Explain the Roman Catholic custom of not eating meat on Friday during Lent

I recently read that "fish on Fridays" was started by the Catholic Church in the New England states to support the local fishermen.

I researched it because a local Catholic church started doing Friday Fish Fry fundraisers, and I was curious.

It's non Biblical.
Neither is Lent.
 

Here's another link Deb.

Catholics and lent

The thing I never understood was the fact that they can't eat a hamburger but, they can eat cheese which comes from that same animal. It has to do with eating from an animal whose blood was shed on the same day as Christ's.
 
Catholics view fish as a symbol for Jesus Christ. He is said to have cooked fish for his disciples after he rose from the dead. He also preached to his apostles that they would become “fishers of men” for God. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of how Jesus called his first disciples:
 
Waaay back when, our little school cafeteria had fish every Friday, and we were told it was for the Catholic students (2 or 3 as I recall). We also had hot dogs every Tuesday. What religion does that?
 
Originally in Medieval times, Lent was grim. No meat, no eggs, no dairy products, no fish. Furthermore, no marriages were performed and you were supposed to refrain from sex even if you were married. No parties, no music, no dancing. The season of Lent was supposed to be a period of abstinence from pleasure, any kind of pleasure, in order to "purify" your soul for God. You spent a lot of time in church, on your knees, listening to fire-and-brimstone sermons and getting pretty heavy penances. I image you were hungry a lot.

The pretzel was originally a Lenten treat; it was essentially flour, salt and water. People had to enjoy whatever treats that came their way, no matter how humble.

Then slowly the restrictions lightened. Fish and dairy products were OK for Lenten fare, but meat was still a no-no. You were only asked to give something up for Lent......chocolate, smoking, watching TV, etc. Now, you have to refrain from eating meat only on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent.
 
My friend is very religious. He showed up at my door on Ash Wednesday with the mark of the ashes still on his forehead.

I said to him . "Is this Ash Wednesday or have you just been shot in the head?".

We laughed about it and he told his priest who didn't think it was funny at all.
 
Camper6 said:
My friend is very religious. He showed up at my door on Ash Wednesday with the mark of the ashes still on his forehead.

I said to him . "Is this Ash Wednesday or have you just been shot in the head?".

We laughed about it and he told his priest who didn't think it was funny at all.
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When I was in elementary school I had no knowledge of Ash Wednesday. I arrived at school and saw the ashes on my teacher's forehead so I had to tell him his face was dirty. :D
 

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