Today we begin a occasional feature called "Dear Communion of Saints." The idea is to pose hot button theological questions of the day to the saints above and see who answers it and how. Occasionally more than one saint wants to get in the act. Please send any questions you may want answered (and I use that verb loosely) to IronicCatholic(at)yahoo(dot)com. I apologize in advance for not getting to all two questions quickly. Note we're still doing satire here! Right? Get it?
I resolved to give up chocolate for Lent and am having a hard time of it in this last week. I stopped by the local co-op and bought some carob to eat instead. Was this a sin? Or even a breaking of my Lenten fast?--Elizabeth
St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church, responds: First, dear sister in Christ, let me tell you: I ate pus for the greater glory of God and you're whining about foregoing chocolate for a measly six weeks? I think you need to rethink your priorities.
Second, what was your motive in eating carob? I mean, seriously, who craves carob? The motive is the heart of the sin, and if you broke your fast in full knowledge, deliberately turning away from God's goodness, then yes, you committed a sin. And if carob is truly a substitute for chocolate, you broke the Lenten fast.
There are a lot of problems presented here: is eating carob sinful and an excellent example of natural law, where the disorderness of the act is "written" into the natural realm (eating carob is wrong, this is clear because it is disgusting)? Indeed, is eating the carob arguably a punishment in itself, the consequence hinting at the crime?
Although the above consideration does have theological appeal, I would argue that eating carob instead of chocolate is actually a penitential practice (not quite in the "eating pus" league, but it will do). Given it does not taste like chocolate and causes disappointment, disgust, and general revulsion, one should credit it to the asceticism of the liturgical season and move on with a repentant heart. God bless.
Next time: Thomas Aquinas responds.
--I.C.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Dear Communion of Saints: Like Carob for Chocolate?
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7 the midrash:
I can't wait to hear St. Thomas respond!!
Dear Communion of Saints:
If I was on an ocean liner and I was heading west from Hawaii and it was the Saturday before Trinity Sunday and all of a sudden I realized that I had not yet made my Easter Duty but resolved to do so the next morning, but then when I woke up I discovered that we had already crossed the International Date Line and it was already Monday, would it be a Mortal Sin?
lol - that was hilarious
I mean, seriously, who craves carob?
Hilarious!
I knew my patroness was wise, but gee whiz! That's preternatural!
Honestly, the only sin this woman commited was putting carob in the same league as chocolate.
My parents tried that little substitution trick once on all of us kids. Once. Just once.
My mother tried that trick too. She didn't give up, though, she also tried mixing powdered milk and putting it in the regular milk jug. We could tell by looking at it. (EEWW)
Ray--St Catherine told me we live in the kairos--the time beyond all time, the NOW od redemption--and do not acknowledge time zones. Having said that, you should be going to Mass daily, silly. Even on a cruiseliner.
:)
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