Question about Catholics and Lent

[Tommy999]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. As usual, it was informative and helpful to me.:tiphat:

 

[Stilldreamn]

Do the Lutherans, Anglicans, or other protestant denominations have similar Lenten practices or customs?

Lutherans begin the period of Lent with imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday. We are not required to restrict our diet or give up something, although many, perhaps most, do follow along with the Catholic practices. Most parishes have a special Lenten devotional service midweek that frequently has a simple meal shared in community.

 

[SteveVH]

Hi Steve,
I was just referring to Tommy’s question about “… give up something for Lent (candy,etc), get ashes placed on their foreheads on Ash Wednesdays”

No problem. But your answer was in response to the post that included the bolded part below as well:

The few Catholics I know all tend to give up something for Lent (candy,etc), get ashes placed on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday, and eat fish on Friday during Lent.

There are a lot of people who read these threads. Just wanted to clarify for those who might misunderstand.

 

[FathersKnowBest]

Sorry, but not so:

Canon 1251
“Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are actually obligated to abstain from meat on all Fridays, according to Canon law.

Almost, Steve.

For Lent, we are obligated to abstain from meat on Fridays, and (I’m not sure I’ve seen this emphasized on this thread) to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (fasting meaning having one small meal and two small snacks at most).

While you’re quoting of Canon 1251 is correct, there’s another relevant data point:
From Fast and Abstinence:

On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. They must do some penitential/charitable practice on these Fridays. For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere.

So, we can, at our discretion, replace the abstinence from meat with some other penitential practice. But we are still required to honestly perform some act of penance.

This should be especially true of people that don’t particularly like meat in the first place. For me, I try to keep the abstinence from meat, since I love meat & chicken!

I wanted to add that this is the MINIMUM we are obligated to do, but we are encouraged to do more. For instance, I used to try to fast 100% on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. I find that as I’m getting older, I get a headache, so I limit myself to one very small snack on those days (but I try to drink plenty of water).

 

[signit]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. As usual, it was informative and helpful to me.:tiphat:

Thanks for raising the question; it was a good one.

I’ve seen a few different theories on it. The one that seems to be the most widespread is that in the Middle Ages, fish was a very common staple of the diet, whereas meat was very expensive and used only for celebrations. Since Lent is not a time of celebration, meat was off limits but fish was okay.

I was told this as well., that meat was more expensive and seen as a special treat.

Yeah, well, I have my own views on the fish fries. It’s usually a good fund raiser for the Knights of Columbus so from that standpoint it’s fine. But there is still something about giving up meat on Friday and instead pigging out on fish, fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, cake and ice cream that just doesn’t sit well with me. While abstaining is not fasting, it always seemed to me that it should be some kind of sacrifice, small as it is. After a fish dinner like that, I don’t feel I have sacrificed anything in giving up meat, all I have done is indulge in a meal that I enjoy more than meat and gained a few pounds in the process.

This is a good point, and it came up in a thread earlier in Lent.

I’d still go to the fish fry and eat the food, though, as it would be worth it to me to make a public statement (to the other attendees and maybe others) that I’m a Catholic and that I obey the rules of my faith.

 

[SteveVH]

Almost, Steve.

For Lent, we are obligated to abstain from meat on Fridays, and (I’m not sure I’ve seen this emphasized on this thread) to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (fasting meaning having one small meal and two small snacks at most).

While you’re quoting of Canon 1251 is correct, there’s another relevant data point:
From Fast and Abstinence:

On the Fridays outside of Lent the U.S. bishops conference obtained the permission of the Holy See for Catholics in the US to substitute a penitential, or even a charitable, practice of their own choosing. They must do some penitential/charitable practice on these Fridays. For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere.

So, we can, at our discretion, replace the abstinence from meat with some other penitential practice. But we are still required to honestly perform some act of penance.

This should be especially true of people that don’t particularly like meat in the first place. For me, I try to keep the abstinence from meat, since I love meat & chicken!

I wanted to add that this is the MINIMUM we are obligated to do, but we are encouraged to do more. For instance, I used to try to fast 100% on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. I find that as I’m getting older, I get a headache, so I limit myself to one very small snack on those days (but I try to drink plenty of water).

Thanks for the clarification.