- NEW!
by Ankhorite on March 9th, 2007
I'm sorry to have to contradict most of the answers so far except for Singwell's. As to the rest of the points of confusion:
1. It has nothing to do with what Jesus did, or did not, eat at the Last Supper.
2. It IS on Fridays because of the belief that Jesus was executed on a Friday. However, in earlier times, meat was forbidden all through Lent, not just on Fridays.
3. It IS a sacrifice Catholics are required to make to honor Jesus' sacrifice of his life.
4. It WAS mandatory for Roman Catholics every Friday all year until the Vatican II conference led to many changes in Catholic rules; NOW it is only mandatory on Fridays during Lent.
5. Lent is the roughly 40-day preceding Easter (actually 43.5, see #6 below). It is a time when Catholics are supposed to consider the sacrifice Jesus made for humanity's sins, consider their own sins, and make some sacrifice of their own, see below.
6. Because people are so confused about the length of Lent, here is an answer from Father Larry Rice, head of the Newman Center for Catholics for the University of Ohio at Columbus: ----"Lent is 43.5 days long, and is the same every year. The date for Ash Wednesday is determined by the date for Easter, which moves (First Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox). Lent ends with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, making it a total of 43.5 days long. Every year people ask me if Sundays are part of Lent. The answer is yes."---- There you have it from a Roman Catholic priest regarding modern rules. To help you get oriented to the explanation, Holy Thursday is the day before Good Friday; Good Friday is two days from Easter Sunday. Therefore, Easter Sunday doesn't count as part of Lent, which may have led to the confusion about whether Sundays count at all. Wikipedia gives the wrong answer about whether the other Sundays count; see Father Rice's explanation above. Eastern Orthodox Catholics used to excuse Saturdays as well as Sundays from Lenten fasting; Roman Catholics sometimes were excused on Sundays (after Mass).
7. The sacrifice Catholics make can be something like cigarettes or food or video gaming; or a favorite toy or habit; or something like watching a particular television program. It is supposed to be something that they enjoy and will really miss, that will remind them of how hard it was for Jesus to give up his life if they are having a hard time giving up chocolate.
8. The Lenten restriction on meat came out of the Middle Ages, when the Church declared fasts in honor of all sorts of events (certain saint's days, or in honor of a day of prayer for success in war, or in mitigation of sin for the whole town). These fasts were declared for religious reasons or for political reasons (the health of the queen, luck in war, etc.) but the underlying reason was, most fasts were declared to try to make the winter food supply stretch until spring. Remember, in the Middle Ages, there were no grocery stores. Whatever had come in at harvest was all everyone in town had to eat until the next year. Enforced fasts were a way of stretching the food supply out a little longer, and preventing people from eating up the livestock they would need the next year, and eating up the seed they would need for planting in the Spring. Remember, meat used to be banned for ALL of Lent, not just Fridays, so this was an effective way of protecting the food supplies at the end of winter. See any of the books of anthropologist Marvin Harris for more on the social usefulness of fasting customs.
9. The prohibition on meat includes white meat and red meat, including chicken. Fish and seafood were permitted, but unless your community was on a coast, you'd usually have some kind of a cheese dish, if you were lucky. At some times and in some places, a bishop might lift the prohibition on chickens and other fowl; but usually, bird meat was treated like other meats, and forbidden.
10. There are two odd exceptions to this: at one point, Church authorities declared beaver meat could be considered fish; and there was a similar situation with the South American semi-aquatic mammal known as the capybara, which was also declared a "fish" for the purposes of Lent because it lived mostly in the water. Note that neither beavers nor capybara are domestic animals -- eating them wouldn't cut into the core livestock needed to maintain farms in the Spring, see #8. LATE ADDITION: Another similar example: I just learned that muskrat also was a permitted "fish" in some Canadian/Northern U.S. regions, see http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1797624/posts
and this fellow claims that sea turtles and iguanas are also permitted:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110008041
Elsewhere, I saw references to intermittent declarations that seabirds could qualify as "fish," but I didn't find a source I considered reliable or specific enough about that.
