Why do we fast, abstain from meat during Lent?

By C.T. Maier
2/23/2007
Pittsburgh Catholic (www.pittsburghcatholic.org)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Pittsburgh Catholic) � Every year, one issue of the Pittsburgh Catholic draws more readers than any other � Catholic and non-Catholic alike. But it�s not the Christmas issue, or even the special Advent and Lent issues that are mailed directly to every household in the diocese.

Like it or not, it�s the annual Parish Fish Fry Guide.

Whether it�s a humble affair or a catered extravaganza, the parish fish fry is a staple of Lenten Catholic life in Pittsburgh. Yet, in the raucous atmosphere of the parish hall, it can be easy to miss the precept that gives rise to the fish fry in the first place: Observing the days of fasting and abstinence established by the church. Throughout Lent, the Pittsburgh Catholic is taking a look at this and the other precepts and what they mean for Catholic life.

Observing the days of fasting and abstinence established by the church

Father Lawrence DiNardo is something of a fish fry expert, in more ways than one. As pastor of Holy Wisdom Parish on Pittsburgh�s North Side, he has become a connoisseur of fried flounder and pierogies. And as the diocese�s episcopal vicar for canonical services, he�s responsible for publishing the annual Lenten regulations of fast and abstinence.

The basics of the precept are simple: Catholics are obliged to fast � to limit themselves to one full meal or two lighter meals � and abstain � refrain from eating meat � on certain days. Only Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence, and in the United States only the Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.

The obligation for fasting and abstinence doesn�t fall on young children or people with health concerns, though they are encouraged to do acts of penance instead. Barring any health concerns that would present extenuating circumstances, the obligation of abstinence begins at the age of 14, and the law of fasting is binding on everyone ages 18 to 59.

In today�s super-sized, secular culture of consumption, the precept for fasting and abstinence may seem out of place. But, according to Father DiNardo, fasting and abstinence have a long history reaching back to ancient Israel and even non-Christian traditions. In a way, the question isn�t why Catholics happen to fast and abstain, but why others don�t.

Fasting and abstinence gives Catholics an opportunity to slow down and draw nourishment from a different source. As acts of penance, fasting and abstinence help us acknowledge the sin in our lives. �When we fast and abstain we take attention away from ourselves,� Father DiNardo said. �It isn�t meant for weight loss. The tradition is based in the idea of denying oneself to focus on something greater.�

Before the Second Vatican Council, the regulations were much more stringent than they are today. As older Catholics will remember, every Friday of the year was a day of abstinence for all, and every day during Lent was a day of fasting.

In easing the regulations, the church wasn�t trying to make the precept more convenient, but was placing the responsibility of spirituality on individual Catholics, Father DiNardo said. Every day of our lives should be a day of focusing more on God and other people and less on ourselves. Sticking to the minimum when it comes to fast and abstinence misses an opportunity for spiritual growth.

So where does this leave the parish fish fry? Fish fries are fine, but they need to be treated in the way that they were originally intended, as ways to help people meet their obligations and ultimately grow in their faith, Father DiNardo said. Stuffing yourself with fish and chips may meet the letter of the precept, but not its spirit.

�When I look at fish fries, I don�t look at them as places to get fish and support the church financially,� Father DiNardo said. �All these things that we do are meant to build up community.�

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This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of the Pittsburgh Catholic(www.pittsburghcatholic.org), official newspaper of the Dicoese of Pittsburgh,Pa.

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

ED
1 year ago
When & by whom did the abstinance of meat on Fri. begin? What Pope decreed this? Why & when?
Brian
1 year ago
David, I am a Roman Catholic. I feel the need to address this issue of my religious views for a reason I can't honestly name. The holy Fathers have taught you that all meat is bad for you? I do not believe the meat to be the source of our sinfulness, or even to nurture it. I have not eaten meat for a while and it helped nothing, I have prayed every night, before meals, after meals, when I finish homework and have nothing else to do. I make it a point to pray. I am not boasting, just pointing out that I'm not just abstaining and saying it doesn't work. I believe that the sinfulness comes from us being human. We are humans and we have flaws, sins that bring us farther from God. I mean absolutely no disrespect, what I say is sincere. I just wish to give my opinion since I loved hearing yours.
Andre s.
2 years ago
Listen peeps, as a former catholic, priests are teaching outside the bible and nevertheless, each one of us will suffer according to ones actions. Plain and simply, if you died after reading this message, would you go heaven............if you have to think about and come to the conclusion that yes cause I am a good person. All us have lied and have stolen something....the wages of sin is DEATH. God did away with the curse of the law. Epeshians 3:13-14. Pray to God to understand these verses, John 3:3, 3:16 and Romans 10:9. God Bless...i pray to see everyone that reads this message in Heaven.
lucy
4 years ago
recently I was asked "why meat" on fridays and Holy days and when exactly did that start, could you answer or give me a source that I can refer this person to Thank you
LEONARD CASTILLO
4 years ago
us catholics and non catholics ask "why no meat during fridays of lent?" what is the differance between meat and fish for this catholic law. it does not make sense, it too binding. so the big question is "why fish". even when i teach to adults in RCIA or kids in high school and elementary (currently i am a catchaist for first communion)i have a hard time answering this question. most of them will accept "because the church says so" but i really need to give a better answer. thank you for your help
David
4 years ago
Dw its not only you Orthodox christians also fast much more than Catholics depending on which fast it is it can be up to 55 days the reason we fast i suspect it will be the same for Catholics is because thats what the holy Fathers have taught us, through their great and invaluable experience, that all meats and animal products encourage or help to inflame the passions within us. The major or most common passions which often rage within all of us are as follows: pride, covetousness (the craving and desire for power, money or material goods), lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth. Al these passions - so common in all of us - are sinful. Sin separates us from God. Therefore, through fasting, we gradually tame or subdue and ultimately overcome our passions or sinfulness so that we can better and easier come into union and communion with God. I should add here, however, that holy Fathers have always stressed that overcoming our passions or sinfulness is gradually accomplished through both fasting and prayer. Fasting without prayer, they say, is not only useless, but can even be spiritually dangerous and damaging to the soul.

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