Why Don't We Eat Meat on Fridays in Lent?

As you've probably read, heard or know by now, the three disciplines of Lent are prayer, almsgiving and fasting. We have talked a lot about prayer since the beginning of this blog. Last week you read about almsgiving and the wonderful way you can help Honduran children break out of the cycle of poverty. This week I am going to talk a little but about fasting and abstinence.

Fasting and abstinence are closely related, but there are some differences in these spiritual practices. In general, fasting refers to restrictions on the quantity of the food we eat and on when we consume it, while abstinence refers to the avoidance of particular foods. The most common form of abstinence is the avoidance of meat, a spiritual practice that goes back to the earliest days of the Church.

The Church's hope is that by denying ourselves food while fasting or meat while abstaining (especially in this country where most of us have an abundance to eat), we will discover our inner hunger for God that can only be filled by surrendering ourselves to total reliance on God.

I have often heard it asked, "Why did we give up meat?" or others claiming we do so because the disciples were fishermen or the Church wanted to support the fishing business and that's why we can eat fish but not meat! In my research of this topic, I cannot find any such proof that we were trying to corner the market on fish sales! As a matter of fact here is the answer I found on the Busted Halo web site regarding this question:

Did Catholics only eat fish on Friday because they had an agreement with fisheries?

Fr. Joe answers: No, I don't think there was a backdoor agreement between the fishermen and the bishops over the whole fish on Friday thing.

Since about the second century of Christianity, Christians abstained from meat on Friday as a kind of sacrifice and reminder that acknowledged Jesus' supreme sacrifice on the Cross on Good Friday. About a century or two later, Lent came into being as a season of intense preparation for Easter (eventually it took on a more penitential flavor, asking folks to get their act together for Easter), so the fasting and abstinence was extended to much of Lent.

When the Second Vatican Council met in the 1960's, they were trying to simplify Catholic customs and laws - they had become onerous, complicated, and a bit oppressive in terms of the emphasis on sin and sacrifice. Before this happened, many people believed (and even a Pope or two had talked about) breaking Friday abstinence as a sin so serious it could land you in hell. They knew the whole thing had gotten out of hand.

So the bishops gathered in solemn council in the 60's decided to preserve the fasting custom (which means only one meal a day) but restrict it only to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday while retaining the old Friday abstinence law only during the more penitential time of Lent. You could say it was a kind of Catholic "lightening up". Although some people argue (and maybe they are right) that now its almost too easy (everybody needs a challenge, especially a spiritual one!)

Father Brett Hoover
[Father Brett Hoover, CSP answered this question for Fr. Joe]

From the site Busted Halo, accessed February 21, 2013

Here is a more scriptural and theological basis for why we don't eat meat:

What's given up isn't technically "meat" but the Latin "caro", which means "flesh". This is why fish is allowed: their meat isn't considered "flesh". So why do we give up flesh on Fridays? Two reasons:

First, "flesh" is often the term the New Testament writers (particularly St. Paul) use to describe our sinful appetites. So in Romans 8:13, Paul says, "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." We give up "flesh meat" to symbolize putting to death the deeds of the flesh.

Second, Christ redeemed up by offering up His Flesh for our salvation on Good Friday. St. Paul explains in Colossians 1:19-23:
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross [through him], whether those on earth or those in heaven. And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

So Christ, by being put to Death in the Flesh, reconciles us to the Father. So our job is done, right? Christ bore all the bad stuff, so we're home free? Not quite. St. Paul says in the very next breath (Colossians 1:24-25):

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking on the afflictions of Christ in behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from the ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones.

Christ being put to Death in the Flesh reconciles us to God the Father, but the Passion doesn't mean that we're going to get a free ride. Rather, our job is to take up our cross daily, and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). A Cross is for killing: Christ is saying that we have to die to ourselves every day. So it's fitting that we put away the flesh-meat on Friday, the day of the week which forever honors Christ's Passion, to signify both our love of the ultimate Sacrifice of the Flesh, and to emulate our Savior by mortifying the flesh for the sake of the Spirit.

From the site http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2012/11/why-is-fish-allowed-on-meatless-fridays.html

The biggest thing to remember is that we sacrifice something. After all, Jesus Christ sacrificed his very self for us. The least we could do is give up a little meat!

Submitted by Carol Burczyk, Pastoral Associate

Helping Honduran Kids: A Cluster Project

This Lenten season, as in all Lenten seasons, we are getting ready for the death and Resurrection of Jesus. We pray, we fast, and we give alms. Alms giving can take many forms; it can be a donation of money, food, clothing or some other item that is needed by someone living in poverty. It can be another act of charity such as visiting the sick, volunteering at a nursing home, hospital or school.

