Questions about lent?

[cristyd]

I have some question about the lent. I am learning to become a Catholic and still have many questions. So can you please help.

1. When you lent before the Easter and the Christmas how long is the period, when does it start? Do you have to fast all the time or only on Fridays?
2. What does no meat really mean? For example if you take the chunks of meat out of the salad or food are you allowed to eat the rest? Or it should be food that was not touched by meat at all?
3. If you wish for meat on Friday is it a sin? I usually eat at work in the cafeteria and sometimes i see some nice meals and think " I could really eat that". However i choose the vegetarian menu because i really want to respect the no meat on Friday. Is it still a sin that i wish for the meat?

 

[OKAstro]

I have some question about the lent. I am learning to become a Catholic and still have many questions. So can you please help.

1. When you lent before the Easter and the Christmas how long is the period, when does it start? Do you have to fast all the time or only on Fridays?
2. What does no meat really mean? For example if you take the chunks of meat out of the salad or food are you allowed to eat the rest? Or it should be food that was not touched by meat at all?
3. If you wish for meat on Friday is it a sin? I usually eat at work in the cafeteria and sometimes i see some nice meals and think " I could really eat that". However i choose the vegetarian menu because i really want to respect the no meat on Friday. Is it still a sin that i wish for the meat?

Welcome home!!

Lent is the season starting from Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday. We are to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in Lent (no meat, chicken, pork). Fish is the entree of choice.

Fasting is on Good Friday - only one main meal for the day. A light snack is permitted for the other meals, but we should not snack between meals

I wouldn’t call it a mortal sin, but knowingly eating meat on Friday would be a venial sin at least. Maybe someone else knows if it’s a grave sin.

These could also be answered by one of your parish priests

Advent is the season before Christmas (starting with the 4th Sunday before Christmas). There is no required abstinence/fasting during Advent

God Bless

 

[OKAstro]

…and Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays

 

[insalaco]

We shouldn’t forget that Mortal and Venial (serious and not serious) is first and foremost about motivation. In this context, if you eat meat on Friday because you genuinely forgot it’s Friday, isn’t a big deal. Otherwise, if you’re committing to something and then fail to live up to your commitment, it’s always a problem.

No meat means no meat of any kind - even meat flavoring (e.g.,bullion) is unacceptable.

We should also note that limiting no meat to Fridays during Lent is an American thing. The Vatican never changed the rules for the rest of year. Rather, they left the rest of the year up to the local bishops. Much of the world still requires no meat all year long.

By the way … in addition to Fridays, Ash Wednesday is also a fast day.

 

[OraLabora]

Fasting is on Good Friday - only one main meal for the day. A light snack is permitted for the other meals, but we should not snack between meals

Fasting is also obligatory on Ash Wednesday.

 

[KarenElissa]

Others have answered the first one, but here are my thoughts on the other two

1. What does no meat really mean? For example if you take the chunks of meat out of the salad or food are you allowed to eat the rest? Or it should be food that was not touched by meat at all?

I think no meat means nothing that is actually meat. I have often picked out chunks of meat from salad or pasta or whatever when I’ve been served such things on a Friday. I don’t see how that would be a problem.

1. If you wish for meat on Friday is it a sin? I usually eat at work in the cafeteria and sometimes i see some nice meals and think " I could really eat that". However i choose the vegetarian menu because i really want to respect the no meat on Friday. Is it still a sin that i wish for the meat?

No, wishing for meat would not be a sin. That is part of the point of not eating meat, it is a penance, a reminder. If it didn’t take any effort or anything, then it would be much of a penance.

 

[OKAstro]

Fasting is also obligatory on Ash Wednesday.

Thanks for the catch

 

[cristyd]

We should also note that limiting no meat to Fridays during Lent is an American thing. The Vatican never changed the rules for the rest of year. Rather, they left the rest of the year up to the local bishops. Much of the world still requires no meat all year long.

There is only one thing that i really don’t understand. I’m sorry if i put so many question but i really don’t know. If we are not allowed to eat meat every Friday all year then how is the Lent different then the rest of the year?

 

[insalaco]

Others have answered the first one, but here are my thoughts on the other two

I think no meat means nothing that is actually meat. I have often picked out chunks of meat from salad or pasta or whatever when I’ve been served such things on a Friday. I don’t see how that would be a problem.

The problem is that you’re watering down the commitment that you have made. No meat of any kind is permitted. If we’re unable or unwilling to keep the commitment, than maybe we shouldn’t make it in the first place.

No, wishing for meat would not be a sin. That is part of the point of not eating meat, it is a penance, a reminder. If it didn’t take any effort or anything, then it would be much of a penance.

 

[insalaco]

Others have answered the first one, but here are my thoughts on the other two

I think no meat means nothing that is actually meat. I have often picked out chunks of meat from salad or pasta or whatever when I’ve been served such things on a Friday. I don’t see how that would be a problem.

No, wishing for meat would not be a sin. That is part of the point of not eating meat, it is a penance, a reminder. If it didn’t take any effort or anything, then it would be much of a penance.

Meat of any kind is not permitted. I cannot understand why we would make a commitment knowing we have no intention of living up to that commitment.

 

[insalaco]

insalaco;7105505:

We should also note that limiting no meat to Fridays during Lent is an American thing. The Vatican never changed the rules for the rest of year. Rather, they left the rest of the year up to the local bishops. Much of the world still requires no meat all year long.

There is only one thing that i really don’t understand. I’m sorry if i put so many question but i really don’t know. If we are not allowed to eat meat every Friday all year then how is the Lent different then the rest of the year?

In the United States we are only required to not eat meat on Friday during Lent.

In the “old days” - and today in some places around the world - the Lent requirement of no meat was Wed & Fri. But more than this, Lent is about a lot more than just no meat on Friday. It is about preparing for Easter via sacrifice, reflection, taking stock, etc …

 

[KarenElissa]

Meat of any kind is not permitted. I cannot understand why we would make a commitment knowing we have no intention of living up to that commitment.

I’m having trouble seeing where I said otherwise…

 

[cristyd]

Thank you guys, you have managed to answer to all my question. I really appreciate it.
Since I don’t live in America I will try not to eat meat on Fridays also during the year.

cristyd;7106942:

insalaco;7105505:

In the “old days” - and today in some places around the world - the Lent requirement of no meat was Wed & Fri. But more than this, Lent is about a lot more than just no meat on Friday. It is about preparing for Easter via sacrifice, reflection, taking stock, etc …

Does sacrifice mean giving up on something you like. For example if i love listening to music is giving up music for the lent period a good example of sacrifice?

English is not my mother tong. What does taking stock mean?

 

[insalaco]

You will want to find out what the Bishops have said in your country about meat on Fridays during the rest of the year.

“Taking stock” … it’s an American phrase meaning, examination of conscience.

 

[insalaco]

I’m having trouble seeing where I said otherwise…

I completely misread your post. I’m really sorry!!

 

[KarenElissa]

I completely misread your post. I’m really sorry!!

No problem, I was just confused!

 

[corsair]

Well, I for one and my wife for two, follow the “no meat” rule all year long and the ember days. Its just something we do because we want to. we are both over 59 so we could be “excused” from this obligation. However, we are both rather healthy so we choose to do it.
Cheers