Expert: Sal - 2/19/2007

Question
Dear Sal,

             Hello, my two questions are about Lent and Easter season. Now what is the real meaning of lent is it a time where one can overcome there dreadful sins? In lent we are told that if you are 18-65 you can fast on ash wednesday and my question is that if you have health problems like you get shaky when you dont have food in your system for a certain amount of hours or if you get dizzy things like that can you eat three meals a day but have fish in your meals, because I cant last for a whole day with out eating I get dizzy lightheaded and nauseated even I start to shake like my hands start to shake. Will God be okay if I ate three times a day but fish and no meat in my meals for the lent season. Now Easter what are some Foods that Jesus had at passover what can we eat that is according to Jesus that is of Easter? Like lamb and so on what are Jewish foods that we can have in that time.An why is the rabbit assicated with Easter I mean what does it mean in Christian terms is it like the Lamb?  

Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

For the meaning of Lent please see the Catholic Encyclopedia which may be viewed online at www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm.

You do not have to offer a full or complete fast during Ash Wendesday and Good Friday. You may eat one full meal and two partial meals. The partial meals should not together equal one full meal. Persons who cannot fast because of ill health are excused from this obligation. Persons 18-59 are supposed to keep a fast unless otherwise excused such as all pregnant and breastfeeding women and others with medical problems that would prohibit fasting.

Some food that Jesus probably ate at the Last Supper were matzoh (unleavened bread), lamb, bitter herbs (garlic, onion, leeks, and horseradish), haroseth (ground apples, raisins, figs, and nuts mixed with honey), and wine.

Rabbits are a fertility symbol and therefore a symbol of new life. The same can be said of easter eggs. They point to new life in Christ.

God Bless,
Sal