Bishop David Ricken says in his book, Journey to the Foot of the Cross: 10 Things to Remember, "It's about more than throwing a few extra dollars in the collectong plate, its about reaching out to others and helping them without questions, a way of sharing God's unconditional love."

This Human Concern's Lenten House will be used for Helping Honduran Kids, a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides for the needs of Honduran children. There is an orphanage that cares for 22 children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned in the northern section of Honduras. HHK feeds about 100 children a day as well as providing vitamins and clothing to children in the area. The organization also has a Jungle School that serves 100+ children from K-6th grade. Poor children in Honduras generally only go to school through third grade. Some of the children walk a three-mile round trip to get to school. The education HHK provides is important to them because they know that education is the only way to be lifted out of poverty.

HHK has no salaried administrative employees so most of the money (96%) donated goes to serving the children directly. By donating to organizations such as this, we acknowledge that we are all made in God's image, no matter where we were born, the color of our skin or our socioeconomic status. The service this organization does, and others like it, can have a snowball effect. Each child who earns this education will most likely help another, and pretty soon the whole village is educated.

If you would like to learn more about this organization, please go to their web site: http://www.helpinghonduraskids.org/. Financial donations to this organization can be made in the Lenten "house" in the gathering spaces at any of the cluster parishes. On behalf of the children, thank you for your generous support and prayers.

There are some other great ideas for you and your family for Lent on catholicing.com.

Submitted by Denise Murre, Child Minister

One of the things that makes me so proud to be Catholic is our commitment to the social justice principles as articulated in Catholic Social Teaching. And one of the ways we put this commitment to action is through organizations such as Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The video below talks about the situations of orphans in Nigeria, and how CRS is helping these young people to help themselves.

Ash Wednesday: How Will You Practice Lent This Year?

If you are reading this on Tuesday, happy Mardi Gras! As we indulge ourselves with paczkis and other yummy things today, we look forward to a time of spiritual renewal that begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Hopefully, we have all considered already how we will pray, fast and give during the Lenten season, but if not, below are some things that I have been thinking about - and maybe will be helpful to you too.

My friends often think that as a Youth Minister I spend all my time playing games with kids and praying. One of the biggest challenges I have personally, however, probably like a lot of you, is making sure I fit in time for personal prayer each day. Lent is a time then, that I really try to recommit in a specific way to that challenge. Fortunately, there are all sorts of wonderful tools available at this time to help. Just as in Advent, the Adult & Family Ministry office has purchased Little Black Books that are available to all parishioners in the back of Church. There are also lots of other reflection booklets with short daily reflections available as well - the one I am planning to use this year was written by Henri Nouwen entitled Journey of the Heart: Lenten Prayer. (If you happen to be at St. Peter's in the next week or so, we have set out a bunch of different reflection booklets outside the Youth Ministry office.) And of course, there are tools to help you pray with Scripture during Lent; or online Lenten "retreats". Loyola press has some really good resources you can access right from your computer. (See the widget on the right to access these resources.)

Most of us spend a lot of time reflecting on the "fast" portion of our Lenten practices. Personally, I have never been very good at giving things up - even as a kid I failed miserably at giving up candy or soda which always made me feel really bad and kind of defeated the whole purpose of the practice. Instead I have found that what works for me is to do something good - and in the mean time hopefully it replaces something "bad". As a teen (I was a little precocious), I spent one Lent reading the New Testament, which meant less TV time and less time fighting with my sister. As an adult, I usually commit to either reading Scripture or doing some other spiritual reading for a specific amount of time each day. I love the idea of making a point everyday to reflect on at least three things you are thankful for; or complimenting someone (thus giving up "negativity"). What are some creative ways you are fasting this Lenten season?

Finally, we come to the practice of almsgiving, or charity, during Lent. Why not make this a family endeavor? See what you can come up with as a family, or with a group of friends, to do a service project...our parishes have all sorts of needs, or check out the Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County. Or maybe its setting aside some extra money for your favorite charity or the Lenten House Project Helping Honduras Kids.

Whatever you decide to do to deepen your faith this Lent, start it out right by attending Mass on Ash Wednesday (and of course every Sunday!) Mass times for our cluster are as follows:
8:45AM at St. Mary's
9:00AM at St. Peter's
12:00PM Ash service only at St. Mary's
6:00PM at St. Peter's
7:00PM at Immaculate Conception

For an interesting take on Ash Wednesday/Lent, check out this two minute video from Busted Halo:

 A Blessed Lent to everyone!

In Christ,
Maureen