Question

[NM505StKate]

I don’t know where else to ask this so I will ask it here. Can someone explain why no meat on Ash Wednesday or on Fridays during Lent? I just don’t get it.

 

[1ke]

The practice of abstaining from flesh meat is ancient. It goes back to the first century. We abstain on Fridays because Christ gave up his flesh for us on a Friday.

Ash Wednesday is an extension of that, since it is a day of penance and marks the beginning of Lent.

The early Christians abstained from meat on Wednesdays and Fridays, and a number of other days.

 

[signit]

And, as I understand it, meat was specifically chosen because in olden days it was relatively expensive and seen as a delicacy or luxury.

 

[NM505StKate]

Okay thanks.

 

[Stephen_says]

fasting and abstinence used to be much more strict, as in no meat on ANY Friday during the year, as well as certain other days, and also for the entirety of the season of lent.

 

[808Catholic]

I don’t know where else to ask this so I will ask it here. Can someone explain why no meat on Ash Wednesday or on Fridays during Lent? I just don’t get it.

This is a question asked many times prior to Lent by Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and others. My first inclination is to direct you to your parish priest who is very qualified to discuss the history and doctrinal basis for this observance.

If he’s not available, you might check with the parish Religious Education team. (I’m one for my parish and find myself being called upon more and more to give cradle Catholics the background on Church dogma and doctrine.)

Finally, there are many sites (including Catholic Answers) that have very detailed reasons for the fast and abstinence practices of the Church. Here’s a simple one pager that I saw posted on FaceBook: