The Fellowship of St. Anthony

by | Mar 1, 2022 | Spiritual

The Meaning of Catholic Guild has formed a lay sodality of fasting to offer up penances on behalf of the clergy. This group is called the Fellowship of St. Anthony, operating under his patronage as he fasted and supported the clergy during the Arian crisis. We do this to offer corporate penance to turn away the wrath of God that has punished the world and the Church with bad clergy. May God, through the intercession of St. Anthony, help all priests and bishops fulfill their duties for the sake of souls and let the lay and clerical orders work together for God’s greater glory. To access this group, join the Guild community by donating or joining the Guild. If you can’t afford this, contact us and we can work something out. All new Guild members will receive an email with a link to join the Fellowship. -T. S. Flanders

OPTIONAL Bible Reading group: if you have committed to the penance of the Fellowship, you may join those who are taking on the annual Bible reading plan as well. Access the plan here or find it in the book (free eBook will be send to all Fellowship members). You also need to choose a Holy Psalter Prayer plan.

What follows is the Lenten rule, but scroll down for our rule for the rest of the year. The bare minimum is slightly above the bare minimum enjoined on all Catholics by canon law. 

Rule of Lenten Fasting for the Fellowship

All members of this sodality agree to commit to the level One Tier from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. Members may also privately commit to Tier Two or any add-ons at their own or their spiritual director’s discretion. We also agree to offer our penances for all Priests and Bishops.

Tier One

ABSTINENCE

  • Vegetarian Diet is to be consumed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Vegetarian here is defined as no flesh meats. Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, dairy, and eggs are permitted though not necessary.)
  • Drinks allowed are sugar-free coffee or tea, and water. Milk may be consumed at principal meal or as a collation
  • No wine is to be consumed for the duration of Lent (excludes Sundays)
  • No sweets for the duration of Lent (Sweets include: cake, cookies, pie, candies, gummies, chocolate/candy bars, pastries, cupcakes, chocolate muffins, pudding/custard, ice cream, Nutella, fudge, truffles, pralines, bonbons, mochi,)

FASTING

  • Fasting is to be observed on each Wednesday and Friday (Fasting here is defined as one principal meal, with 2 optional collations)

PRAYER – DAILY

  • Morning Our Father for help in our Fast and Evening Our Father in Thanksgiving
  • Prayer to avert God’s Wrath (included in resources section of this document), especially for priests

PRAYER – WEEKLY

  • A weekly Stations of the Cross is to be prayed (preferably on Friday)
  • A weekly Rosary is to be prayed

READING

  • Read the Daily Mass readings (Epistle and Gospel) daily from the Traditional 1962 Missal (or earlier)
  • Read Life of St. Anthony at your own pace (audio options below)

ALMS

  • Commit to giving alms at least once during Lent

SECRET

  • Do not announce your fast to anyone except spiritual director and spouse/parent (especially if said person cooks your meals)

Exceptions

  • If you have health conditions, you may consume food or liquid per your special diet (Ex. bone broth)
  • If your job requires something special or extra, you may proceed with what you need (It is better to eat rather than faint at work)
  • Charity is of the first order. If you are in a situation where a “banned” food is offered to you and it would be impolite or an insult to your host to decline, then accept the food. It is also better to accept a small portion than to reveal your fast publicly

Tier Two

  • Tier Two includes Tier One points plus the following:
  • Vegan diet is to be assumed for the duration of Lent (includes Sundays)
  • Fasting is to be maintained Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
  • Daily Rosary is to be prayed
  • Read all the mass readings (Epistle, Gospel, Collect, Secret, Postcommunion)

Add-Ons

  • Black Fast (no food only water/coffee for all daylight hours, one vegan meal after sunset) for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Resources

Prayer to Avert God’s Wrath

O God, Who by sin art offended, and by penance appeased, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins.

Audio Version of Life of St. Anthony 
Online Version of the Life of St. Anthony (also accessible on the iPieta app)
Hard copy of Life of St. Anthony

Daily Mass Readings can be easily accessed with a Missal or the iPieta app on ios or android.

PENANCE RULE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

Paschaltide

  • Tier 1: Abstinence only on Fridays in Paschaltide (except Easter Friday which is optional, current canon law allowing meat on Solemnities such as Easter Friday)
  • Tier 2: Additional Fasting on Fridays

After Pentecost

  • Tier 1: Abstinence Wed / Friday
  • Tier 2: Additional Fasting on Friday

Advent

  • Tier 1: Abstinence Wed / Friday / Saturday
  • Tier 2: Additional Fasting on Friday, St. Martin’s Lent abstinence from 11/11 to 12/24 including Sundays.

After Epiphany

  • Same as After Pentecost