I don't understand why Burger King has fish sandwiches on sale on Friday. Then I remembered that a long time ago my Catholic gf's home always ate fish on Fridays, and they said it was a Catholic thing?
Why do Catholics do this? I thought Catholics were fairly liberal and wouldn't have such rules regarding food like some of the stricter religions do.
Is it supposed to remind us of the fish and loaves miracle?
Even so, why? I don't get it. I feel angry and frustrated. I thought you were supposed to be friendly, and not have these secret rituals.
2007-06-15 12:25:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
The Catholic Church follows the Biblical practice of Jesus Christ and the Jews in setting aside days where the entire Church fasts and prays as one in a attitude of constant renewal.
The Days of Penance are described in the Code of Canon Law (1249-1253):
Divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way.
In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence.
The penitential times are every Friday and the season of Lent.
Abstinence from meat is to be observed on all Fridays.
Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
In the United States of America, the bishops, with the permission of the Pope, for Catholics to substitute a penitential Practice or even a charitable practice of their own choosing on the Fridays outside of Lent.
Many U.S. Catholics just continue to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year.
With love in Christ.
2007-06-15 17:35:37 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is supposed to be a tradition in remembrance of Christ being crucified on a Friday. It was meant to be an act of respect and discipline and a reminder to pray.
But it's very controversial......
From Babylon, Mystery Religion
Reverend Ralph Woodrow, 1965
We have seen right from the scriptures that Friday was very definitely NOT the day of the week on which Christ was crucified. Yet each Friday many Catholics abstain from meat (substituting fish in its place) supposedly in remembrance of the Friday crucifixion. Roman Catholics in the United States are no longer required by their church to abstain from meat on Fridays (as formerly) - except during Lent - nevertheless many still follow the custom of fish on Friday
2007-06-15 12:49:11 · answer #2 · answered by atomictulip 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is what I remember my Mother telling me. But I could be wrong.
The Pope asked people of the Christian faith just before the Lent season to help the Allied troops during one of the World Wars... (1, I think) to refrain from eating meat several times a week because of a meat shortage. Then it was reduced to once a week and Friday became the chosen day, and it stuck.
This caught on so well, that every restaurant you will ever go to will have fish dishes on the menu on Friday.
I agree... it's always nice to understand the why of a ritual.
2007-06-15 12:44:09 · answer #3 · answered by the_kitten_trouble 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Fasting or abstaining from flesh meats is a devotional practice that reminds us that Christ died to destroy the power of sin on Good Friday. I see nothing secret about "fish-eating" on Fridays. Most Catholics I know do not eat fish on Friday and many I know never eat fish.
2007-06-16 06:56:15 · answer #4 · answered by James O 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We eat fish during lent to remind us of the journey Jesus went through. He had to fast...so we don't eat meat on Friday's.
2007-06-15 14:36:43 · answer #5 · answered by ginaginagirl1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The trout always are biting better on Friday. Or the butcher needs a day off.
2007-06-15 12:44:43 · answer #6 · answered by ya-who 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Thats only during Lent, but I am not certain of the reasoning behind it. Lol. Sorry I cant help much!
=]
2007-06-15 12:34:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
well what i heard was a long time ago one of the popes brothers was a fisherman. so he made it a law to help his brother's buisness
2007-06-15 12:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Mabye they like to fish on thursday?
2007-06-15 12:30:24 · answer #9 · answered by micky d 1 · 1⤊ 4⤋
They eat it on friday so it wont smell on their breath when they go to church on sunday
2007-06-15 13:13:34 · answer #10 · answered by berrio 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