Is Friday Penance / Abstinence Still Obligatory During the Easter Season?
As far as we can tell, yes, Fridays within the Easter Season are still days of penance / abstinence in the Catholic Western Rite, unless a solemnity falls on a Friday. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches may have differing disciplines, so it is always wise to check the canon laws of each Church. While some sources have suggested that the Fridays of the Easter season are not days of penance and/or abstinence in the West, canon law and most sources make it clear that every Friday of the year (unless a solemnity falls on that Friday) is a day of penance. However, the Octave of Easter is an exception. According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar (14 February 1969), every day within the octave of Easter is considered a solemnity. Thus, the requirement of Friday abstinence is lifted during the Easter Octave. So while the Easter season is certainly a time of joyful Christian feasting, this is not to say there is no place for Friday penance. Penance is som
