Why and when did the Catholic church deem you could not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or on Fridays during Lent?

mochyn

One of the reasons given is that Jesus was arrested on wednesday and crucified on a friday http://www.happinessonline.org/BeTemperate/p18.htm Mar 05 03, 3:46 PM

mibmob

It is really a way of banning luxury, and making a ssacrifice thereby, which meat was in the Middle ages. Can't say exactly when it was banned but very early on. Most people didn't eat meat anyway then. You might be interested to know that Edward VIth and the protestant reformationists reintroduced meat on Fridays and Lent because it was 'popish' to ban it and all the fishemen complained that it was ruining their industry and so it had to be re-introduced!!! Mar 05 03, 4:36 PM

Gnomon

The Catholic ban on meat on Fridays was not just during Lent, it was every Friday of the year. During Lent, the ban on meat was every day. This did not apply to children under the age of 14, pregnant women or old people (I don't know the age limit). Nowadays, the ban is limited to just Ash Wednesday. The purpose of the ban is to impose a bit of self-discipline on people. It is not good to always get every pleasure you want. Putting up with some hardship is good for your character. Mar 06 03, 8:08 AM