Many are aware of the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays during the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days until Easter. Perhaps not as many are aware of the reason for this discipline.
The practice of Lenten abstinence from meat is rooted in the idea of penance, which means turning away from our sins and turning towards God. There are three primary forms of penance: “fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] # 1434). Penance is essentially “voluntary self-denial” (CCC 1438). We do this through extra prayers, denying ourselves some food or other pleasure, and by giving of our time and money to others.
The whole season of Lent is a time for making up for our sins and preparing ourselves to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead at Easter. It is a time to re-focus our attention on God. It is a time for penance. “By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus [fasting for 40 days] in the desert” (CCC 540). The Catholic Church teaches that all the days of Lent except for Sundays are days of penance, meaning that Catholics must do some form of penance. The Church requires abstinence from meat on Fridays of Lent and some other penance of choice on the other non-Sunday days of Lent. Meat is a common, nutritious part of our everyday diet, so abstaining from meat can be a little challenging sometimes. Fish is not a requirement for these days, but is a common meal choice as it is not considered meat. When we abstain from meat, we should remember that we are doing it to make up for our sins and to develop greater self-control, which will help prevent future sin.
On Good Friday, the most solemn day of the year, the obligation to abstain from meat is accompanied by an additional obligation to fast, which means not eating between meals. On days of fast, Catholics are permitted one full meal and two smaller meals which should not equal one full meal. The obligation to fast and abstain from meat also applies on Ash Wednesday. In memory of Christ’s death on the cross, all Fridays throughout the year are days of mandatory penance for Catholics. On Fridays outside of Lent, the Church encourages, but does not strictly require, abstinence from meat. Catholics may choose any penance they wish on these days, whether it be a form of prayer, fasting, or almsgiving.
The most important point to remember about penance is that it should be done for the love of God and to unite ourselves more closely with Him. We are choosing to make a sacrifice to show our love for Him.