Catholic Archbishop Allows Followers to Eat Meat This Friday

SAN ANGELO, TX – The Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Antonio sent out a letter on Friday granting all Catholics in the region the choice to eat meat this Friday.

The dispensation applies to Catholics in the Diocese of San Angelo as well.  

The following is the full letter sent out by the Archbishop of San Antonio the Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the season of Lent, we seek to draw closer to our Lord Jesus. We do so through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We also practice abstinence from eating meat on all Fridays of Lent, as well as on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds all those who have attained the age of fourteen.

This year, the season of Lent coincides with the Memorial of St. Patrick, Thursday, Mar. 17, and the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saturday, Mar. 19. Both are feast days of great importance to the faithful and possess significant cultural and ethnic importance.

Since the observance of these feast days are observed near a Friday, the celebrations may include events and celebratory gathering on Friday , Mar. 18. Therefore, in response to the faithful who have asked for a dispensation from the Friday Lenten abstinence on Friday, Mar. 18, 2022. I happily do so.

As we enjoy a festive meal with family and friends, let us be mindful of our brothers and sisters in the world that will not eat or do not have enough to eat. I ask you to consider a donation to one of the many food pantries in the archdiocese as another fitting way to commemorate the Memorial of St. Patrick and the Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Entrusting you to the car of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I remain, 

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS

Archbishop of San Antonio