What is meaning behind no meat Fridays during Lent?

I've always wondered why fish somehow does not qualify as meat. I consider it to be such. Does it derive from Jewish law?

It’s to honor the sacrifice Jesus made for us on Good Friday

Prior to Vatican 2 - there was no meat all 40 days of Lent

Also , pre Vatican 2 no meat on any Friday of the year - post Vatican 2 days a sacrifice can be made on Friday in lieu of abstaining from meat

Technically, the common practice was to fast on Friday. A lot of eastern countries can still have bread/water when fasting. This evolved into just not eating meat. Then America adopted that to mean they can go to a 5 star steak house as long as they order the $65 sea bass plate.

I'm Catholic and this is a nonsense, man-made rule

So Catholics can sacrifice by eating delicious seafood.

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What is meaning behind no meat Fridays during Lent?

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if you hop into the way way back machine, you will find out that the church only did that as a way to help poor fisherman sell more fish, there was no real religious reason for it but many excuses were invented to justify it based on making a sacrifice in your daily life as a penance.

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Catholics and their special little rules

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since 866

I was taught (in a catholic school) that it was basically the result of lobbying by the seafood industry way back in the day (1200-1300 yrs ago).

Abstinence and fasting are separate things, even though abstinence can be considered a sacrifice.

For all the ridicule it gets, actually being committed to the practice of not eating meat on Fridays, even though seafood is allowed, is more difficult than it sounds. It requires being prepared and changing your normal habits. In that way, it is a reminder about the special season of Lent.

What’s also notable is that for many Catholics who have stopped practicing and don’t go to church, the one practice that they maintain is getting ashes on Ash Wednesday and abstaining from meat on Fridays in Lent.

There is something very organic and bodily about this practice that affects people in emotional and spiritual ways that can’t be easily explained.

Y'all have y'all's Lent today, while I enjoy my BBQ on one of the best days of the year in Houston!

Happy Go Texan Day, y'all!

BBQ in almost every workplace. Chili Cookoff!

It's Rodeo time!