Catholics Can Eat Meat on St. Patrick's Day: Chicago Cardinal

CHICAGO, IL -- St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday this year, which is great news if you plan to go out and celebrate, but for some Catholics, the day of the week prompted concerns it could interfere with plans to take part in the traditional St. Paddy's Day feast of corned beef and cabbage.

But no worries: Although Catholics generally abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, it's OK to partake on St. Patrick's Day, according to Cardinal Blase Cupich.

Cupich has granted a special dispensation allowing Catholics to eat meat on March 17, according to WGN. The Chicago cardinal said Catholics who do eat meat on St. Patrick's Day can choose an alternate form of penance in place of abstaining.

What is corned beef? The traditional St. Patrick's Day dish is made from beef brisket cured in brine and boiled. It is traditionally served hot with cabbage and potatoes, or cold as a corned beef sandwich. While it's seen in America as a stereotypically Irish dish, you'll have a tough time finding an Irishman who eats corned beef on St. Patrick's Day, according to Smithsonian.com, and bacon or lamb is typically eaten on the holiday.

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