St. Patrick’s day will be this coming Friday and being during Lent, it is a day of fasting. Related to this I have been asked about dispensations granted by a priest. A priest can give a dispensation on an individual bases to persons who present a good reason why they cannot keep the fast. This is limited to individuals. He cannot grant a dispensation to group, gathering or congregation. Only the local bishop can grant group dispensations. If you are 60 years or older you are already excused from the fast by church law. This doesn’t mean that the fast is to be ignored but that the rigor of fasting can be too much for advanced age. They do not need to request a dispensation. You may also receive a dispensation from Sunday or Holy Day obligations, again with good reason. Normally this is requested with an offer to attend Mass on another day, such as a daily Mass but this is not necessarily required. This request can be made by phone or message. (No dispensation is needed if you are sick, caring for someone who is homebound, or you just cannot get there due to a legitimate obstacle like weather or transportation. This includes safety.) If you legitimately forgot to fast before Mass, a priest can also give you a dispensation. Another is work on Sunday. Yes, we are to refrain from work based on the 3rd Commandment and the according to the teaching of the Church; it is a sin to work unless it is very necessary. A parish priest can give a dispensation to work on Sunday but it needs to be requested. My childhood pastor used to say, “If your ass falls in the well on Sunday pull him out. Just be sure you didn’t push him in.” I imagine some reading this are thinking, “Wow, it’s still considered a sin to not fast when required, miss Sunday or Holy day Mass or to work on Sunday? Yep. As I say repeatedly, “It’s not about the sin, it’s about the relationship”, our relationship with God. Yours in Christ our Lord, Fr. Sid.