By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami

Miami…(March 8, 2017) Fridays of Lent are days of fast and abstinence.  However, the third Friday of Lent, March 17th, falls on Saint Patrick’s Day. While only an optional memorial on the Church’s liturgical calendar, the feast of St. Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland and Nigeria, is of great significance to great numbers of the faithful in the Archdiocese and beyond. 

Therefore, at the request and concurrence of the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council, I am happy to grant a dispensation to those required by Church law to fast and to abstain from meat on Friday, March 17th so that they might observe St. Patrick’s Day in a more festive manner. 

Those not celebrating St. Patrick are urged to keep Friday as a Day of Fast and Abstinence. Those celebrating St. Patrick are encouraged to substitute another day in place of March 17th to observe this hallowed custom of fasting and abstinence during the Lenten Season. 

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