_Letter of the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda to the Bishop of
Southwark, explaining the foregoing answer._
From your letter of February 19th, 1864, I gather that you would
wish to know the reason why the S. P. replied on the 27th of May,
1863, _Non aequiparari_ to this question: An iis qui jejunare non
tenentur ratione aetatis vel laboris, aequiparandi sint qui ratione
infirmae valetudinis a jejunio excusantur, adeo ut istis quoque
pluries in die vesci carnibus liceat?
After having made due inquiry, I am now enabled to state the reason
why the sick are not, in respect of the quality of food on days
subject to the prohibition of the Church, on the same level with
those who are excused from fasting by reason of age or labour; and
it is, that the latter may eat such prohibited food as the Indult
permits, solely in force of the Lenten Indult, which may vary in
its limitations or dispensations from year to year; whereas the
sick may eat prohibited food according to their state of health and
the judgment of their doctor. Thus, _e.g._, on some days the Lenten
Indult may perchance not allow lard to be used as a condiment, and
on such days persons dispensed from the fast on account of age or
labour must abstain from using it as a condiment, whilst a sick
person may eat meat even on the excepted days if his health
requires it. I think this explanation will help you to put an end
to the doubts described in your letter.