Abstinence is one of the oldest Christian traditions. “From the first century, the day of the crucifixion has been traditionally observed as a day of abstaining from flesh meat (“black fast”) to honor Christ who sacrificed his flesh on a Friday” (Klein, P., Catholic Source Book, 93).
The foods prohibited by God in the Old Testament were declared ``unclean'' and this is why they were forbidden. The Catholic Church's practice of occasionally not eating meat has nothing to do with this perspective. It is precisely because meat is so good that we are asked to give it up at certain times.
In addition to the 40-day Lenten fast, Catholics were also expected to abstain from animal flesh every Friday of the year, a practice rooted in honoring the day of Christ's crucifixion. Even then, exceptions were made: for instance, if a wedding or special occasion fell on a Friday, meat was permitted.
No, neither the Church nor the Bible says that eating meat is a sin. In the book of Acts, St. Peter is instructed by God to slaughter and eat any animal (10:9-16). The Church asks us to abstain from eating meat on the Fridays of Lent as a penance, but that is not because eating meat is inherently sinful.
So while the law of the Latin rite of the Church is that Catholics abstain from meat on all Fridays throughout the year, (except solemnities) as well as Ash Wednesday, canon 1251 permits the conference of bishops to substitute some other food for meat on these days, and canon 1254 goes one step further, stating that ...
People have written of fasting on Friday to commemorate this sacrifice as early as the first century AD Technically, it's the flesh of warmblooded animals that's off limits — an animal "that, in a sense, sacrificed its life for us, if you will," Fish are coldblooded, so they're considered fair game.
Abstinence from meat is required for all Catholics age fourteen and older and has no upper age limit. Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays.
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.
Abstinence from Meat on Fridays During Lent
Catholics age 14 and older are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent.
In the Torah, pigs are listed among several animals that God forbids for human consumption because they are considered to be ritually unclean.
The three pillars of Lent—prayer, fasting and almsgiving—serve as guideposts on this 40-day journey. Prayer, in particular, holds a special place in this season of repentance and renewal. Whether you are new to praying or seeking a deeper prayer life, Lent offers a perfect invitation to begin wherever you are.
Cutting meat out of your diet—even for a short time—can have a pronounced effect on your health, from changing the makeup of your gut bacteria to helping you lose weight. But the foods you replace meat with are just as important as the act of reducing or eliminating your meat intake.
In short, no, The Bible does not say it is a sin to eat meat on Friday during Lent, nor does it imply this concept or even hint at it.
According to Canon Law, Roman Catholics are required to abstain from meat (defined as all animal flesh and organs, excluding water animals) on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent including Good Friday.
Over time, fasting evolved into abstaining from meat. And so, Catholics from much of Europe celebrate their big holiday family meal on Christmas Eve, highlighting fish. Although the Church dropped the meatless rule in 1966, fish still holds pride of place on the evening of Dec. 24 for many families.
This is the day that Christ died, so abstaining from the shedding (and consuming) of blood seems appropriate. Friday, the sixth day, was also the day that God created animals, so abstaining from meat is a symbolic “stay of execution” for cows, pigs, and sheep—just as the cross saves us from eternal death.
It's not a obligation to give anything up for Lent. So, no, it's not a sin if you mess up during Lent. Just right the ship and try again.
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. Contempt for holy things is always evil.
God states that cud-chewing animals with split hooves can be eaten (Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:6). These specifically include the cattle, sheep, goat, deer and gazelle families (Deuteronomy 14:4-5). He also lists such animals as camels, rabbits and pigs as being unclean, or unfit to eat (Leviticus 11:4-8).
In the New Testament, the only food restriction we can see is “food sacrificed to idols” in the book of Acts, but later challenged by Paul in 1 Corinthians saying that since we know that there's only one God, there are no real idols, it basically means “food is just food, and there are no other gods but God himself”.
In Heaven Randy writes that it appears that neither animals nor people ate meat until after the flood. But Genesis 4 says Abel kept flocks and gave fat offerings, which suggests he ate meat.
Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women.
In contrast, Canon 1252 does give us both an upper and lower age for observing the Church's law on fasting, stating: “The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year.” Or in other words, Catholics are required to fast on the Church's two obligatory fast days, ...
In Catholicism
In the United States in 1966, the Conference of Catholic Bishops passed Norms II and IV that bound all persons from age fourteen to abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent and through the year. Previously, the requirement to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year applied for those age seven or older.