Can you eat meat on holy week?

Many people wonder if it is permissible to eat meat during Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Here is a quick look at the answer:

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Traditionally, Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. However, the rules vary by location. Some dioceses mandate abstaining from meat on all Fridays of Lent, including Fridays during Holy Week. Others only require abstaining on Good Friday. The best practice is to check with your local diocese for their specific guidelines.

What is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the 40 day period of preparation before Easter. It begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The week continues with Holy Thursday, which marks the Last Supper. Good Friday follows, the day Jesus was crucified. Holy Week culminates with Holy Saturday and ends on Easter Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

The days of Holy Week are:

Palm Sunday
Holy Monday

Holy Tuesday
Holy Wednesday
Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

Good Friday
Holy Saturday

Holy Week is an important time for Christians. It is a time of reflection, repentance, and preparation for the joy of Easter.

History of Abstaining from Meat During Lent

The tradition of abstaining from meat during Lent dates back centuries. In the early Church, fasting rules were quite strict – only one meal a day was permitted during Lent, and meat, fish, eggs, and dairy were prohibited. Over the centuries, these guidelines relaxed. By the 9th century, most Christians could eat three meals during Lent, but still abstained from meat, eggs, and dairy. The practice of abstaining from meat continues today, though the rules vary between denominations and local dioceses.

Purpose of Fasting

Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent serves several purposes:

Perform penance and sacrifice, in imitation of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross

Develop self-discipline and control over desires
Reminder of human mortality and dependence on God
Opportunity to identify with the poor and hungry

Simplify life to focus more on spiritual nourishment

Current Lenten Fasting Rules in the Catholic Church

Today, Lenten fasting rules in the Catholic church are as follows:

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting. On these days, Catholics ages 18-59 fast, consuming only one full meal and two smaller meals. Eating between meals is not permitted.

All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat. All Catholics ages 14 and up abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.
The Fridays of Lent are also days of fasting. Those bound to fast may eat only one full meal and two smaller meals, with no snacks in between meals.

That is the general guideline from the Catholic Bishops of the United States. However, specific fasting rules can vary by country or local diocese. Some dioceses mandate abstaining from meat on every Friday in Lent, including the Fridays of Holy Week. Others only require abstaining from meat on Good Friday. Some dioceses have maintained partial fasts, limiting meal portions, on the other days of Lent.

Rules for Holy Week

What are the rules for Holy Week in particular? Here are the common fasting and abstinence guidelines:

Palm Sunday – No special requirements. Meat may be eaten.
Holy Monday – No requirements, meat is permitted.

Holy Tuesday – No requirements, meat is permitted.
Holy Wednesday – No requirements, meat is permitted.
Holy Thursday – No requirements, meat is permitted.

Good Friday – Catholics 14 and older must abstain from meat, as well as fast limiting themselves to one full meal and two smaller meals with no eating in between. Fasting exceptions apply to those with health issues.
Holy Saturday – No requirements, meat may be eaten.

Again, in some dioceses the Fridays of Lent are all days of abstinence from meat, including Holy Week. But the general guideline is that only Good Friday is a mandatory day of abstaining from meat and fasting.

Exceptions to Fasting and Abstinence

There are exceptions to the Lenten fasting and abstinence rules for certain groups:

Those younger than 14 do not have to abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent or Good Friday.
Those age 18-59 are bound to the fasting rules on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Those ages 14-17 and 60+ may voluntarily fast.

The elderly, sick, pregnant, or nursing women are exempt from fasting and abstaining. However, they are encouraged to participate as able.

If someone is unable to fast due to a medical condition or other serious reasons, they can perform other acts of charity, piety, or prayer instead. The obligation is lifted if abstaining from food would cause grave health concerns.

What Does It Mean to Abstain from Meat?

On days of abstinence from meat, Catholics must not eat any meat or meat products. This includes:

Beef
Pork
Chicken

Turkey
Lamb
Veal

Goat
Rabbit
Deer

Most game meats

Also prohibited are soup bases and gravies made from meat, as well as condiments or sauces containing meat.

Fish and plant-based protein sources are permitted. Some examples of foods that may be eaten on days of abstinence include:

Fish
Shrimp
Lobster

Salmon
Tuna
Eggs

Dairy products
Beans
Tofu

Veggie burgers
Peanut butter

Penalties for Not Abstaining from Meat

What happens if a Catholic doesn’t abstain from meat when required? Here are some key points on the consequences:

Not abstaining from meat on the required days is considered a mortal sin.
Those who knowingly eat meat anyways commit grave matter.
However, for a sin to be mortal 3 conditions must be met: 1) Grave matter 2) Full knowledge 3) Deliberate consent. So unintentional consumption may not be mortal sin.

