Why don't Catholics eat meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during Lent?

Answer 1

The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that the penitential days and times (such as Lent) in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent (Code of Canon Law 1250). In Code of Canon Law 1251 states that, abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed 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 law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance (Code of Canon Law 1252). Catholics usually only eat fish on Fridays during Lent because during that time they believe they should give up to meat every Friday as penance and in recognition of the crucifixion of Jesus. Many Catholics do choose to eat fish as an alternative. The Church continues to encourage abstinence (eating no meat) on Friday as an act of penance. The practice is no longer binding under sin.

Answer 2

They do eat meat during Lent, just not on Fridays and fish doesn't count as meat. The purpose is to give up something in edification for all venial sins during the past week.

Catholics are supposed to not eat meat on any Friday all-year round but some Bishops' conferences, with permission from the Holy See, stated that on any non-Lent Fridays, Catholics can opt to do something else instead. Only during Lent (in those countries with a dispensation) should Fridays be meat-free, with it being a grave offense (mortal sin) to eat meat on this day.

Answer 3

It is meant as a "sacrifice" to remember Jesus's suffering. Code of Canon Law: Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons. Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Abstaining from eating meat on Fridays is a form of penance and sacrifice done in memory of the ultimate sacrifice of Our Lord when he died on the cross on Good Friday. Several decades ago the Vatican made this optional and local ordinaries could request an indult (exemption) to the rule. However, if Catholics are excused in their diocese they are still required to perform some act of sacrifice or do some good act on each Friday.

Answer 4

Generally this is as a mark of respect and remembrance of the sacrifice made by Jesus on Good Friday. Originally only a Lenten penance for the sins of mankind this was extended to include Wednesdays and Fridays on certain rogation days with special prayers during the Penitential Seasons of Advent (prior to Christmas) and Lent (prior to Easter) which is why since the liturgical reforms of Vatican II it is now done around the time when Jesus' death is remembered.

In the Catholic religion, these days during Lent symbolize repentance days so people can contemplate their sins and ask for forgiveness. Prior to the Vatican Council changes, every Friday was mandated as a day of fasting for all Catholics unless a special dispensation was given by a Bishop or parish priest. The original practice had lost much of it's significance for many Catholics, since so many dispensations for reasons of health or travel or old age hardship, caused confusion or religious scruples among many and there was always the possibility of causing unnecessary scandal to those who knew you were Catholic but didn't know you had sought a dispensation for medical or other reasons. There were geographic areas that were blessed with an abundance of seafood that made the fast seem less than salutary for many and other areas where poverty caused an unequal hardship. The updated changes made the traditional Friday fast a more positive practice when it was made voluntary instead of mandatory except on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays during Lent.

This is a little difficult to explain in a short answer. All Fridays of the year are days of abstinence from meat in commemoration of Christ's passion and death. This has been in effect since the very early Church (we're talking the first century or the second century). Pope Paul VI revised the entire scheme of fasting and abstinence (the later now refers to abstaining from meat) in his Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini on Fast and Abstinence; but it very plainly included the abstinence from meat on every Friday of the year that was not a Feast day. He did allow individual Bishops' conferences to stipulate that, outside of Lent, the Bishops could stipulate some other penitential practice instead of abstaining from meat, but it would remain meat on Ash Wednesday, and the Fridays of Lent. Although the American Bishops have done this, the British Bishops just rescinded this as no one was following the practice of giving up SOMETHING on Fridays, so they have re-instituted the practice of abstaining from meat on all Fridays of the year (that are not feast days). Short answer? to commemorate Christ's passion and death.

Answer 5

The reason Catholics do not eat meat on Fridays is in remembrance of the day of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for all of humanity. It is a form of penance to honor and worship God.

Note that many Catholics today believe that the Church allows them to eat meat on Fridays except during Lent. This is not true. The Church allows Catholics to choose between abstaining from meat, or performing other acts of penance on Fridays. Catholics rarely perform any other act of penance on Fridays. The Bishops are considering rescinding this option between penance and abstinence from meat and ordering all Catholics to abstain from meat once again. Below is a link to Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on Penance, which covers the rules for fasting and abstinence on Fridays. As noted above, Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays in commemoration of Christ's passion and death. This custom has been prevalent among Christians from the first century. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk, or condiments made of animal fat. The abolition of Friday abstinence is a common misapprehension. Friday abstinence was not abolished; rather the faithful now have a choice either to abstain from meat or perform some other kind of penance on Fridays. However this choice is only for outside of Lent. Current Church law in the territories of the United States still regards abstinence from meat as the only form of penance which must be performed during Lent. extracted from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Do a lot of praying, going to Church, and practicing Lenten disciplines, particularly fasting. Passion (Palm) Sunday starts Holy Week, which commemorates Jesus' entrance into Jersualem, the Passion is read at Mass. Sometime during Holy Week, traditionally on Holy Thursday morning, all the priests of the diocese get together with the Bishop and celebrate the Chrism Mass when the Bishop blesses the Oils that will be used throughout the diocese and throughout the coming year.

On Holy (Maundy) Thursday evening, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated, which commemorates the Lord establishing the Eucharist and the Priesthood.

On Good Friday no Mass is celebrated, but the Passion is read, the Cross is venerated, Intercessions are offered for everyone, and Holy Communion is given.

On Holy Saturday night, the Easter Vigil begins, after dark, when Our Blessed Lord's resurrection is celebrated, new catechumens are brought into the Church, the new first is lighted, it is a wonderful Mass.

Answer 6

Catholic AnswerThis is called abstinence (refraining from eating flesh-meat), it is an act of penitence and physical mortification imposed by the Church for the health of souls. It is done on Friday in honor of our Blessed Savior's Crucifixion and Death on that day. AnswerThey cannot eat meat because they are sacrificing for Jesus and how He died on the cross for us we make a sacrifice for Him. AnswerNot eating meat on Good Friday is a discipline (not a doctrine) of the Catholic Church. It's the idea that because Christ died for our sins on Good Friday we should make some sacrifice to show our repentance for our sins and to help us prepare for receiving Christ in the Eucharist on Easter Sunday. Meat is thought to be a luxury and so giving it up was a sacrifice. Someone who goes out to eat for a huge lobster and seafood dinner on Good Friday sort of misses the point of giving up meat.

Answer 7

Originally Friday was supposed to be a fasting day, because Jesus was crucified on a Friday. People then moved on, and decided that giving up meat for a day and eating fish instead would be penance enough. Anyway, fish is a very healthy food.

Answer 8

It is the day of penance and mourning. It was the day when JESUS CHRIST died.

If there is a funeral in the family people do not celebrate, that's why catholics avoid eating meat on Good Fridays.

Answer 9

The prohibition of eating meat on Fridays is not uniform worldwide. Some countries allow meat to be eaten on Fridays if some other penance is done, such as in the United States. It depends upon the decision of the local bishops. Doing some penance on Fridays is done in remembrance of Our Lord's passion and death on Good Friday.