Catholics invited to Observe Lenten ‘No-Meat Friday’

Highlighting the spiritual and nutritional value of the ‘NoMeat Friday’ campaign,a Catholic Church leader invited the faithful to offer all Fridays to make amends for “our personal sins and the sins of mankind” and from a health standpoint, to contribute to one’s earthly longevity.

Radio Veritas president Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual said the penitential abstinence from meat on all Fridays during the Lenten season can be looked at as part of self-denial and mortification in prayerful remembrance of the passion of Jesus Christ.

“The abstinence from meat is a form of penance in honor of Jesus’ death. The act of abstinence also gives the chance to voluntarily give up something good for the spiritual benefit,” he added.

In addition to the spiritual benefit, Pascual said eating less meat is beneficial to one’s health.

“It is scientifically proven that the reduction of meat consumption could prolong one’s life by up to 20 percent. That same study from Harvard Medical School indicates that each serving of red meat increases the risk of death by 13 percent,” he stressed.

The executive director of Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the Manila archdiocese, at the same time, urged the faithful to do charity work.

“Do works of charity from whatever resources you are able to attain from the penitential abstinence from meat. This will enable the act of sacrifice to find holism which disposes people to love God above all creatures,” Pascual said.