Dear Friends,
I was talking with an Orthodox Christian this past week and moaning a little bit about what I had given up for Lent. He had no empathy for me. He tried to explain to me how much fasting and abstinence took place in the Orthodox Church. It was news to me. I even went and Googled it afterwards to make sure he was right – he was.
Orthodox Christians observe four extended fasting seasons per liturgical year—Advent; Great Lent; the fast before the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul; and the Dormition Fast, which commemorates the falling asleep of Mary. That adds up to more than a third of the year! During this time, Orthodox are asked to abstain from meat and dairy products, as well as alcohol and even olive oil, depending on what day of the week or month it is. Even during “regular” seasons, the Orthodox faithful are asked to abstain from meat and dairy on ordinary Wednesdays and Fridays—Wednesdays as a reminder of Christ’s betrayal and Friday in memory of His death.
The sheer amount of time on the calendar is the reason why, this fellow told me, “When Orthodox talk about fasting, they almost always end up talking about eating instead.” He continued, “If you’re doing the Fast you often are thinking about what you can eat, rather than what you cannot.” I think this might be the reason that there are such great vegetarian dishes in the Mediterranean region – they were forced to make the food they could eat taste very good.
Catholic fasting and abstinence changed in 1966 with a decree from Pope Paul VI entitled “Apostolic Constitution on Fast and Abstinence.” (It is available on the Vatican website, if you wish to read the entire thing.) Until 1966, Catholic fast and abstinence days were year long and season long events. Not as much as the Orthodox, but still a challenge none-the-less.
So I get the question on a regular basis, “why no meat, why fish?” The “why Friday?” question is obvious: it is one way we can commemorate the Passion and death of Jesus.
There are ancient documents that indicate that meat was singled out as being a food Christians occasionally abstained from since the first century. It was precisely because meat is so good that we are asked to give it up at certain times. It would not make a lot of sense if we offered something we considered bad as a sacrifice to God. Meat was singled out because it is associated with celebrations and feasts. Obtaining meat also involved the shedding of the blood of a warm-blooded creature. An animal sacrificed his life for us when we eat meat. Meat was also the most expensive part of the meal and if we are trying to simplify our lives during Lent then giving up meat makes sense. Throughout the 2,000-year history of the Church, there have been varying definitions over what exactly constitutes abstinence from meat. When Pope Paul VI clarified the Church’s practice, he determined that abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat.
You might say, “But fish also bleed.” Yes, but fish are cold-blooded, so they are considered fair game. I know there is an old story that the Pope was trying to support the fishing industry. Maybe the first Pope since he was a fisherman…nah, there is no historical evidence of a fishing industry conspiracy…sorry. It is just a story. Now, there is a story with Anglicans and trying to end abstinence and getting push back from the fishing industry…
Enjoy your fish and your vegetables!
Peace,
Fr. Damian