Fish On Friday: A Historical Canon Law

The Catholic Church's canon law states that the faithful must abstain from eating meat on Fridays, although there are exceptions. This rule has been in place since the early days of the Church, and it is believed to have originated from the need to abstain from eating the flesh of warm-blooded land animals, which was considered celebratory food. Fish, on the other hand, were considered a poor man's meal and were readily available to those living near water. The practice of eating fish on Fridays is believed to have started in the first century, and it has since become a tradition among Catholics, especially during Lent.

Canon law requires abstinence from meat, not the eating of fish

The Church's objective in calling on the faithful to abstain from eating meat on certain days was to provide them with a simple exercise to aid in their spiritual development. The Church's directive called for abstaining from eating meat and did not mention, let alone require, the eating of fish on Fridays.

The Latin word for "meat" in the Church's directive is "carnis", which from the most ancient of times has always meant the meat of things that walk on the ground. This practice seems to date back to the first century.

The distinction between "meat" and "fish" is based on the original culture and languages that English no longer has. In Latin, "meat" (carnis) means "flesh of a warm-blooded animal". This distinction was meaningful in ancient times when people were much better acquainted with their livestock, but it has been lost in modern English.

The abstinence rule began the slow process of making fish more common among the Catholic population, which eventually led to some economic and cultural changes in society. As Europe emerged from the Middle Ages and began to grow economically, a middle class formed that could now afford to eat meat regularly. This meant they had to follow the abstinence rules of their faith and began consuming fish.

The Friday night fish fry became a tradition in many industrial cities, and with the advent of the five-day workweek, Friday became both the end of the workweek and the anniversary of the day on which Christ was crucified. Restaurants began offering Friday fish fries as a relatively inexpensive way for working- and middle-class Catholics to dine out while abiding by the precepts of their faith.

While the Church never required the eating of fish, it did become a part of Catholic culture, and the consumption of fish on Fridays is still practised by many Catholics today.

The practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays is thought to date back to the first century

The practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays was initially a discipline of the Catholic Church, which required the faithful to abstain from eating meat on Fridays in memory of Christ's death. This tradition was also observed during the season of Lent on Wednesdays and Fridays. While the Church called upon all adult followers to abstain from meat on these days, the rule primarily applied to the rich, as the poor could not generally afford meat.

The Church's objective in calling for abstinence was to provide followers with a simple exercise to aid in their spiritual development. However, people often looked for loopholes, and as fish were considered cold-blooded, water-dwelling creatures, they became a common substitute for meat on days of abstinence.

Over time, as Europe emerged from the Middle Ages and the economy grew, a middle class began to form. With their rising incomes, the middle class could now afford to eat meat regularly, and as a result, they too began to consume more fish to comply with the rules of their faith. This trend continued as the Industrial Revolution further expanded the middle and working classes, leading to increased fish consumption in cities across America and Europe.

While the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays has evolved over the centuries, it continues to be observed by many Catholics and other Christians today, especially during the Lenten season.

The Church's objective was to provide a simple exercise to aid in spiritual development

The practice of eating fish on Fridays, especially during Lent, has deep roots in Christian tradition. The Church's objective in establishing this practice was to provide the faithful with a simple and tangible exercise that would aid in their spiritual development. By abstaining from meat and partaking in a meal of fish, Christians were given a disciplined ritual that could help focus their minds on spiritual matters.

This tradition of Friday fish meals can be traced back to the early days of Christianity. In the Bible, Jesus himself is depicted as eating fish after his resurrection (Luke 24:42-43), and the Book of Jonah, with its theme of repentance, is often associated with the Lenten season. Over time, the Church formalized these practices, and by the Middle Ages, fish had become a staple of the Christian diet during periods of fasting and abstinence.

The discipline of eating fish on Fridays was intended to be a form of self-denial, a small sacrifice that reminded Christians of the greater sacrifices made by Jesus. By abstaining from meat, which was often seen as a luxury, and choosing a simpler, more humble meal, Christians were physically and metaphorically brought back to the essence of their faith. This practice also served as a reminder of the Christian virtue of moderation and the importance of caring for both the body and soul.

Moreover, the act of eating fish provided a sense of community and unity among Christians. In many places, especially during Lent, fish dinners became communal events, bringing families and neighbors together. This fostered a sense of belonging and encouraged Christians to support each other in their spiritual journeys. The preparation and sharing of fish meals also became an opportunity to teach younger generations about the faith and the importance of self-discipline and sacrifice.

The abstinence rule did not apply to the poor, who generally could not afford meat

The abstinence rule, which required Catholics to abstain from eating meat on Fridays, was primarily directed at the rich, who could afford meat, and not the poor. The Church's objective in instituting this rule was to provide the faithful with a simple exercise to aid in their spiritual development.

In its abstinence rule, the Church simply directed its members to abstain from eating meat, with the idea that people would limit their food to vegetables and grains on Fridays. Meat is generally considered to be the flesh of warm-blooded land animals, whereas fish are cold-blooded water-dwelling creatures. Using this technicality, people began consuming the flesh of fish instead of the flesh of animals on days of abstinence.

The abstinence rule, which did not require the consumption of fish, began the slow process of making fish more common among the Catholic population. As Europe emerged from the Middle Ages and began to grow economically, a middle class began to form. This group, lacking noble titles and aristocratic ancestors, became the economic equals of the nobility. Their rising incomes meant that the middle class could now afford to eat meat regularly. This, of course, made them consumers of fish as they now had to follow the abstinence rules of their faith.

The abstinence rule, which did not apply to the poor, led to some other economic and cultural changes in society. The economic growth produced by the Industrial Revolution attracted swarms of immigrants to North America, many of whom came from heavily Catholic countries in Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as Ireland and Germany. As the incomes of these immigrants rose, they too found themselves substituting fish for meat on Fridays, just like the aristocratic lords and ladies in Medieval Europe, in order to comply with the rules of their faith.

The rule led to the custom of the Friday night fish fry

The rule of abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent has been a part of Catholic canon law for centuries. While the Church did not require the consumption of fish on these days, fish became a common substitute for meat as it was considered a "poor man's meal" and was more affordable for the general population.

As Europe emerged from the Middle Ages and the economy grew, a middle class began to form, and these individuals could now afford to eat meat regularly. However, they still had to follow the abstinence rules of their faith, which led to an increase in fish consumption. This trend was further amplified by the Industrial Revolution, which brought many immigrants from Catholic countries to North America, where they, too, substituted fish for meat on Fridays.

The custom of the Friday night fish fry emerged in industrial cities, particularly in the interior regions of the United States. With the advent of the five-day workweek, Friday became both the end of the workweek and a day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Restaurants began offering Friday fish fry dinners, providing a cost-effective way for working-class and middle-class Catholics to dine out while adhering to their religious beliefs.

Local Catholic churches, American Legion and VFW Halls, and other organisations joined in, hosting inexpensive fish fry dinners as a means of social gathering and fundraising. Thus, the rule of abstinence from meat on Fridays led to the custom of the Friday night fish fry, which remains a tradition in many cities and communities across the United States.

Frequently asked questions