11. Compare Lent to Ramadan for an interesting contrast in fasting customs. Note that they are both roughly a month long (28 days of Ramadan, 43.5 days for Lent). Both depend on a lunar cycle.
12. Mardi Gras, which means Fat Tuesday, got that name because in some regions of Europe at some times in the Middle Ages, it wasn't just meat that was forbidden during Lent: it was other animal products like butter and eggs as well. So Fat Tuesday got its name from the pancakes and other cakes that were made then to use up the household's supply of eggs and butter before Lent started. Note: if people weren't eating the eggs, the hens would have hatched them out, thus increasing the supply of chickens and domestic ducks at the beginning of the farming year.
13. Fat Tuesday is usually called Shrove Tuesday in English. To be shriven (or shrived or shroved) means to go to Confession, and many people do that before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, to be cleansed of sin before the long period of Lenten contemplation, reflection, and sacrifice. It may have been mandatory at some point, I don't know. It may still be mandatory; I don't know that either. :)
There! A baker's dozen of Lenten trivia. :)
by singwell-is off researching a lot on March 9th, 2007
It is an ancient tradition followed by Roman Catholics not to eat meat on Fridays, but that has been relaxed now. Why it started, I do not know , but I found this suggestion:
http://www.kencollins.com/question-38.htm
Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Most often...(the) fast took the form of avoiding meat in the diet. In those days, meat was a luxury food. You either had to buy it in a market or you had to own enough land to keep cattle. On the other hand, anyone could grow vegetables or forage for them, and anyone could catch a fish in a lake or a stream. You could buy better fish and vegetables, but the point is that you could eat without money if you were poor. So meat was rich people's food and fish was poor people's food. That is why the most common form of fasting was to omit meat and eat fish.
As for Lent, it was common to prepare oneself spiritually for Easter over the 40 preceeding days in the middle ages, but the exact rulings varied from century to century and place to place, so it never was a unified tradition. When the Protestant churches formed, it became an option only.
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent#Fasting_and_abstinence)
by Valparaiso on March 6th, 2007
I can eat all the meat I want on Friday during lent. But I'm a member of that cult of heretics known as Lutherans.
by u.james on October 16th, 2007
If you really want to learn something about the history of lent read this:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm
by EyePod on March 9th, 2007
i think its something about fasting or giving up something.i believe it has to do with some hebrew tradition
by Empress of Everything Ever on March 6th, 2007
I thought that not eating meat on Friday was a year round thing for the Catholic church and that during Lent traditionally if was not eating red meat. And that you also hade to give up something for Lent, or was that meat?
by Researcher on February 29th, 2008
The practice of abstinence (doing without certain things) goes back to the Old Testament and the Jewish dietary laws which were carried over into parts of the early Christian church until the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). The theological reasoning is that it is a method of atoning for sin since chastising the body brings it under control of the spirit. Abstinence is first mentioned in a Church document in a decree of the Council of Toledo in the year A.D. 447 where the custom was to abstain primarily from meat on all Fridays and on days of penance. Canon 1251 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law prescribes "abstinence from meat, or from some other food as decided upon by the Episcopal Conference (conference of bishops) on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday." The National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States made abstinence from meat mandatory on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent and recommended that it be observed on all Fridays of the year but has allowed individual Catholics to substitute another penance on Fridays if they could not abstain from meat. For purposes of abstinence, fish is not considered to be meat because it comes from a cold-blooded animal rather than a warm-blooded one. Secondarily, early Christian art and literature used fish as a symbol of the Eucharist because the Greek word for fish, ichthus, is an acrostic (the first letters form the word) for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
The 40 days of Lent (Sundays are excluded from the count since we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord on this day) signify the change which we wish to make in our life. Throughout Holy Scripture, the number 40 signifies a time of change. During this time abstinence from something, whether it be sweets, coffee or TV is an offering to God and a method of prayer. Every time we are tempted by whatever we have decided to abstain from, we are to remind ourselves that we have given this up for God so that He can bring us closer to Him.
