No meat for most on St. Patrick’s Day this year

The corned beef will have to be eaten the day before or the day after St. Patrick’s Day this year because in 2023 the holiday falls on a Friday during Lent.

About abstinence

The norms concerning abstinence from meat during Lent are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The Friday fast is obligatory for those 18 to 59.

However, the members of parishes named after St. Patrick in Wichita, Parsons, Chanute, Galena, and Kingman are dispensed from the Lenten restriction because the day is a solemnity for them.

St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, is the patron saint of Ireland where he was a missionary in the fifth century. It is believed that he died on March 17, 461.

A change in Confession

The faithful may notice a few changes starting on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, after making a sacramental confession.
The prayer of absolution has been slightly modified. Here is the new formula:

“God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out [formerly “sent”] the Holy Spirit for [previously “Holy Spirit among us for”] the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God grant [instead of “give”] you pardon and peace. And I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The modification was approved in 2021 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, It was then approved by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in April 2022.

Fr. Gabriel Greer, said the change goes into effect on Ash Wednesday and must be used beginning April 15, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Fr. Greer is director of Worship for the Diocese of Wichita.