If someone accidentally or unintentionally eats meat, it does not count as mortal sin.
Those who forget and eat meat anyways should confess the lapse to a priest.
Intentionally eating meat without just cause is serious and confessing is required.

So while failure to abstain from meat can be a mortal sin if done willfully, accidental consumption does not bear the same gravity of consequence. Those trying their best to follow the Lenten disciplines will still derive spiritual benefits, even if accidentally lapsing on occasion.

Reasons for Eating Meat Anyway

With the seriousness of violating the abstinence discipline, what would be considered a just reason for a Catholic to eat meat regardless on the required days?

Here are some potential legitimate reasons that could permit meat consumption:

Medical necessity – Illness where meat is required for strength or recovery
Pregnancy or nursing – Requirement for extra protein
Mandatory events – Such as a wedding or company dinner where only meat is served

Inability to obtain other food – Prisoners, poor, or those with restricted access to protein
Dispensation – Priests or bishops can grant individual dispensations

Those with acceptable reasons for being unable to abstain from meat should still perform alternative penances and acts of charity where possible.

Vegan or Vegetarian Diets

Those who maintain vegan or vegetarian diets year-round are welcome to continue their normal diet during Lent. Since they already abstain from meat, they fulfill the Catholic requirements. However, they should consider taking on additional fasting, prayer, or charitable deeds to help in their spiritual growth during the Lenten season.

Seafood

An interesting note is that seafood is permitted on the required days of abstinence from meat. Fish, shrimp, lobster, oysters, and other seafood from oceans, rivers, and lakes are allowed on those days. This comes from the tradition of naming fish as a different category from land animals.

However, some traditional Catholics choose to also voluntarily abstain from seafood during Lent, viewing the sacrifice as an additional penance. This personal choice expands on the minimum requirements of the Church.

Lenten Fridays Outside of Lent

Some Catholics choose to maintain the practice of abstaining from meat on all Fridays year round, not just during the Lenten season. This is a worthy penance some take on in honor of Christ’s sacrifice every Friday. However, outside of Lent, abstaining from meat on Fridays is a voluntary practice, not an obligatory requirement.

Holy Days

What about holy days that fall on Fridays during Lent? For holy days like St. Joseph’s Day (March 19) or the Annunciation (March 25), the requirement to abstain from meat is lifted. Meat can be eaten on such solemnities even if they occur on a Friday in Lent.

Location-Based Variances

The abstinence from meat rules can vary slightly based on location. For example:

Some dioceses mandate giving up meat on every Friday in Lent.
In some countries, the minimum age to be bound to abstinence from meat is 14.
Certain areas have specific Lenten discipline customs based on culture or tradition.

To summarize the most common tradition:

Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent
Fast (limit to one full meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (ages 18-59)

However, when in doubt, you should consult your local parish or diocese for the specific Lenten fasting and abstinence guidelines mandated for your area.

What About Eggs and Dairy?

You may wonder if eggs and dairy products are also prohibited during Lenten days of abstinence. The answer is no – eggs and dairy like milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt are permitted. The only dietary restriction is the prohibition of meat and meat products.

In the early centuries of the Church, eggs and dairy were initially prohibited. However, by the 9th century, the Western Church lifted the restriction on eggs and dairy. Only meat was retained as forbidden.

However, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions still prohibit dairy, eggs, fish, oil, and wine during periods of strict fasting like Lent. But in the Western Catholic Church, only meat is forbidden on Lenten days of abstinence.

Fish on Good Friday

Good Friday is a day of abstinence from meat, but fish is permitted. This stems from the ancient tradition of regarding fish differently than warm-blooded land animals. The Lenten discipline seeks to direct our focus toward Jesus’ sacrifice, and fish remains an acceptable protein option even on the most solemn Friday commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion and death on Calvary.

Takeaways

Here are some key takeaways on abstaining from meat and fasting during Lent:

Catholics ages 14 and up should abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, those ages 18-59 should also fast by limiting to one full meal and two smaller meals with no snacking between
Exceptions are made for those who are ill, pregnant, nursing, elderly, or with other legitimate circumstances

Seafood like fish, shrimp, and lobster are permitted on days of abstinence from meat
Consult your local parish or diocese for any specific Lenten regulations in your area
Remember that the spirit of the Lenten law is to foster prayer, penance, and charity. The dietary restrictions aid this penitential season but are not an end in themselves.

Conclusion

To summarize, the Church mandates abstinence from meat on Fridays in Lent, including Good Friday. Some areas also mandate abstaining from meat on all Fridays of Lent, including those in Holy Week. The best guideline is to check with your local diocese. The purpose of these Lenten practices is to turn our hearts to prayer, penance, and almsgiving as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. With proper understanding and attitude, these fasting requirements can help Catholics grow closer to Christ during this holy season.