Was there a secular reason Catholics abstained from eating meat on Friday?

Question

Just curious because often religon teaches what really is practical, i.e., abstaining from sex outside of marriage.

Answer 1

WHY IS FISH EATEN ON FRIDAYS?

FASTING IS TO ABSTAIN FROM EATING.

RELIGIOUS FASTING IS A DIETING.

OK?

IN EARLY TIMES THE JEWISH RELIGION SET FASTING AS TUESDAYS AND THUR.

WHEN CHRIST WAS BETRAYED THIS WAS A WED AND HIS CRUCIFIXION WAS ON A FRIDAY SO AFTER THE ASCENSION WE FOLLOW A BELIEF OF FASTING ON WED AND FRIDAY.

MEAT WAS A LUXURY AND FISH WAS EASILY CAUGHT. SO TO CUT OUT A LUXURY YOU COULD NOT AFFORD, FISH WAS SUBSTITUTED INTO THE DIET.

Answer 2

Hm.
I've often thought there was a secular reason for Lent. Like: give the poultry and cattle a rest from always laying eggs and getting milked.

Answer 3

Fish mongers were going broke so the Catholic hierarchy gave them a specific day to make their money.
Obviously the Fish people didn’t give the church as much money as the Bakers – they got their advertising in the Lord’s Prayer … “give us this day our daily bread”.
.

Answer 4

Not necessarily. Primarily it was a simple sacrifice one could do to offer something back to God. Many Catholic's still keep this practice to this day year round each Friday while the American Catholic church only pushes for this during Lent. I think it is a great & easy way to deprive ourselvs in thanks for all that we enjoy on a daily basis. Such small things along with prayer are all we can really give to God who in essence needs nothing.

Answer 5

Same reason we don't go for sushi on Monday. Levi the meat guy had Friday off.

Answer 6

No there is no secular reason. It is a form of penance.

Code of Canon Law:

Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.


When I was growing up they didn't even sell meat on friday.

Answer 7

To be honest, I have no idea and furthermore I wasn't even aware of the fact. I just poked my nose in to say how refreshing it is to see a truly analytical religious question as opposed to jibes and criticism, especially on a sunday.

Answer 8

Because Christianity was a huge made up lie to try to keep people good and give up their money. I would ne perfectly fine with it- if it was working for you.

Answer 9

jesus and his cadre represented the interests of fishermen; fish on fridays was good for business

Answer 10

none, just fasting