Did you know?
The abolition of Friday abstinence is a common misapprehension. Friday abstinence was not abolished; rather, the faithful (U.S.A.) now have a choice either to abstain from meat or perform some other kind of penance (or charitable work) on Fridays. According to the Church’s law, the ‘substantial observance’ of Fridays as days of penance, whether by abstinence or in other ways, ‘is a grave obligation.’ (Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini, 1966, Norm II, 2).” – Fr. John A. Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary
Don’t forget Canons 1250 and 1251. “Code of Canon Law,” 1983