Can someone explain to me about Roman Catholics ?

Question

Why can't they eat meat this weekend ? Also I saw a news report on TV where Catholic people are getting their food blessed ? Like Kielbasa and eggs ? whats that all about ?

Answer 1

Thank you for asking.

The media frequently get things wrong about Catholicism.

+ Lent +

We give up meat on all Friday's during Lent including Good Friday, not for the entire weekend.

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.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm#1438

+ Blessings +

We have been blessing our food since Jesus blessed the food at meals in the New Testament.

Sacramentals are sacred signs that help us live holy lives. Although they do not produce sanctifying grace

Sacramentals include blessings of persons, meals, objects (including water), and places.

The priest blesses the congregation during Mass.

Christians bless their meals. "Bless us O Lord and these thy gifts, ..."

Priests bless water, animals, ships, homes, and even automobiles. "God bless this home and all those who enter here."

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt4.htm#art1

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

As far as eating meat, Catholics can eat meat this weekend, it's only Good Friday that it is traditional to not eat meat. The reason for that is because Catholics attempt to share in the life of Christ. On Good Friday Christ share in the last supper with his disciples and the meal did not include meat, but rather fish. You can of course have wine :-)

In a sense the core of Catholicism is the concept of communion.

As far as blessing things go, well Catholic love having all kinds of things blessed. We have holy Water, we can bless our pets and yes even our food. The concept behind blessing is based on the idea that the Priest is a direct Representative of Christ here on earth. Thus having a priest bless anything would be the equivalent of have Christ bless that thing.

Plus it gives the Priest something to do between Masses :-)

Pat Newberry
www.gypsyfarm.com
Per a request from Kieththewinemaker.

Answer 3

Hm. When I was little, we used to eat fish every friday before Vatican ll, then it was changed to just during Lent. I can't say for sure, but I think friday was the day chosen because the Christ was crucified on a friday, and the fish is about sort of a memorial on a friday, the fish is used as a symbol for the Christ, He told his Apostles that He would make them fishers of men. It's not so much a law though, as a custom. Many religions have dietary laws and other customs that are more to set them apart as a unique culture, more than anything... As for the part about getting thier food blessed, they were probably just getting whatever they were eating for Easter blessed, and that might vary according to what region or ethnic culture they came from....when I lived in Rhode Island, the Catholics I knew up there had all kinds of customs I never heard of in Maryland. Most of the Catholics up there are from French, Portugese, and Italian descent, where most of the people where I am from are from German and English descent...

Answer 4

It is an old custom to have baskets containing food for Easter Sunday blessed.

Some people take the goodies, my family's cutom is to take a little of each type of food...some eggs, flour, sugar and butter...so that everyone gets at least a little of the blessed food. The bl;essed food becomes a sacramental- something we use to inspire us to live holier lives.

Abstaining from meat on the Fridays of Lent and fasting on Good Friday are acts of penance to show sorrow for the sins we allcommitt that are the reason Jesus had to hang on the cross.

Answer 5

It's to take away something delicious. I don't like meat, so for me it should be coffee, that would be a real sacrifice. They do eat fish. I guess it's okay to eat cold blooded animals but not warm blooded.

Answer 6

Like many dec'd, they're still in bondage to law.
Whatsoever is not of faith is sin: Romans 14
The law is not of faith: Galatains 3
Any justified by law are fallen from grace: Gal 5
If fallen, "Christ: the end of the law" is of no effect.
Law added makes Grace "no more grace", but grace + law;
Like death added makes Life no more life, but life + death.

Grace + law is as saved + destroyed = dead end.
Life + death is as blessed + cursed = accursed.
If any bring another gospel, let him be accursed.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 7

I know lot's of them and they all eat meat this weekend. Lamb if they follow an old tradition.

Answer 8

It's just on Fridays during Lent.


VLR