The Albigenses (a form of Catharists, literally Puritans, who took an extreme dualist view of the universe) had run rampant through southern France and northern Italy for about 200 years. Fueled by popular contempt of a decadent Catholic clergy as much as the linguistic-political aspirations of the Languedoc region, the Albigenses taught that matter was created by an evil force, that souls were from a good Spirit God - and that this God sent Jesus (who they claimed was made out of “Spirit Matter”) to liberate souls from their entrapment in evil matter.
Like the radical environmentalists of today, the Albigenses pushed for zero population growth, detesting marriage and advocating suicide by starvation and poison. They were so against procreation that they included animals in their plan and banned the eating of meat.
When Saint Francis came around preaching simplicity, penance, and a return to spiritual values, he naturally aroused some suspicion among his Christian brothers and sisters who asked were these “Friars Minor” a new sort of Cathari or were they authentically Catholic?
St. Francis, who, since his conversion before the crucifix, strove to be a loyal son of the church, had to balance the spiritual good of fasting with a recognition of our incarnational faith.
While St. Francis imposed a fast on his friars from the Feast of All Saints until the Nativity and from the Epiphany until Easter, he specifically wrote in his Rule, "at other times, according to this life, let them not be bound to fast except on Friday.” Taking his cue from the Gospel, he wrote, “it may be lawful for them to eat of all the food that is placed before them."
Furthermore, St. Francis had a special devotion to the feast of the Nativity. This celebration of the incarnation of God is as antithetical to the teachings of the Albigenses as possible. On Christmas, the friars were to feast.
One year Christmas fell on a Friday. When asked whether or not the friars should abstain, St. Francis said, "On a day like this I want everybody to eat meat; even the walls should do it, and if this is impossible, let them be spread with meat!"
While there are valid reasons to moderate one’s meat consumption, both as a health measure and as a spiritual practice, the eating of meat is a statement of the goodness of created matter and serves as a renunciation of modern Catharists. Indeed, one does not need to delve too deeply in the poisoned waters of animal rights and radical environmentalism to find striking similarities with the Albigenses. Zero population growth, dualist views of spirit and matter, advocacy of various forms of suicide, all of these views flourish in Catharists, modern and ancient.
If some Christians, such as Catholics, are to abstain from meat, they must do so in the framework of penance, of denying oneself a good. However, they must never claim that abstinence from meat is a moral imperative, except on days that the Church demands it.
With that in mind, and in the spirit of celebrating the Incarnation of God, as well as the Goodness of all His Creation, I offer you this recipe for a simple, yet magnificent pot roast.
In a pot large enough for the beef roast you have purchased (any braising cut will do, although the more adventurous will love to try beef cheeks. I tend to be a stickler for grass fed beef, as it has a much more interesting flavor), heat up approximately two tablespoons of vegetable oil over moderately high heat, almost to the point of smoking.
Rub your roast with fresh cracked pepper and brown it on all sides. Remove it to a plate. If the oil is too hot or there are too many burned bits, remove the oil, scrape off the burned bits, and heat some more oil over moderate heat. Briefly sauté one onion, sliced, and
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