Can't eat meat on Fridays because of Lent? Here's what Catholics, some Christians can eat (2024)

FAQs

Can't eat meat on Fridays because of Lent? Here's what Catholics, some Christians can eat? ›

Examples include cod, perch, salmon, walleye, halibut, and tuna. Cold-blooded animals are also allowed. Examples include frogs, clams, turtles, shrimp, crab, and oysters.

What can you eat on Fridays during Lent? Fish, eggs and alligators. While flesh meat isn't allowed, the Archdiocese says non-flesh products of the animals is good to have.

What can I (not) eat during Lent? Lenten fasting requires strict abstinence from meat. According to the USCCB, you shouldn't eat meat from chickens, cows, sheep, ham, pigs, or birds. It's also common practice to avoid alcohol, sweets and desserts, and fast foods made from chicken and beef.

On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent: Everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat.

"Friday is a day of penitence, as it is believed Christ died on a Friday. Everyone has the right to either eat meat or not.

Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden.

Catholics are not allowed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday. Most adults are expected to fast and eat only one full meal per day. Two smaller meals can count for this requirement. Acceptable foods to eat on Ash Wednesday include milk, eggs, fish, grains, fruits and vegetables, according to Forklift and Palate.

Christians of various traditions, including Catholics and Methodists, have voluntarily undertaken the Daniel Fast during the season of Lent, in which one abstains from "meat, fish, egg, dairy products, chocolates, ice creams, sugar, sweets, wine or any alcoholic beverages" (cf. Daniel 10:3).

While Lenten fast days in the Roman Catholic Church — Ash Wednesday and all of the Fridays during this period — involve abstinence from certain types of food, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops lists no such stipulations regarding beverages.

The Oxford Dictionary defines Lent as: (in the Christian Church) the period of 40 days from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter, traditionally a time of fasting (= giving up food or certain types of food), prayer and giving to charity.

Do seniors have to give up something for Lent? ›

At what age do you start fasting for Lent? Those ages 18-59, in reasonable health, are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those 14 and older must abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.

Second, those who are elderly (at least 60 years of age) or sick as well as their caretakers can receive Communion even if a full hour fast has not been fulfilled.

There is no direct statement on the subject by Jesus in the New Testament. The story of Jesus feeding fish to people would support the view that Jesus may have been a pescatarian. Paul seems to have been more open to meat eating, but even Paul was open to vegetarianism.

Baptists do not celebrate lent because it is not Biblical. You will not find any mention of Jews or Christians observing an annual period of 40 days of fasting and abstinence preceding the festival of the Passover, yet most of the “Christian” world observes a 40 day period called Lent, which precedes Easter Sunday.

While it used to be sinful to eat meat on Fridays (prior to 1966), that is no longer the case. The sin was not a matter of merely forgetting about abstaining. A person committed a sin by eating meat on Fridays out of contempt for the regulation.

Catholics can and do drink milk and have cheese and other dairy products on Fridays during Lent. The “no meat” only applies to Ash Wednesday, and Fridays in Lent, including Good Friday.

Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays. Flesh meat includes the meat of mammals and poultry, and the main foods that come under this heading are beef, pork, chicken, and turkey.

On Good Friday, it's tradition to eat fish rather than meat. According to Christians, Jesus sacrificed his flesh on what is now known as Good Friday. This is why traditionally, people abstain from meaty flesh on Good Friday.