AboutLaura Trauth Expertise PhD program in History. A more conservative Catholic institution, the school is also less self-contained. This means it has less of a sense of family and community, but also that it is connected with the nation`s capitol and all the academic, artistic, and social resources that DC provides. The History and Medieval Studies grad programs have a core faculty of dedicated and talented scholars who encourage students to pursue original research and analyse current scholarship.
Question Laura,
In a past conversation with a friend, he had stated to me that the rule of not eating meat on Friday was basically a rule passed on by the church during World War 1 or 2. There was, I guess, a meat shortage and the church asked all catholics to avoid eating meat on Fridays as to help with the shortage and has continued to present day. Is there any truth to any of this ?
Answer Hi Patrick,
I'm actually listed as an expert in this category because I'm an expert on the Catholic U of A. I'm really here as a grad student to tell people about housing, the library, the faculty, etc.
However, while not Catholic personally, I also happen to be a Medieval historian. So I can tell you that the custom of abstaining from meat during Lent is far older than the 20th century. Fasting has been around since the early days of the church. The idea behind the fast is to eat only enough to sustain yourself (1 meal a day), and nothing luxurious such as meat. Initially milk, cheese, and eggs were not allowed either. By the 1400's most people were allowed to eat these on fast days, however (though members of monastic orders might still refrain).
Scripture is the source of the idea that people should fast. The Gospel of Matthew says, "the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they shall fast" (Matthew 9:15). The bridegroom refers to Jesus. Of course this doesn't say how long one should fast! Those sorts of regulations were also set very early however. The number of days in Lent was set at 40 by the 7th century AD if not earlier.
Because they didn't have a modern understanding of various species, what counted as meat was a little odd to Medieval Christians. Of course, they allowed fish, even though it's technically the meat of a living thing. And since some birds spend much time at sea (geese, puffins), they were conveniently classified as fish too at times!
Also during the middle ages, one was supposed to fast EVERY day. Well, every day that wasn't a feast day for a saint -- which is about 36 out of the 40. As with the fasting during Ramadan in Islam, exceptions would be allowed for people who were young, ill, pregnant, etc.
Some historians do note that the period of Lent occurs during the time of least food. You've used up many of your harvest supplies, and the new early crops haven't started growing yet. So it may well be that the designation of 40 days was influenced initially by the realization that this was the time period people might well be forced to fast anyway.
In that sense, necessity and food shortage may well have shaped Lent to some extent -- but far earlier than the first world war.
I hope that answers your question! Thank you for writing,
Sincerely
Laura Trauth
