I am sure I was taught this when I was in Catholic school but I don't remember the answer. Why doesn't Easter always happen on a specific date? (like Christmas is Dec. 25th every year)

Why no meat on Friday's during Lent? Yes I know that Jesus didn't have bread or water for 40 days but that kind of seems like a weak memorial for Jesus. When I was a kid I always pictured Jesus During lent saying in a sarcastic way: Hey thanks for not eating meat on Friday you really know what I have been through with no water or food for 40 days thanks a lot.

And Lastly What did you give up for lent? I am TRYING to give up smoking but it is not going so well.

It's very strange that I don't go to church or even really believe in anything I was taught but for some reason a few things I was taught stick with me even if I don't believe in it.

Easter is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox.

We are called to sacrifice something during this period of contemplation... The suggested sacrifice used to be one meal per day and no meat at all during lent... but as you can see, the suggestion has been loosened up a bit.

As for me, I'm giving up meat on fridays :)

No meat on Fridays was to commemorate Christ's crucifixion. The rules have definitely been relaxed, as Rick stated.

What did I give up for Lent? Even though I am not a Catholic anymore, that tradition is still with me. I gave up playing online games.

Now you can read more about Origins and Observances of Lent here:
Origins and Observances of Lent - Associated Content
Friday Abstinence

The Council of Nicaea in 325 set the celebration of Jesus resurrection as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The earliest possible date of Easter is March 22 the latest is April 25.

The mild form of fasting for no meat on Fraidays started about 1600 as a form to remember that Christ suffered and died for them and Friday was the day he was crucified. It was actually started by the Church in England in 1548 during the second yar of the reigh of King Edward VI. This was done because of the poor fishing trade to support them for having people eat fish instead of other meat.

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Originally Posted by spitvenom

I am sure i was taught this when i was in Catholic school but i don't remember the answer. Why doesn't Easter always happen on a specific date? (like Christmas is Dec. 25th every year)

Why no meat on Friday's during Lent? Yes I know that Jesus didn't have bread or water for 40 days but that kind of seems like a weak memorial for Jesus. When I was a kid I always pictured Jesus During lent saying in a sarcastic way: Hey thanks for not eating meat on Friday you really know what I have been thru with no water or food for 40 days thanks a lot.

And Lastly What did you give up for lent? I am TRYING to give up smoking but it is not going so well.

It's very strange that I don't go to church or even really believe in anything I was taught but for some reason a few things i was taught stick with me even if i don't believe in it.

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Are you convinced of your unbelief? Or is there anything you would like to investigate?

I used to be an atheist and when I came back to the Church I found out that I had a great many misconceptions of what the Church actually teaches. I'm sure there are many here, Catholic and Protestant who would be willing to provide the reasons for their hope in Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

De Maria

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Originally Posted by De Maria

Are you convinced of your unbelief? Or is there anything you would like to investigate?

I used to be an atheist and when I came back to the Church I found out that I had a great many misconceptions of what the Church actually teaches. I'm sure there are many here, Catholic and Protestant who would be willing to provide the reasons for their hope in Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

De Maria

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Oh don't get me wrong I do believe in the teachings of Jesus. But until EVERY priest that has touched a child is put in jail I will not be going back to Church. I can't support an organization that harbors pedophiles. It is just wrong. I know there are good priest that want to help and just serve God but for the Church not to hand over these other animals is just flat out disgusting.

We Pentecostals pretty much igore lent. We definitely celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but most of us recognize that what passes for Easter, (bunnies, eggs, etc) are paganistic. What is important is ---HE'S ALIVE!

Yes, lent and the giving up of meat on Fridays was to represent sacrifice (that's what I was taught). I do know of some older Catholics who do not eat meat on any Friday even outside lent.

I will never ever forget, this one sister I had for religion class. We were in high school and approaching lent.

She said you are old enough now to not give up something but to do a good deed for lent that will help strengthen your faith and love for God.

