2007-03-25 15:06:25 · 7 answers · asked by stacy e 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Catholic Church and many other Christians Churches follow the Biblical practice of Jesus Christ and the Jews in setting aside days where the entire Church fasts and prays as one in a attitude of constant renewal.
By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and in spiritual preparation for the celebration of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
This season of penance is an intense moments of the Church's penitential practice and are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and charitable and missionary works.
With love in Christ.
2007-03-25 15:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is in fullfilment of what is written in the scriptures...
1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
(1Timothy 4:1-3 KJV)
God bless you...
2007-03-25 22:16:15 · answer #2 · answered by GH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To remind us of the suffering and Passion of Christ on Good Friday, and to share in some small way that suffering and death once offered for the sins of the world.
2007-03-25 22:12:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That faith evolves....when I was a kid (40 years ago) they couldn't eat meat on ANY Friday. It doesn't do any harm. Probably good for them, really.
2007-03-25 22:11:30 · answer #4 · answered by nancy jo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because hundreds of years ago the fishing lobby donated large amounts of money to the church.
2007-03-25 22:15:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's for the purpose of mortification ... gaining control over our flesh bodies by applying and developing the spiritual power (grace) that we all receive from God.
Catholics are also expected to make some sort of similar personal sacrifice on each and every Friday of the year, in order to better remember and appreciate Jesus' perfect one time, once for all sacrifice, which also occured on a Friday.
St. Paul explains it here:
Rom 8:1 There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath delivered me from the law of sin and of death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and of sin, hath condemned sin in the flesh.
Rom 8:4 That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are according to the flesh mind the things that are of the flesh: but they that are according to the spirit mind the things that are of the spirit.
Rom 8:6 For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God. For it is not subject to the law of God: neither can it be.
Rom 8:8 And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh, but the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin: but the spirit liveth, because of justification.
Rom 8:11 And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ, from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
Rom 8:14 For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear: but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father).
Rom 8:16 For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God.
Rom 8:17 And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
Everything the Catholic Church teaches and practices is totally in keeping with the traditional Catholic position of being the original and only "full Gospel" Church of God.
2007-03-25 22:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a form of communal penance.
2007-03-25 22:10:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