Friday penance: donuts?

It was Friday, the last day of my first week at work in my new job. It hadn't been a rough week. Some training, some getting to know people, building a reputation as someone who can do good work. Still, though, I was ready for the weekend.

My coworker started 30 minutes after I arrived. A polite, "Hi, how are you," was about all we said before that first cup of coffee and the work of the day began. Friday, though, was different.

"I brought in donuts."

Four simple words...I'm only slightly ashamed to say how beautiful they sounded to me.

"Thank you, sir, I don't mind if I do!"

It was an unexpected gift on that first Friday of work, and I savored it, relished it. The work day went on, but I had a kick in my step, a joy that wasn't there before, and perhaps a bit of a sugar high.

While grateful, I didn't think much more abut it, until the next Friday. And the Friday after that. Soon, it was tradition that Friday a.m, there would be donuts in the break room 30 minutes after my day began.
Then, one day in February, there were no donuts. My disappointment was palpable. For the next several weeks, the donut absence continued. I figured my personal donut train was over; my coworker chose to stop.

Then, as suddenly as it stopped, it began again-donuts reappeared on Friday morning.

I puzzled over this far longer than appropriate. My friend was always noncommittal about his actions, but I believe I know why. My friend and former coworker was both Catholic ... and vegetarian. If that doesn't sound like a reason, let me explain.

On November 18, 1966, the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a pastoral statement regarding abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year. Prior to advent in 1966, the Catholic Church in the U.S. required a discipline of abstaining from meat on Fridays throughout the year.

"Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one day be glorified with Him. This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church."

So, what were vegetarians to do? Having been born several years after 1966, I really had no idea. Not being a vegetarian, I also never had cause to think about it. But, my former co-worker got me wondering.

The pastoral letter continued:

"Friday should be in each week something of what Lent is in the entire year. For this reason we urge all to prepare for that weekly Easter that comes with each Sunday by freely making of every Friday a day of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ."

As a vegetarian, mestless Fridays isn't much of a sacrifice - it doesn't set Friday apart. And, that pause in February for several weeks? It coincided with Lent, and donuts began again the Friday following Easter Sunday. Hmmm...

After releasing US Catholics from the discipline of meatless Fridays, the bishops later wrote:

"Friday, please God,will acquire among us other forms of penitential witness which may become as much a part of the devout way of life in the future as Friday abstinence from meat."

Perhaps buying donuts for the office was his penitential witness? While I doubt the bishops were thinking of my friend and former coworker's donuts, I think my friend and former coworker was thinking of the bishops. The penultimate paragraph of the pastoral letter envisions:

"It would bring great glory to God and good to souls if Fridays found our people doing volunteer work in hospitals, visiting the sick, serving the needs of the aged and the lonely, instructing the young in the Faith, participating as Christians in community affairs, and meeting our obligations to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our community, including our parishes, with a special zeal born of the desire to add the merit of penance to the other virtues exercised in good works born of living faith."

I don't honestly know if this is why he buys donuts on Fridays outside of Lent. I suppose I could ask him. You see, while I no longer work with him, I've bumped into him now and again, as I'm buying donuts for my new co-workers on Friday mornings.

For those interested in reading the entire pastoral letter, it is online here.