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Can Catholics eat meat on Friday?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: Must Catholics abstain from eating meat on Friday?, Catholic Answers Live, published Feb 29, 2016. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Fridays are days of penance, and the Church sets days of fasting and abstinence, so you can master your appetites instead of the other way around. CCC 1438 CCC 2043

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Fridays, in memory of the Lord’s death, are days of penance. CCC 1438

The Church sets days of fasting and abstinence to help us gain mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart. CCC 2043

Our words

In the U.S., Fridays in Lent mean no meat for Catholics 14 and older. Other Fridays, you can choose a different penance. The point isn’t fish; it’s remembering Him.

Short on time? Quick answer · 2 min

Video: Must Catholics abstain from eating meat on Friday?, Catholic Answers Live, published Feb 29, 2016. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube only when you press play.

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1438, 2043 (official text on vatican.va).

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