Pittsburgh bishop gives congregants special pass to eat corned beef on St. Patrick's Day, even though it falls on day Catholics aren't allowed to eat meat

• Bishop David Zubik told Catholics they can eat meat during St. Patrick's Day this year.
• The holiday falls on a Friday during Lent, when Catholics are meant to avoid meat.

A Pittsburgh bishop is allowing his congregants a religious "cheat day" next month when the feast of Saint Patrick falls on a Friday — the day of the week during which Catholics abstain from eating meat during the Lenten season.

Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik announced in a Friday letter that members of his religious community will be dispensed from the typical obligation to forgo meat on Friday, March 17 in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

"It is my hope that those who choose to avail themselves of the dispensation may do so in a spirit that reflects this holy season," Zubik wrote, citing the "great impact" Saint Patrick made on the people of Ireland and his own diocese.

Saint Patrick is known for spreading Christianity throughout Ireland during the fifth century.

During the Lenten season, which runs from Ash Wednesday up through Easter Sunday, many Catholics choose to abstain from meat on Fridays as a symbolic representation of their belief that Jesus sacrificed his flesh for humanity.

American celebrants of St. Patrick's Day often eat corned beef to celebrate the holiday, a cheap substitute for pork that early Irish immigrants made a tradition.

Zubik did however encourage any of his congregants who do choose to take advantage of the meat pass to consider some other sacrifice to make up for their imbibing.

"Might I suggest that those who take advantage of the dispensation consider some additional act of Lenten discipline on that day," he wrote.