Topic: What is the reason for not eating meat on Friday's during Lent?

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Date originally posted: March 11, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question:  What is the reason for not eating meat on Friday's during lent?

Answer:

Dear Cindy, 

For Catholics it’s a small common penance, or act of self-denial, that all of us observe on Fridays during Lent.  Jesus died on the cross on a Friday, Good Friday.  So, the Church, we the People of God, have thought it appropriate to make some sacrifice on this day, Friday, during Lent as we prepare to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection. 

 That’s about it really.  It’s no sin if you don’t keep this common practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but, hopefully, it is good, spiritually speaking, for those of us who try to observe this practice. 

Father John