By Msgr. M. Francis Mannion

Is something fishy here?

The Lenten abstinence rules are derived from the days when meat was a luxury item

Question: My family had a debate during Easter dinner on why Catholics can eat fish but not meat on Fridays during Lent. This didn't make sense to some since fish can be so expensive. Where did the tradition come from in the first place?

-- Name withheld

Answer: In the early Christian period, believers used to abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays. The fast on Wednesday derived from the fact that Judas betrayed Jesus on Wednesday. The Friday fast marked the day of Jesus' crucifixion.

In that period, meat was a luxury, while fish was cheap. One had to buy meat in the market or own cattle and enough property to raise them on. On the other hand, it was easier and cheaper to catch a fish in a stream. Meat was the food of the rich, but fish was the food of the poor. That is why the common form of fasting over the centuries was to omit meat and eat fish.

The point of abstinence was to eat simply. There was nothing intrinsically wrong about meat or good about fish.

While the law of abstinence from meat on Lenten Fridays remains on the books for Catholics, we do well to keep in mind that fish can be as expensive as meat. Thus we do well to recognize that when we eat fish on Fridays it should not be expensive fish.

Televised Mass

Question: Our parish is considering setting up a closed-circuit television in the basement of our church so that when there is an overflow of people attending Mass, parishioners could watch Mass on television. Is this allowable? Do you fulfill your Sunday Mass obligation by watching Mass on television? What is the difference from viewing Mass on television at home?

--  Name and address withheld

Answer: Watching a televised Mass at home does not fulfill the Sunday obligation. The obligation requires attending Mass in a church building or worship space with an actual priest and the reception of Communion if one is properly disposed.

However, if one is unable to go to Mass because of sickness, lack of transportation or old age, then the obligation does not apply and one can unite one's prayers with the televised Mass. Many elderly and homebound people gain great consolation from following Mass on television.

The case of attending Mass in a church basement in the circumstances you mention is a little more ambiguous. If one goes to Mass with the full expectation of being able to get into the church and fully participate in the celebration, and, through no fault of one's own, one finds the church already crowded, then going to the church basement to view the Mass on television with as much devotion and participation as possible does fulfill the obligation.

This arrangement is far from perfect, but the key factor is the intention of the participant to attend Mass and take a full part in it. In this situation, the pastor is making the best provision he can for the good of the people.

Graven images

Question: Could stuffed animals be considered graven images when used in the church?

-- N. A. Cambridge, Ohio

Answer: No, that would be overdoing it. But it is interesting how often stuffed animals and secular symbols are used on such occasions as funerals or in place of religious symbols at shrines set up after tragedies.

It may be that children are not adequately introduced to the use of religious symbols. They are comforted by the use of the objects you mention. They should also be taught to find comfort in traditional religious symbols.

Msgr. M. Francis Mannion is a priest and theologian of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Send your questions to Pastoral Answers, Our Sunday Visitor, 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750 or to mfmannion@osv.com. Letters must be signed, but anonymity may be requested.