by Evangelist on December 10th, 2007
This is a tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. The truth is, that while the tradition may have started as a good devotional practice, it became a good work made necessary to earn salvation. We never want to give that impression. Salvation comes by faith apart from works, there is nothing we can do to be saved all the work was done by Jesus. We receive those benefits (offered to all) through faith (a work of the Holy Spirit, not something we do). That being said, you may eat meat on Fridays in lent, though you may choose not to as a personal devotional remembrance of Jesus' work, just know that it does not, in any way, contribute to salvation or faith but would just be a fruit of faith.
by CoachMJ on March 9th, 2007
It is simply a tradition since Jesus ate fish on Good Friday (The last supper).
by Sheriff Raff -Answerhag on March 9th, 2007
I think the lent observance might have been for sympathy for fishermen. After all, weren't some of Christ's followers fishermen? There is a pizza parlor advertising 1 Large Cheese Pie and 1 Order of Fish and Chips for $13.99, that just seems weird.
by Sidhedarkness on March 6th, 2007
Because that's traditionally the day that Jesus broke bread and fish with the hungry masses. Though that is also a Catholic tradition.
by Biggie15 on March 6th, 2007
Wow, you learn something new about the Christian faith every day. I never knew that tradition even existed
by JulesRules on March 13th, 2009
Listening to the above self-righteous remarks by Valparaiso makes Bill Maher's take on inter-Christian bashing on each other seem so very true. So tell me, which is the "true" Christian faith? Which demonination is the right one?
by Maria_L7103 on April 6th, 2011
The Roman Catholic Church is the true church and always will be. It was the very first religion started in the world, by Saint Peter one of the followers of Jesus Christ, who was also the very first Pope. He built the first church upon a rock. Now for all of you who are questioning the reasons of abstinence in Lent for more info or questions about this please go to this link and send us your questions which we will answer as soon as possible. http://www.ihom.ca/contact-us.html
by raymundo on April 6th, 2011
Too bad there are lots of people in Hell for the sin of eating meat on a Friday.
by iwnit on April 5th, 2011
1) If you mean me, as a vegetarian, I never eat meat, and this includes fish meat.
"[meat:] The meaning "flesh of an animal used as food" is often understood to exclude fish and other seafood. For example, the rules for abstaining from meat in the Roman Catholic Church do not extend to fish"
Source and further information:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/meat#Noun
Generally speaking, the interdiction of meat on Fridays during Lent only applies if you are following some specific religious traditions.
2) The Friday Fast is an Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays. According to Pope Peter of Alexandria, the Friday fast is done in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday. Abstinence is colloquially referred to as "fasting" although it does not necessarily involve a reduction in the quantity of food.
After the Second Vatican Council it has not been widely followed by Roman Catholics apart from Lenten Fridays and Good Friday itself. Specific regulations are passed by individual episcopates. In the US in 1966 the USCCB passed Norms II and IV that bound all persons from age fourteen to be bound to abstinence from meat on Fridays of Lent, and through the year. In September 1983, Canons 1252 and 1253 expressed this same rule, and added that Bishops may permit substitution of other penitential practices on Fridays outside of Lent only, but that some form of penance shall be observed on Friday in commemoration of the day of the week of the Lord's Crucifixion.
Abstinence is not optional for Catholics on Fridays during Lent. Abstinence on all Fridays is still the preferred practice among many Catholics.
Anglican formularies, particularly the Book of Common Prayer, have generally required abstinence from meat on Fridays, though it is difficult to gauge how widely followed this practice has been among Anglicans. The wording in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church describes the fourth Friday of March as the only Friday acceptable during lent to eat meat.
Some South Indian Saivite Hindus also follow a similar practice of abstaining from meat, but also fish and eggs, on Fridays."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Fast
3) "For Roman Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food to one full meal a day. This may or may not be accompanied by abstinence from meat when eating. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all people are obliged by God to perform some penance for their sins, and that these acts of penance are both personal and corporate. The purpose of fasting is spiritual focus, self discipline, imitation of Christ, and performing penance; it in no way stems from a concept that the material world is in some sense evil. The Catholic Church requires Catholics to observe the discipline of abstaining at various times each year, especially during Lent. Abstinence is asked throughout the year on Fridays, though the bishops' conferences in some areas allow other penitential acts (e.g., prayer, abstinence from another food, giving up something like TV). During Lent, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, both abstinence and fasting are required of Catholics who are not exempted for various reasons. Contemporary Roman legislation is rooted in the 1966 Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI, Paenitemini. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are obliged to follow the discipline of their own particular church.
