Where’s the beef?

MARIA D’ALESSANDRO ASST. MANAGING EDITOR MAD724@CABRINI EDU

Skipping on the chicken patties, meatballs, burgers and chicken caesar salads may slim the waistline, but the real meat cutback should be directed towards the Pope.

Cabrini’s cafeteria, in an effort to follow the request of the Catholic Church, has curbed the meat entrees each Friday during Lent. Despite the usual deli lunchmeat selections, both the cafeteria and Jazzman’s have made some menu changes in order to abide by these rules.

The Lenten season, beginning Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday, typically includes abstinence from meat. As far as research says, no pope introduced this abstinence, but it gradually became a practice. According to http://catholicism.about.com/cs/lent/f/whyno meat04_p.htm, technically and traditionally, Catholics are to abstain from meat every Friday of the year as penance. However, most just eliminate meat on the Fridays during Lent.

The Rev. Michael Bielecki said that it is importanttonote thatthereisadifference between abstinenceandfasting. Abstinence, according to the EncyclopediaofCatholicism, is “voluntary forbearance” and is practiced through not eating flesh meats. Fasting is more of a spiritual discipline “by which food is voluntarily given up for a defined period.” Father Bielecki said that fasting is required for those between the ages of 18 and 59.

While those Catholics who abstain may have personal feelings towards their practice, one belief of why meat is eliminated is because many people feel that giving up meat, beef and chicken, is an inconvenience. This inconvenience can serve as a reminder of a Catholic’s priority of God over pleasures.

Another belief is that since beef is a specialty in some areas, the removal from a diet helps Catholics to remember those who are less fortunate.

“Since Cabrini is a traditional Catholic [institution], we observe the canon laws [of abstaining from meat],” Michael Antolini, general manager of dining services, said.

While Linda Roscioli, dining service office manager, said that all of the cafeteria’s entrees are meatless except at the deli bar, Jazzman’s has not edited out any of their sandwiches, but tuna and egg salads are usually on hand for Friday meals at Cabrini.

The dining services at Cabrini not only cater to the religious needs during Lent. The staff can also assist those with special dietary needs or medically restricted diets by going to their office inside the cafeteria on the bottom floor of Founders Hall.