When is it Okay to Dispense?

Occasionally, the issue of dispensation will surface. This year, it is no different this year as some of my fellow writers want to argue that it is dangerous. I concur.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church 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” (CCC 1251).

Here is the problem. St. Patrick is a feast in the church. However, it is not a major solemnity. In the case of Lent, the two solemnities that fall during the Lenten season and every so often on a Friday are St. Joseph’s and Annunciation. The two have greater importance than St. Patrick's.

Indeed, St. Patrick did teach about the trinity with the shamrock. He even drove out demons from Ireland in the form of paganism. We need another with where it has gone in the last two centuries.

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal church. Though we have no recorded words, his actions spoke the loudest. His feast is celebrated on March 19th. His feast has a higher importance.

Then, we have the feast of the Annunciation (March 25th) or what I like to call quarter-Christmas (throwing it out there). This commemorates the day our Blessed Mother says “yes” to a gift of life from God known as Jesus.

The bottom line, March 19th and March 25th have a higher solemnity than St. Patrick's Day.

Recommended reading

I wrote about whether to take part in the dispensation for St. Patrick’s Day or not.

A colleague writes of the dangers of lifting our Lenten meatless obligation.

Discern wisely.