The Catholic practice of abstaining from meat popularized the Friday fish fry."
"Current Canon Law requires that on the days of mandatory fasting, Catholics may eat only one full meal during the day. Additionally, they may eat up to two small meals or snacks, known as "collations". Church requirements on fasting only relate to solid food, not to drink, so any amount of water or other beverages - even alcoholic drinks - may be consumed.
- History:
The practice of penance during Lent, the time before Easter, has roots in the early Church. Besides Lent there were other penitential times customarily accompanied by fasting or abstinence. These included Advent, the Ember Days, the Rogation Days, Fridays throughout the year, sometimes Wednesdays and Saturdays also, and the day before some important feast days (called a vigil)."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_and_abstinence_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Church
4) "Fasting is a practice in several Christian denominations or other churches. Some denominations do not practice it, considering it an external observance, but many individual believers choose to observe fasts at various times at their own behest. The Lenten fast observed in the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church is a forty-day partial fast to commemorate the fast observed by Christ during his temptation in the desert."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
by Maria_L7103 on April 6th, 2011
The Roman Catholic Church is the true church and always will be. It was the very first religion started in the world, by Saint Peter one of the followers of Jesus Christ, who was also the very first Pope. He built the first church upon a rock. Now for all of you who are questioning the reasons of abstinence in Lent for more info or questions about this please go to this link and send us your questions which we will answer as soon as possible. http://www.ihom.ca/contact-us.html
by celticmoonlight on April 6th, 2011
it was basically a rationing method as meat was scarce. over here the monks were supposed to fast every friday but they mostly ate red meat anyway
by littlekiki on February 21st, 2009
Meat does not count as giving something up for Lent
by Brew Guy wishes he was icefishing... on March 6th, 2007
you can't??!??!! no wonder my ex was so pissed at me!!!
by pendy on July 1st, 2010
Throughout history, the Vatican has had its fingers in civil and secular matters and to think otherwise is to be ill informed. During the early church, a bovine disease (think Mad Cow) was spreading across Italy. In an effort to secure the beef supply, the Vatican stepped in, (fully supported by the fishing industry which was a huge benefactor to the church) and decreed that all Catholics must abstain from eating meat one day per week and chose Friday, most likely a nod to Good Friday. To do so, they had to couch their argument with scriptural reference and proceeded to do so.
As time passed, that 'secular' rule became meshed into the fabric of Canon Law, somehow morphing into the mortal sin space.
So what was purely a secular issue, somehow creeped into millions of Catholic children such as myself getting a whack across the chops for sneaking a piece of hot dog on a Friday, with a subsequent order to march directly into the nearest confessional and save my soul from eternal damnation.
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Comments
Lent is 40 days:
From the Catechism:
"By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert."
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p122a3p3.htm#540
From the Pope:
"Today, with the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, the Lenten journey of 40 days begins." &
"With its 40-day duration, Lent has an indisputably evocative power."
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20060301_en.html
by u.james on October 17th, 2007
Thanks for the links! Both the Catechism and the Pope were speaking in round numbers from convenience. If you call any parish priest and ask, they will usually say 40 first, and give you the precise number of days, which is 43.5, only if you ask for details. After I spoke with Father Rice, director of the Newman Center, I checked with a canon lawyer, and Rice is right. It's just that we are all accustomed to saying 40 days... a number which has a lot of Biblical resonance (wandering in the desert for 40 days, Noah's rain for 40 days and 40 nights, etc.)
by Ankhorite on October 18th, 2007
Ankhorite, I could not have put it better myself!
by dea_ex_machina on March 13th, 2009
Bravo, Ankhorite, Bravo.
by rose1980 on April 10th, 2011
uhhh.. that was long.. but The bible said teaching people to abstain from meat is a doctrine of the devil.. and so is not marrying. still i ask why priests have this rule..
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; FORBIDDING TO MARRY, and commanding to abstain from MEATS..." (1st Timothy 4:1-3).
by lbazar on April 19th, 2011