the law of abstinence is a mortal sin and not merely a venial sin. This was made clear by both Pope Innocent III in the 13th century and Pope Alexander VII in the 17th century, who assert that to violate the law of abstinence on a required day is a mortal sin.[2] If you cannot resist having meat on Friday, how can you possibly resist more insidious assaults from the devil? The same can be said for a day of fasting – if you cannot refuse food for a short time, how can you reject serious temptations against purity, humility, or pride?

Abstinence in the Early Church

Abstinence in the very early Church involved abstaining from all animal products completely. Abstinence was hence vegan in nature as neither eggs nor fish were allowed. Fish, but not shellfish, became permitted on days of abstinence around the beginning of the 7th century. The allowance of shellfish became permitted around the 10th century. Abstinence from eggs and “milk products” (called lacticinia in Latin) was also the general rule. Over time, this too changed and by the Middle Ages the prohibition of eggs and milk products remained in place for Lent only, whereas other periods of abstinence prohibited only flesh meat. Meat was not even allowed to be consumed any day of Lent until as late as 1741. This is a simplification of a complex history that is recounted in “The Definitive Guide to Catholic Fasting and Abstinence.”

Pope Pius IX (Reigned 1846-1870)

As seen with the gradual change to abstinence days regarding lacticinia and eggs, some changes occurred as well with items like lard. One of those first changes was under Pope Pius IX, who granted to the faithful in England the ability to use lard and meat drippings as condiments on all fasting and abstinence days with the exception of Good Friday. This rescript of May 19, 1860 applied to the meal as well as to the collation (i.e., the evening snack permitted on a fasting day).

Pope Leo XIII (Reigned 1878-1903)

Mara Morrow, in Sin in the Sixties, mentions some of the concessions given by Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century which expanded the practice of the frustulum[3] and further reduced strict abstinence by permitting lard in food preparation more widely:

“It also allowed for the use of eggs and milk products at the evening collation daily during Lent and at the principal meal when meat was not allowed. [It] further allowed a small piece of bread in the morning with a beverage, the possibility of taking the principal meal at noon or in the evening, and the use of lard and meat drippings in the preparation of foods. Those exempt from the law of fasting were permitted to eat meat, eggs, and milk more than once a day.”

The Pio-Benedictine Code of 1917

The 1917 Code specifically states in Canon 1250: “The law of abstinence prohibits meat and soups made of meat but not of eggs, milks, and other condiments, even if taken from animals.” Commenting on this passage, Rev. Winfrid Herbst writes and explains more as it concerns lard and broth specifically:

“Canon 1250 of the Code of Canon Law states that soup or broth made of meat is forbidden on days of abstinence. The same Canon Law allows the seasoning of food with animal fats. In all animals we find layers of tissue or lumps of fat distinct from the flesh itself. Out of these lard and other animal fats are gained. The white flesh of animals, which is also called fat, is flesh just the same as the lean or muscular tissues. When meat is fried (especially if it contains layers of the white or fatty flesh, e.g., in bacon), grease flows from it, usually called drippings. Drippings, lard, and other animal fats may be used in frying potatoes and in cooking other foods on days of abstinence. But the eating of food on days of abstinence in which flesh meat has been cooked [e.g., beans baked with pork] is not allowed, even if the particles not ‘cooked up’ have been removed…”[4]

Hence, even if lard was permitted in the preparation of food, meat broth was still forbidden. The same can be said for meat bouillon, which is a broth made by stewing meat, fish, or vegetables in water.

Abstinence Immediately Before Vatican II

By the 1950s, the following guidelines were established, as explained by Father Dominic Prümmer in his Handbook of Moral Theology:

“The law of abstinence forbids the eating of flesh meat and meat soup, but not of eggs, milk foods and condiments made from animal fats. By flesh meat is meant: a) the flesh of animals which live and breathe on land and possess warm blood; b) blood, lard, broth, suet, the marrow of bones, brains, kidneys. In case of doubt whether something is meat or not, one is permitted to eat it since the law does not bind when doubt exists.”

Hence, broth (including bouillon) and lard should not be consumed on days of abstinence, which include not only year-round Fridays but also fasting vigils, and any other day of penance when abstinence is mandated by the Church. Even if the use of lard was permitted in the preparation of food, that was a modern novelty that further eroded the venerable practice of fasting and abstinence.

For Catholics who choose to follow a more traditional discipline, all days of Lent and all Ember Days are also days on which broth and lard are not to be used. Remember as well, that the differentiation between ‘full’ and ‘partial’ abstinence is relatively new (i.e., 1741) and so any day of ‘abstinence’ in the ancient Catholic discipline is in fact ‘full abstinence.’ (Partial abstinence refers to the practice of allowing meat at one meal.)

The 1983 Code of Canon Law

The 1983 Code weakly states: “Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.”

Likewise, the USCCB’s Questions and Answers About Lenten Practices introduced a serious novelty by stating:

“Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs – all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste).”

Avoid Broths and Lard on Days of Abstinence

Using Tradition as our guide, abstinence has always referred to the prohibition of flesh meat of mammals and fowl, which include the consumption of broth and lard, unless a specific dispensation exists. Hence, Catholics striving to observe the law of abstinence out of love for Our Lord and in obedience to the laws of His Church must abstain from these items as well on days of abstinence.

Let us never forget that at Fatima Our Lady asked us to offer prayer and penance for the salvation of souls. Countless souls are falling into Hell. Many souls have no one who prays for them. And much reparation must be made for the offenses committed against the Sacred Heart of Our Lord and the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you discern recovering and restoring this discipline in your own life (and, for heads of household, that of your family):

• Is not committing to this small fast a wonderful and easy way to offer penance and reparation for these souls?
• How great is our charity? How much do we desire the salvation of souls?
• What would little St. Jacinta recommend, given that she was constantly striving to offer more penance to save souls after she saw the terrifying Vision of Hell?
• If you were able to pose this question to Our Lady, how do you think She would answer?

 

See the History and Norms of Fasting for more information.

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[1] For more on this topic, see the article “Friday Abstinence Outside of Lent” at this website. We also invite you to view “May Catholics Eat Meat on Fridays?” from the video series Your Questions Answered by Father Gruner.

[2] See the Catholic Encyclopedia entry for “Abstinence” for more information on this topic. This article explains that “the law of abstinence embodies a serious obligation whose transgression, objectively considered, ordinarily involves a mortal sin. The unanimous verdict of theologians, the constant practice of the faithful, and the mind of the Church place this point beyond cavil.”

[3] Frustulum: The small portion of food, a few ounces, permitted on fast days (it normally referred to the time of breakfast, a meal whose very name in English makes reference to the ‘breaking of the fast’.)

[4] Winfrid Herbst, Questions of Catholics answered (Society of the Divine Savior, 1946), p. 235.

The post Broth, Bouillon, and Lard on Days of Abstinence first appeared on The Fatima Center.

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