Hello all!

A query I just wanted confirmation on. The Friday within the Octave of Easter is a Solemnity (And a 1st class feast I think under the old code) so no fasting/abstaining since it's a feast day, right?

sounds like a plan to me

That’s the way I understand it, but YMMV.

There's a running debate over this point.

I am confused. Canon 1251 seems to point toward there being a relaxation of the requirement here;
Can. 1251 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.
But there is ambiguity about this on the USCCB site. Thoughts?

The question is whether or not the days of Easter week are solemnities. The Creed is not said and there is only one reading and psalm before the Gospel, both of which are not typical for solemnities. But there are places that label them solemnities. So no one knows, and in case of such an ambiguity, you can legitimately choose the easier option on the canonical principle that doubtful laws do not bind.

Ahhh, thanks!!! I see! Someone also brought up that it wasn't required to hear Mass on days of the Octave, which would be normal for a solemnity.

One day we'll get a hard fast ruling here, one day

Not all solemnities are Holy Days of Obligation, so that "someone" didn't know what he was talking about.

Easter?

Orthodox Christians are celebrating Good Friday today.

My canonist friend says you're good to go.

Maybe the person was confusing something. It used to be that penance was only abrogated on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (not just every 1st class feast or feria). Since the older law had to do with days of precept, the abstinence would still have been required on Easter Friday since it wasn't a day of precept. Of course, the law has changed, so NOW the question of whether we're required to attend Mass is not really relevant (although every day we're required to attend Mass is certainly a Sunday or Solemnity so all such days are days on which there is no required penance).

Orthodox Christians are observing Good Friday today as the full abstinence from food.

Oh, by the way, tomorrow Orthodox Christians will observe the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s because tomorrow will be March 25 on the Julian calendar.

A Catholic blogger on Facebook said she wrote the USCCB Office of Divine Worship, who confirmed that today is considered a solemnity. Link to the post: https://www.facebook.com/catholicallyea ... =3&theater

Thanks for the replies everyone! Clear as crystal now.



(Regarding the question about HDO, I think I got that off a comment on a post on the matter over on Fr. Z's blog, I need to source my references properly going forward... )

Under the old rules abstinence (but not fasting) was still required on Holy Days of Obligation. So, for example, if March 19 (St. Joseph) should fall on a Friday, then one would have to abstain but not fast (every weekday of Lent was a fast day).

Interesting that the Creed is said during the Octave in the old rite but not in the New.

NB, in the table of precedence for the 2003MR the days in the Octave of Easter rank above all solemnities, whereas the days in the Octave of Christmas rank below all feasts

But that means little (Ash Weds is the same rank, Good Friday even higher)

But this

24. Octo primi dies temporis paschalis constituunt octavam Paschae et uti sollemnitates Domini celebrantur

It says there they are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord

The octave of Easter is called the Luminous Week by Orthodox Christians such as Thursday of the Luminous Week

The Orthodox I know refer to it as Bright Week