Saint Patrick’s Dispensation

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has granted to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Seattle a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, March 17, the commemoration of Saint Patrick.

Western Washington Catholics can enjoy their corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day this year without worrying about breaking their Lenten (sic) Friday commitment.

Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has granted this one-day dispensation from the normal obligation to abstain from meat during the Fridays of Lent. The feast day of the popular Irish saint falls on Friday, March 17 this year, the third Friday in Lent. Typical Irish dishes enjoyed on the holiday are meat heavy.

“The archbishop encourages anyone who wishes to take advantage of this dispensation to abstain from meat on another day of that week, or to substitute abstinence from meat with a personal penitential act offered for the success of the proclamation of the Gospel in western Washington, in honor of St. Patrick,” according to the March 2 announcement from the archbishop’s office, which was sent to all pastors, parish administrators and pastoral coordinators.

So local Catholics aren’t completely off the hook.

Source.