I don't know if this applies to all but some of the people I know make up their own rules for the no meat on Friday thing. According to what I was taught is that during Lent you are to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and for every Frida during Lent you are to have no meat.
Some people I know have no meat on every Friday of the year.
Some people I know have no meat on Wednesdays; as well as Fridays during Lent.
Some people I know fast on every Wednesday and Friday of the year.
One time when I was at school, it was on a Wednesday duing Lent and one of my friends asked me why I was eating meat. I asked him what the problem was and he said that "it's a Wednesday". I tried explaining to him that only on Ash Wednesday it's no meat as well as only on Fridays. You could have meat on Wednesdays and he looked at me as if I was crazy.
Why do they make up their own rules on this meat/fasting issue?
2007-11-18 10:04:39 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Before Vatcan II, it was no meat on Fridays, all year round.
Since Vatican II, it's no meat on Fridays in Lent. But abstaining on other Fridays is officially encouraged, or substituting something else like extra prayers (but I don't think many people are taught this, anyway).
Some people like to do more than what's required. Your friend at school was probably taught by his parents to fast on Wednesdays too, and didn't realize it was their own personal rule and not a church rule.
Details vary by community sometimes, too. My college roommate at fish and chicken on Fridays in Lent, but everyone else I knew only ate fish.
2007-11-18 21:37:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even non-Catholic Christians sometimes follow these rules and some don't eat meat on any Friday and some even fast every Friday. Some eat fish every Friday. If it's right before Easter, I don't believe we should eat meat. In fact the Lord rebuked me once for this so now I won't eat meat then. I'm Pentecostal by the way.
2016-05-24 02:31:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as they aren't taking away from the rules (fasting on Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday, and no meat on Fridays of Lent), it's ok to fast extra times.
The rule used to be no meat on ANY Friday, but that rule was changed with Vatican II.
So why do people fast when they don't have to? Because they want to!
2007-11-18 10:13:38 · answer #3 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some of us keep the older, more traditional rules.
As for me, that's EVERY Friday of the year and Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent.
2007-11-18 10:17:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was always taught no Meat on Fridays during lent. Which is why at the beginning of march they buy us McDonalds card so we can get fish sandwhiches on Fridays.
2007-11-18 10:33:41 · answer #5 · answered by ImperialCountyQueen 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the earlist rules are no meat wensday and friday uless it is a special feast day no meat during elnt advent or during the dormition fast.. the reason you have such differing rules is a mix of local custom plus a desire to do the least amount of fasting..
my rule of thumb no meat in Lent period.
2007-11-18 12:35:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church follows 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.
The Days of Penance are described in the Code of Canon Law (1249-1253):
Divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way.
In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence.
The penitential times are every Friday and the season of Lent.
Abstinence from meat is to be observed on all Fridays.
Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
In the United States of America, the bishops, with the permission of the Pope, for Catholics to substitute a penitential Practice or even a charitable practice of their own choosing on the Fridays outside of Lent.
Many U.S. Catholics just continue to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM
http://www.usccb.org/lent/2007/Penance_and_Abstinence.pdf
With love in Christ.
2007-11-18 16:39:04 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're actually supposed to not eat meat on Fridays during all of the year, although it is not required anymore. It's perfectly fine to fast on other days, but to think that Wed. are required too? Beats me. Probably just misinformed. Kudos for attempting to explain...
2007-11-18 10:11:56 · answer #8 · answered by Daewen 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't make up their own rules.
Some of them have decided which method of fasting works better for them.....and that's allowed.
Fasting no longer has hard and fast rules..... except during Lent you shouldn't eat meat on Friday.
2007-11-18 10:12:15 · answer #9 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
When I was growing up it was every Friday, no meat.
2007-11-18 10:11:16 · answer #10 · answered by JF_14 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