O Lord, who threw out these forty days?
Dear and Gentle Reader:
Some folks grumble about the laws of fasting and abstinence from flesh meat during Lent. All I can say of those folks are , "what a bunch of nancies"! Our disciplinary laws are really quite lax compared to those of the past. Just look at our fast before receiving Holy Communion - just one hour, and that is reduced to just 15 minutes for the sick. It used to be from midnight until reception of the Sacrament, then reduced to three hours; and for priests celebrating several Masses they could not eat or drink - even water - between the Masses.
Jump into my historical time machine, if you will, and view the Lenten fast in the Middle Ages. During the 40 days of Lent only one meatless meal was taken between noon and 3pm. A small "snack" - meatless - was allowed in the evening. Sundays and solemn feast days such as "Lady Day" March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, were the exception to this rule.
What kinds of foods were forbidden during the fast? All meat of cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and fowl. Basically any land mammal and wild or domesticated birds. But, if you lived near the seas, you could feast upon whale, dolphin, seals, and otters. If you didn't, but lived in an area where beavers were, they were fair game. Why? In the medieval mind, these creatures, although mammals, spent their lives in the water, and thus were edible during the fast. However, it wasn't just meat you gave up, it was also any meat products - butter, lard, dairy products, and eggs. Say farewell to your scrambled eggs or mac 'n' cheese! Because of these regulations the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday gained several nicknames - "Pancake Day", "Carnivale", "Mardi Gras", because by the end of that day, your larder should be emptied of all the forbidden foods and food stuffs to prevent any tempting lapses during Lent.
What could you eat? Any vegetables (remember, during the Middle Ages, the humble tomato and potato had yet to be introduced into Europe), grains and grain products, especially bread were allowed. Medieval bread was much thicker, heavier, and nutrient laden than the sad, flabby modern types. Any kind of fish - fresh or salt water - and any other water creatures were allowed, such as shellfish, squid, eels (a Medieval delicacy), and mollusks, as well as the aforementioned water dwelling mammals, were all on the Lenten menu. I should also add that the meat of reptiles & amphibians is and was also allowed, so enjoy some alligator tail, frog legs, or turtle soup! Many of the religious orders of monks, nuns, friars, and sisters did, and continue to observe these dietary rules in their observance of their orders' rule of life today.
We may think of almond "milk" as a contemporary substitute, but we'd be wrong. Our Medieval ancestors beat us to the punch. It was used as a substitute for cow and goat milk during Lent! Beers, ales and wine were also allowed. Medieval beer and ale were much heartier than today's brews, with many more calories. Everyone, young and old, were accustomed to drinking them year-round. It was healthier, since water sources were unreliable, and often carried harmful bacteria and parasites, unknown to the Medievals, but they were smart enough to know that dirty water caused illness.
Exceptions were rare to the law of fasting, but there were some areas in which a hefty donation to the Church could get one an exemption to allow some dairy products. The collected funds were mostly used for continuing construction of the local churches, and ministry to the poor and homeless.
It was also expected that all observe the "black fast" on Good Friday, the day on which the Lord's suffering and death were commemorated. The "black fast" was only bread and water. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that for all married persons, sexual abstinence was also required.
The spiritual aims of fasting & abstinence were, and still are, a way to discipline our bodies, letting the rational and spiritual rule over and command the physical. It was also a spiritual way to share in the sufferings of Christ, imitating His fast of 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.
So, if you're thinking about complaining about having to give up this, that, or the other during Lent, you might want to consider what your medieval ancestors did during Lent. Do you want them shaking their heads in shame at your softness? Besides that, our bodies do need discipline, since the physical seems to rule over rationality and spiritual things today. So, suck it up, buttercup!
Lent gives us our annual spiritual check-up with our Divine Physician. Let's all take a good, hard look at what needs disciplining in our lives, and let our Good Doctor work His wonders in our lives by prayer, fasting, and works of mercy.
May this Lent allow our souls to yield a bountiful harvest of spiritual and corporal good works, and conform more and more to the image and likeness of God!
God bless!
Father P
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