Lent

[Phoebe]

Why do Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent? (other than fish, that is)

 

[MattMMMan17]

To give the the animals a chance to reproduce to make up for what they've lost throughout the year.

 

[Loki]

To give the the animals a chance to reproduce to make up for what they've lost throughout the year.

That just struck me as really hilarious. Thanks for cheering me up

 

[thereselittleflower]

Why do Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent? (other than fish, that is)

Phoebe . . Please forgive my Catholic brothers for their jesting . . (though it was a funny answer. . . )

I would have to look it up again, but I believe it is because meat was considered a special food, a non-ordinary food, one that signified wealth, richness, indulgence, priviledge etc . . so giving it up was to bring one into a more humble (materially) state and with it a similar state of mind and heart . . you were denying yourself something priviledged . .

Did I answer it half way right guys? (should I tie my fingers up for a while?)


Peace in Him!

 

[InnerPhyre]

My understanding is that tradition holds that Christians used to give up meat on fridays and eat fish instead, which was cheaper, and give the money they saved to the poor. I might be wrong.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Here is a little blurb from a site that goes along with what I posted above:

Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves-a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!

Peace in Him!

 

[MattMMMan17]

Phoebe,

As much as I have to respect the answers of my Catholic sister and brother who have replied to you, I will stick by MY answer until instructed otherwise by the Church.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Phoebe,

As much as I have to respect the answers of my Catholic sister and brother who have replied to you, I will stick by MY answer until instructed otherwise by the Church.

*thereselittleflower gently clears her throat . . ah hem . .


CCC 2043

. . . ("You shall observe the dates of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of asceis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart..

Peace in Him!

 

[prodromos]

Why do Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent? (other than fish, that is)

Is this true? My understanding was that Catholics were to fast from eating meat on Friday throughout the year and to fast from meat for the whole of Lent.

Monastics have long recognised that certain foods such as meat, inflame the passions. Fasting with prayer is a most powerful weapon in subduing our passions. If we can learn to control our craving for certain foods, we become better equipped to resist giving in to other passions such as anger, lust and jealousy. Thus, inflaming our passions by eating meat etc. would be counter productive when trying to subdue them, so we fast from those same foods.

John.

 

[BAChristian]

American Catholic has a nice page dedicated to Lent customs for those of you inclined to learn more about this wonderful season...

 

[ukok]

great link, BA.

 

[Phoebe]

To give the the animals a chance to reproduce to make up for what they've lost throughout the year.

When I read that in my email, I thought, "He can't be serious!" The meat packers in the US would just kill more animals Monday through Thursday to make up for it. They would probably also run full production on Saturdays to make up for Friday.

I'll take a look at that link tonight.

 

[Credo]

Is this true? My understanding was that Catholics were to fast from eating meat on Friday throughout the year and to fast from meat for the whole of Lent.

Some Catholics, myself included, do abstain from meat every Friday. If one doesn't abstain from meat Fridays, some other penitential act is necessary for Fridays. Abstinence on Fridays becomes a requirement during the Lent.

 

[MattMMMan17]

*thereselittleflower gently clears her throat . . ah hem . .


CCC 2043
. . . ("You shall observe the dates of fasting and abstinence established by the Church") ensures the times of asceis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart..

Peace in Him!

. . .yah Phoebe! Just like I said! It's good penance to prepare us for the liturgical feasts and helps us control our instincts. . .thank you for reiterating my point Therese. . .

 

[thereselittleflower]

. . .yah Phoebe! Just like I said! It's good penance to prepare us for the liturgical feasts and helps us control our instincts. . .thank you for reiterating my point Therese. . .

You're very welcome MattMMan17 . . Happy to help anytime I can. . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Mulutka]

For some reason I thought that abstaining from meat on Fridays was because of the Crucifixion of Christ and honouring his broken body via not eating meat.... anyone else ever heard of this??

 

[Credo]

For some reason I thought that abstaining from meat on Fridays was because of the Crucifixion of Christ and honouring his broken body via not eating meat.... anyone else ever heard of this??

You are right, we abstain on Fridays because of Christ's passion. It also has foundations in the Old Testament. I don't remember right off hand, but I believe that King David abstained from meat as a penitential offering.

 

[Credo]

That's also why we treat Fridays as penitential days in general. And, if one chooses not to abstain from meat, they must perform some other form of penitential offering for the day.

 

[Phoebe]

I asked a customer at work today, too. (obviously, she's Catholic)
She was raised that meat was not eaten on any Friday, and the money saved was to go to the poor. She then said that later on it was changed because the cost of fish was actually higher than meat, so there was no point in abstaining(every Friday of the year). When I asked her if she knew whether it was tradition or based on Scripture, she shrugged and said, "I don't know."


LOL- There was one Friday during Lent a few years ago that Father Higgins called and ordered himself a reuben sandwich. We gave him flack when he came to get it. He had to order some soup, and save his sandwich for the next day.

 

[ps139]

You are right, we abstain on Fridays because of Christ's passion. It also has foundations in the Old Testament. I don't remember right off hand, but I believe that King David abstained from meat as a penitential offering.

Does anyone have the Scripture verses for this? I never knew this.