Catholics abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Fridays during Lent. Abstinence is one of Christian’s oldest traditions. According to The Catholic Source Book, “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,” Up until 1966, church law prohibited meat on all Fridays throughout the entire year. The new Canon law In 1983 requires abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday of all persons over 14 years old and under 60, with some health related exceptions. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops extended this law to include all Fridays in Lent. Since Jesus sacrificed his flesh for us, we refrain from eating flesh meat in his honor on Fridays. Flesh meat includes the meat of mammals and poultry, with the main foods being beef, pork chicken and turkey. Non-flesh products of these animals are not prohibited, like milk, cheese, butter and eggs. Fish has never belonged to the flesh meat category. Fish has historically been considered a cheap, common food, and not associated with celebrations, feasting and rejoicing. Abstinence is a form of penance and it expresses sorrow and contrition for our wrong doing and it indicates our intension to turn away from sin and turn back to God, and make reparation for our sins. It helps to cancel the debt and pay the penalties incurred by our transgressions. Abstinence is also a way to deny the cravings of our bodies to honor Jesus who practiced the ultimate form of selfdenial when he gave his body for us on the cross. There are countless options for simple Friday meatless dinners: soup, rolls, macaroni and cheese, fried egg sandwiches, pancakes, cheese pizza and of course fish. The Red Robin chain of restaurants is hoping to lure Catholics during Lent by presenting its new: Wild Pacific Crab Cake Burger, and has even inviting Pope Francis to lunch. Other fast food restaurants are also jumping on the Lent wagon. The Red Robin company extended an invitation to the Pope to eat at Red Robin during the Lenten season. “If His Holiness accepts and visits at any U.S. location between February 18 and April 2, Red Robin will offer the new Burger to guests for free, while supplies last, on the remaining Fridays during Lent.” Around the Lenten season, McDonald’s restaurants offer its Filet-O-Fish sandwich for just $1.The sandwich was created by the franchisee of the first McDonald’s in Cincinnati in 1962 in part to cater to the predominantly Roman Catholic customers. A spokesperson said, “While McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is popular year-round, we know that many of our customers especially enjoy it during this season.” Arby’s restaurant brings back its wild Alaska Pollock fish sandwich every year during Lent and they have a new King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe sandwich. Their spokesperson said “Our customers have come to expect it, and we are gaining more interest every year.” Sources: Post by Father Michael Van Sloun, ABC News