1.

Abstinence (refraining from eating meat), observed especially during the Fridays of Lent, is not instituted because meat on Fridays is particularly evil or anything like that. It is rather encouraged as a way to build a certain level of detachment from purely earthly desires (such as meat and rich foods), and remind one of what is really important; after all, if one is not able to restrain his or her own desires enough to avoid meat, then what does that say about the relative importance of worldly and spiritual matters?

For a detailed explanation, see the Catholic Encyclopedia:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01067a.htm


Abstinence , which notes, among other things, that St. Augustine claimed "Abstinence purifies the soul, elevates the mind, subordinates the flesh to the spirit, begets a humble and contrite heart, scatters the clouds of concupiscence,extinguishes the fire of lust, and enkindles the true light of chastity. Presumably, the reason it does all these things is not so mucha facet of meat itself, but an effect of the discipline developed by depriving one's self in this manner.

Note that fasting IS Biblical. In Mt 6:17-8, Jesus says "But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden.


And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." Lent is the time leading up to Good Friday and then to Easter. Catholics are supposed to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday in remembrance of the days on which Jesus was betrayed and killed. It is supposed to be a time of penance, humility, and a focus on God, all of which fasting is supposed to remind us of.


Abstaining from meat is like a light fast.


Especially inearlier times, meat was considered aluxury. To abstain from meat was therefore intended to be a sacrifice of sorts. On regular Fridays during Lent, therefore, you abstain from meat, and on Good Friday, you fast. Fish was allowed, by the way, because it was the food of the poor.

Technically and traditionally, Catholics should abstain from meat every Friday of the year as penance. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten that, and just abstain during the Lent season.

A. Since the earliest days of the Catholic Church, on every Friday throughout the year, Catholics are required to do some kind of penance. Most Catholics do not eat meat on Friday as a penance. As far as research says, no Pope introduced this practice, but it gradually became a practice.

Abstaining from something helps us refocus on what is important and it cuts out the things that might have seemed important. By abstaining, we have better ability to concentrate on God.
During the Season of Lent, however, the Catholic Church asks Catholics to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.


Catholics also should carry on the tradition of not eating meat on Fridays through Lent.

One belief of why meat was chosen is because most people feel that giving up meat (beef and chicken) is an inconvenience.The Church asks us to inconvenience ourselves sometimes to serve as a reminder that they should always have God as a top priorty and pleasures as a lesser priorty.

Another belief is that in many poorer countries, beef is a specialty. For us to give it up, helps us to remember about people who are less fortunate than we are.

Sources: http://catholicism.about.com/cs/lent/f/whynom eat04.htm