Wynd Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 One of my atheist friends told me that back in the day, a pope had an interest in the fishing business so he instituted Lent to make more people eat fish and thus help his profits. I haven't found anything confirming this, but I also haven't found anything denying it either. What is the real reason and does anyone know any links to back it up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted January 7, 2004 Share Posted January 7, 2004 A very amusing story but only a story!!!! Lent is a time or season of the Church's year. It begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on the evening of Holy Thursday. The word itself comes from the Middle English word lenteand the Greman word lenz meaning "spring". In Christian history, Lent has been a time dedicated to rememberance of the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert to prepare for his ministry and his radical call to humanity to repent and believe in the reign of God. Before Lent was officially observed for a full 40 days, Christian communities observed weekly days of fasts and penance usually on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week. In the early 200s, Pope Callistus I targeted certain days of the week for prayer, penance and fasting. In France, during the 5th Cent. days were set aside for the same. in recent years Pope John Paul II has called on Christians world wide to make the most of this traditionally penitential season through the long-revered Christian practice of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. (CCC1095,1163) A Good number of articles are found below Theolibrary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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