Bishops publish new resource leaflet on Friday Penance
The link between Friday and penance is extremely ancient and is even reflected in the Irish word for Friday – An Aoine (the fast)
In his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland Pope Benedict XVI suggested a number of initiatives to support renewal in the Church here.
Pope Benedict asked us to offer our Friday Penances “for an outpouring of God’s mercy and the Holy Spirit’s gifts of holiness and strength.” He asked us to offer our fasting, prayer, reading of Scripture and works of mercy in order to obtain the grace of healing and renewal for the Church in Ireland.
In addition Pope Benedict encouraged us, “to discover anew the sacrament of Reconciliation and to avail yourselves more frequently of the transforming power of its grace”.
The Bishops’ Conference has published a new resource leaflet called Friday Penance to assist of all of us in responding to the invitation of the Holy Father.
Penance arises from the Lord’s call to conversation and repentance and this new leaflet describes why penance is an essential part of all genuine Christian living:
in memory of the passion and death of the Lord
as a sharing in Christ’s suffering
as an expression of inner conversion
as a form of reparation for sin
Friday Penance goes on to explain the reason why penance on Fridays is important: “Declaring some days throughout the year as days of fast and abstinence (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) is meant to intensify penances of the Christian. Lent is the traditional season for renewal and penance but Catholics also observe each Friday of the year as days of penance. The link between Friday and penance is extremely ancient and is even reflected in the Irish word for Friday – An Aoine (the fast).”
The leaflet suggests ways of fulfilling Friday penance such as abstaining from meat or alcohol, visiting the Blessed Sacrament or helping the poor, sick and lonely as well as other suggestions.
Please download the leaflet Friday Penance from www.catholicbishops.ie
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The ‘Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to the Catholics of Ireland’ was published in Ireland on 20 March last. It is available on the homepage of catholicbishops.ie in English and Irish, along with Pope Benedict’s Prayer for the Church in Ireland; key extracts from the Pastoral Letter, related Vatican video interview clips and FAQs.
Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 086 172 7678
