What is Lent?

[tracifish]

I know it means that fridays, one is not to eat meat, but I have a couple questions:

1. Who came up with this?

2. Why do people think that fish is not meat?

 

[WeBe1]

Answer to #1
Lent was not observed by the first century Church! It was first addressed by the church at Rome during the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, when Emperor Constantine officially recognized that church as the Roman Empire’s state religion. Any brand of Christianity that held to doctrines contrary to the Roman church was considered an enemy of the state. In A.D. 360, the Council of Laodicea officially commanded Lent to be observed.

#2
Ignorance (human tradition)

Eventually, it (Lent) became a 40-day period of fasting or abstaining from certain foods. “The emphasis was not so much on the fasting as on the spiritual renewal that the preparation for Easter demanded. It was simply a period marked by fasting, but not necessarily one in which the faithful fasted every day. However, as time went on, more and more emphasis was laid upon fasting…During the early centuries (from the fifth century on especially) the observance of the fast was very strict. Only one meal a day, toward evening was allowed: flesh meat and fish, and in most places even eggs and dairy products, were absolutely forbidden. Meat was not even allowed on Sundays”

 

[kisstheson]

We are about to enter into the most meaningful time of year for me. I think giving up something makes one a little more aware of what Jesus gave up for love of us. It's kind of a journey with Him through out His passion and on to the Resurrection.

One can fast in many ways. Maybe not watching as much television of how about time away from the computer and giving that time to the Lord?

One thing I do resent is when people tell others about the sacrifices they are making for the Lord. It's not something you're supposed to broadcast. It's between you and the Lord.

 

[tracifish]

I found out that today is 'Clean Monday'....the inauguration of the lenton season for the Orthodoxes.

 

[tracifish]

Are you Lutheran?

 

[tracifish]

Yes. I do not see anything like lent in the bible. It is true that jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness...and he mentions fasting in the bible. Some things only come out with prayer and fasting....and when one fasts, one should not be obvious about it....so fasting is a good thing...

 

[CathNancy]

Lent is a time of renewal. The Catholic Church does ask that we fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from beef and poultry on all Fridays of Lent, but you can choose to do other things as well. Perhaps you would wish to spend the time usually spent watching tv or on CF and spend that time in prayer instead. Maybe you would wish to read scripture or attend prayer services at your church. All of this is so that you can spend time with the Lord and meditate on His passion, death and resurection. It is a time of renewing your relationship with God.

Nancy

 

[kisstheson]

Well, I like to call myself a Christian as I love both Catholics and Protestants. We can learn form each other.

Actually Paul the apostle said, "I buffet my body and make it my slave." So that's fasting from food and may speak of other practices as well. How about getting up extra early in the morning to pray? That sure would be buffeting my body. I'm not an early morning person.

One of the OT prophets talked about helping the poor as a means of fasting. So as you can see there are many ways to fast.

 

[JPPT1974]

It is where you give up I think everything
For forty days from eating, drinking, as you
Fast for that amounty of time if I understand!