Anotherwords, most times, we give up candy, cake or something that we truly enjoy, which is good, as it is a person sacrifice.

But what that Sister taught me remained with me till this very day. So, one year, every day during lent I went to the chapel. Or another year, I decided to pray every day for someone that maybe I normally wouldn't.

So, I guess what the Sister was trying to tell us is to DO something for lent instead of giving something up. I just liked the message in that.

What happens sometimes, is that good act, good deed or positve action, we tend to continue even after lent is through.

**And Spitve - Good luck with the smoking. It is so hard. It's been a little over a year for me and I sure do miss the little guys but I just refuse to go back. Oh I didn't do it on my own, Doctor gave me a script for chantix, which I took for 3 months. It does help.

I wish you the best with it. Don't be hard on yourself, because they say it is one of the highest addictive things to give up, and it is pure heck when that nicotene leaves your system. For two weeks, I had what was similar to flew symptoms.

If you need any help or have any questions, please don't hestiate to reach out to me.
I'll grab my pom poms and be your #1 Cheerleader :).

I am not Catholic, Protestant or Pentecostal so I don't know anything about lent. I don't recall reading anything about it in the Bible. Is it just something Catholics do?

I too celebrate our Lord's resurrection and birth, but I celebrate that everyday not just on Easter and Christmas. I am glad that people do celebrate Christ on Christmas and Easter I just wish that they praised Him everyday.

I used to know some people who thought it was a sin to miss services on Christmas and Easter, but they didn't think anything of not going on Sunday.

My hope is for everyone to realize that Jesus is with us everyday and we need to praise Him everyday. Not just two days a year, and the only thing we need to give up is SIN.

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Originally Posted by Allheart

**And Spitve - Good luck with the smoking. It is so hard. It's been a little over a year for me and I sure do miss the little guys but I just refuse to go back. Oh I didn't do it on my own, Doctor gave me a script for chantix, which I took for 3 months. It does help.

I wish you the best with it. Don't be hard on yourself, because they say it is one of the highest addictive things to give up, and it is pure heck when that nicotene leaves your system. For two weeks, I had what was similar to flew symtoms.

If you need any help or have any questions, please don't hestiate to reach out to me.
I'll grab my pom poms and be your #1 Cheerleader :).

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Thanks Allheart!! It is definitely hard I am usually not a gum chewer but I have been going through packs of gum like crazy. I want to quit for myself but I know how much it means to my GF if I quit since she is not a smoker. I have looked into Chantix and it might be a good idea if I really can't handle the withdraw. But so far I have bitten anyone's head off like I figured I would. I will months def reach out to you!!

I get the no meat thing, it's an observance to memorialize Jesus' on a Friday, which became good Friday, but I have a question too... what is considered to be meat? I mean really in all actuality, eggs, milk, cheese, etc are from chickens,cows and such. But has the catholic religion added these into allowables or not? If so does that mean chicken is allowed as well? I actually have been a catholic all my life but have been away from the church for several years and am still trying to follow as many of the teachings I have been raised on but am not sure of current tradition.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

In the Gospels, Lent **edit** was established by the Church to reflect on the time between the Last Supper and the **end of edit** Jesus' Resurrection. Christians (both Catholic and Protestant) observe 40 days of Lent to prepare themselves (repent of sins) and get ready for Easter.

(Thank you, Athos.)

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Oh, dear, wondergirl. Sorry, but Lent has nothng to do with the Easter season. Well, almost nothing. Lent refers to the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness where He was tempted by Satan. The Church remembers Jesus' time there with the Lenten fasts and times of abstinence which coincidentally led into the Easter season. I guess it seemed like a good fit, chronologically.

Is 'Lent' spoken of in the Bible? Or is it something that was started by a church?

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Originally Posted by Donna Mae

Is 'Lent' spoken of in the Bible? Or is it something that was started by a church?

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The word Lent is not used, but what we do during lent is. Such as alms giving, Fasting, and prayer.