i have a friend who is catholic and he forgot to eat fish friday and ate meat? he was really bothered by it. i asked him why because i was sure God would allow this one slip up and he told me it was because he was to fast from meat on fridays. why is this and where did it come from? thanks for any info.
2007-02-25 13:22:15 · 15 answers · asked by cakewiz03 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are a little confused about the obligations.
Catholics in the United States are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday.
They are also obliged to abstain from the eating of meat on Ash Wednesday and on all Fridays during the season of Lent.
Self-imposed observance of fasting on all weekdays of Lent is strongly recommended. This is where people also give up chocolate, sarcasm, or something else for Lent.
With love in Christ.
2007-02-25 16:42:55 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"...and why they consider it fasting?" - Because we ARE fasting. We have a small lunch and dinner, and nothing else. With today's abundance of food and how people eat all the time it is noticeable when Lent starts.
Our faith is not shown in outward displays, we are looking in, so the fast is not as severe as other religions. Also the church changed who fasts, to reflect reality: pregnant women and the elderly DO NOT FAST. Children also do not fast. Also if your sick, or truly unable (due to location/career) do not fast. So that leaves people over 18 and under what 55(?) only healthy people fasting for one day of the week - DURING LENT. That's 5 Fridays.
Fish was probably chosen because the Apostles were FISHERMEN. I don't really know. It's hardly a matter of concern - the reason is to focus on SINNING LESS, not dietary rules.
Also if you really want to know - ASK YOUR FRIEND - WHO KNOWS THIS and lives this daily.
2007-02-25 13:45:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate fish. I went to a Catholic school, and I was raised strict Irish Catholic. You do not "have" to eat fish on Friday. It is meat that you "can't" eat. Since Catholics do not consider fish a meat, tada! The no meat thing is a form of fasting. Not for the purpose of hunger, but for the purpose of being "clean." No unclean thing eaten, ie. dead bodies. Does it make sense? As much as it can 2000 years after these traditions formed the basis of Christianity.
2007-02-25 13:34:49 · answer #3 · answered by king_of_new_england 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, that's sort of it. We fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday...and abstain from eating meat on those days as well as every Friday during lent.
Fasting means only 1 small meal during the day. Abstinence is not eating any red meat or chicken...but we can eat fish. You can eat normally on days of abstinence...just the no meat thing.
Jesus was crucified on a Friday. We remember this day by making a small sacrifice and abstaining from meat. The beginning and ending of lent are marked with days of fasting and abstinence for the same reasons. We are making a sacrifice to remember Christs sacrifice.
When you are hungry on those days or go to get a hamburger...then remember not to...you realize you are giving up something and then you remember what Christ gave up for us.
During the 40 days of lent we remember the 40 days Jesus was in the desert, fasting and being tempted by Satan. We are in the desert with him (spiritually) and we are to increase our prayers, charity, and penance during this time.
The glorious end is his resurrection! Easter!!
2007-02-25 13:34:32 · answer #4 · answered by Misty 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lent is supposedly based on Jesus’ 40-day fast after his baptism. Was he then establishing a ritual to be followed yearly? Not at all. This is evident from the fact that the Bible does not record any such practice among the early Christians. Lent was first observed in the fourth century after Christ. Like many other teachings of Christendom, it was borrowed from pagan sources.
If Lent is in imitation of Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness after his baptism, why is it observed during the weeks leading up to Easter—supposedly the time of his resurrection? Jesus did not fast during the days prior to his death. The Gospel accounts indicate that he and his disciples visited homes and ate meals in Bethany just a few days before he died. And he ate the Passover meal the night before his death.—Matthew 26:6, 7; Luke 22:15; John 12:2.
2007-02-25 13:37:20 · answer #5 · answered by gary d 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is part of the Lenten season. We give up certain things as Jesus did for the 40 days He was in the desert. Your friend was bothered by it because in a way he broke his sacrifice, but it is forgiveable. I gave up meat also and have not had any since last Tuesday. I dont care for fish, so Iam just doing veggies and salads
2007-02-25 13:27:33 · answer #6 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no obligation to eat fish on Friday. Since it is permitted, it is sometimes substituted for that which is not. Friday is a day of penance (as that is the day Our Lord died for our sins), and through the power of the keys (Matthew 16:19), it has been decided that we "be united among [our]selves by some common observance of penance." (Canon 1249)
2007-02-25 13:47:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not fasting. It's abstinance. And, it's only on Fridays during Lent, which encompasses aobut 6 Fridays per year.
Fasting is different. Fasting is when you have a light breakfast, and your lunch and supper only equal the sustinence of one meal.
The origins of fast and abstinence date back to the 2nd Century.
2007-02-25 13:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by irish_giant 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics aren't supposed to eat meat on Fridays during Lent b/c it is their way of recognizing the sacrifices that Jesus made or something...they can eat fish now (only moderately recent addition to the tradition) b/c the fish trade was suffering horribly a long time ago during this whole Lent period and so the Pope ok'd catholics to eat fish...but no other meat...or something like that
2007-02-25 13:28:27 · answer #9 · answered by kedder 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The Jesus crusified on Friday isn't accurate unless MONDAY is RESURRECTION DAY!
3 days required.
Therefore JESUS had to be crucified on a THUSDAY to rebuild the temple in 3 days.
Sunday
Sorry, but the LAWS of PHysics are the laws of physics, unless there is a day between FRIDAY and SUNDAY we no longer have in our calendars!
Otherise FRIDAY to SUNDAY is two days, not three!
2007-02-25 14:26:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