<P> Friday Penance also explains why penance is important: "Declaring some days throughout the year as days of fast and abstinence (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) is meant to intensify penances of the Christian . Lent is the traditional season for renewal and penance but Catholics also observe each Friday of the year as days of penance . The link between Friday and penance is extremely ancient and is even reflected in the Irish language word for Friday: An Aoine (The Fast)." </P> <P> The leaflet suggests ways of fulfilling Friday penance such as abstaining from meat or alcohol, visiting the Blessed Sacrament or helping the poor, sick and lonely as well as other suggestions . </P> <P> The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) produced a statement in 1966 called Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, which was modified slightly in 1983 . </P> <P> One writer has summarized the U.S. rules as follows: </P>

When can you start eating meat after lent