Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays?

Answer 1

The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that the penitential days and times (such as Lent) in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent (Code of Canon Law 1250). In Code of Canon Law 1251 states that, abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance (Code of Canon Law 1252).

Answer 2

I was told that centuries ago the current Pope had fishing vessels which came into port on Friday. Hence the command to eat fish and no other meat on Fridays was monetarily advantageous to his business interests.

Catholic AnswerChristians have abstained from meat on Fridays since the first century in honor of Our Blessed Lord's Passion and Death on that day. In 1966 Pope Paul VI issued his famous encyclical on Fasting and Abstinence. In the Encyclical he gave permission to individual Bishops conferences to allow people to substitute some other penance in their country for their Friday abstinence. But, on the whole, Catholics have been eating fish on Fridays for about twenty centuries.

Answer 3

Catholic Answer

Not sure on the history of this one, there are indications that people have refrained from eating meat on Fridays clear back to the first century, and there are regulations about it from the fourth century. An awful lot of people can eat meat due to one dispensation or another, and these have been in effect probably as long as the custom has been there. In 1966 Pope Paul VI issued Paenitemini, the Apostolic Constitution on Penance and Fasting. At that time, he changed the regulation of abstaining from meat on Friday to not be an absolute sin if violated, and a person could substitute another penance on Friday if it would be more meaningful for them, however, abstaining from meat was still the recommended form of Friday abstinence. Since then the 1983 Code of Canon Law has been issued which states (Canon 1251):

. Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Catholics were never required to eat fish on Fridays as the question seems to infer. Catholics were to abstain from meat of warm blooded animals on Fridays. The rule is still in affect but allows local Bishops to offer a choice in their diocese of requiring abstinence or some other form of penance or service for Church members.

Answer 5

Christ died on a Friday. During Lent especially, Fridays are "no-meat days" because meat was considered to be an expensive or luxurious item. One would abstain from eating it and donate the money they would have used to buy it to the poor (so the poor can eat).

Fish was a clever way to get around "no-meat", it is seafood and many Catholic religious orders had ok'd it as not "meat". If it was "meat" it would not be allowed because it would undermine their vow of poverty (plus it used to be way cheaper than any other "meats").

Also, it serves as a reminder of what Christ did for us by thinking of him when we eat.

Answer 6

Basically, abstinence from meat on Friday has always been part of the Christian religion. My good Methodist mother would no sooner think of cooking bacon on Good Friday then fly over the moon, when I was young. This abstinence was seen as in honor of Our Blessed Lord's Passion and Death on the Cross. I don't really know when the first "law" was put into writing "on the books" so to speak, but I'm sure that there were numerous such laws in the first millennium and they are still in force to this day. The current code of Canon Law permits individual Bishops' Conferences to permit the substitution of another penance on Fridays outside of Lent, but the Vatican still recommends abstaining from meat AND SOME penance IS required on all Fridays of the year. If you would rather give up desert, or salt, or some other favorite on Fridays outside of Lent and your bishops' conference permits it, then you may, but you still are required to perform penance on Friday. Giving up meat is the easiest thing, and makes your public witness as a Catholic more relevant.