Question about Good Friday

[perla75]

I was just wondering about eating fish on Good Friday.


1) Why is it wrong to eat meat on Good Friday? Or better question-how did this
rule come about?

2) Do you specifically need to eat fish or can it be any non-meat (vegetarian) food?


Please be aware that I am NOT passing judgment on anyone!! I am just a naive Jew who doesn't know much about the Catholic religion

Thanks!

 

[Aisling]

On Good Friday, we're supposed to fast to show our sorrow at Jesus's death. In the Catholic Church, a fast means very small meals, just enough as you need to make it through the day.

We don't eat meat at that time, even in small amounts, because according to tradition, meat is a luxury. So a way to get around that in order to have a meal is to have fish instead of meat...because back then fish was plentiful and inexpensive and not a luxury. So during Good Friday, and traditionally on all Fridays, people would have fish instead of meat.

It's kind of funny now, because fish is more expensive than meat! Fish should be considered a luxury today, not that hamburger!

But in all seriousness, it's a tradition of Catholics all over the world being unified in grieving/remembering the death of Jesus.


Edited to add: you don't have to eat fish on Good Friday. Eating it is just a way to make a complete meal. Many many people just eat vegetarian that day.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I don't want to start any arguments- but I heard that the Catholic church controlled the fishing when this rule was started. Not sure if that's true. I was also raised catholic and I think we ate pasta on Fridays during Lent more often than fish.

 

[Aisling]

I don't want to start any arguments- but I heard that the Catholic church controlled the fishing when this rule was started. Not sure if that's true. I was also raised catholic and I think we ate pasta on Fridays during Lent more often than fish.

Lots of Catholics just follow the traditions without knowing why. I'm a certified Catechism teacher, so I had to learn all the whys and hows and wherefores of our religion.

 

[clgwli]

I don't want to start any arguments- but I heard that the Catholic church controlled the fishing when this rule was started. Not sure if that's true. I was also raised catholic and I think we ate pasta on Fridays during Lent more often than fish.

Not true. I once had a link to support this but after I lost my favorites I lost it too and cannot quickly google it.

In our house we fast on Good Friday as well as Ash Wednesday as well. We eat no forms of meat at all on Fridays (not even fish).

Technically all Catholics should abstain from eating meat on ALL Fridays of the year. Not just Lent. If one does not abstain from eating meat a form of penance should be done.

 

[perla75]

On Good Friday, we're supposed to fast to show our sorrow at Jesus's death. In the Catholic Church, a fast means very small meals, just enough as you need to make it through the day.

We don't eat meat at that time, even in small amounts, because according to tradition, meat is a luxury. So a way to get around that in order to have a meal is to have fish instead of meat...because back then fish was plentiful and inexpensive and not a luxury. So during Good Friday, and traditionally on all Fridays, people would have fish instead of meat.

It's kind of funny now, because fish is more expensive than meat! Fish should be considered a luxury today, not that hamburger!

But in all seriousness, it's a tradition of Catholics all over the world being unified in grieving/remembering the death of Jesus.


Edited to add: you don't have to eat fish on Good Friday. Eating it is just a way to make a complete meal. Many many people just eat vegetarian that day.

Thank you for that explanation I think the markets should lower the price of lobster and scallops just for Good Friday!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thank you for that explanation I think the markets should lower the price of lobster and scallops just for Good Friday!!

Ooooh, I like the way you think!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

oh crap, we will be at Le Cellier for Good Friday...doesn't matter to me as I'm methodist, but I don't know if DH will follow his childhood teachings or not.
Robin M.

 

[eduk8r26]

Catholics no longer have to abstain from meat on all Fridays--just during Lent. It was changed some years ago when the Church began changing many things--becoming more progressive, I guess. I can remember eating a lot of tuna-noodle casserole and potato soup on Fridays when I was growing up.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Ugh. Creamed peas and tuna fish on toast. We didn't eat meat on Fridays, ever. Lent saw no snacking between meals, and the additional non-meat day of Wednesdays throughout Lent. Not truly as long as it seemed as a kid.

No eating before receiving communion (back then either)...

All pre-Vatican II. My brother and I say that is the main difference between he and I and our two sisters. We were raised pre-Vatican two and they were raised after Vatican II! Not totally accurate, but works for us!

I do remember some discussion a few years back about seafood/fish being more of a luxury these days than they were in the past, and perhaps the tradition should be revised.

As far as I know it hasn't been, and devout RC folk still abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

 

[Dedejf]

My dh said his mother prepared noodles with prunes on Fridays during Lent! I can't imagine eating that combination and would have preferred a total fast in that case!

 

[PattnFmly]

Regardless of any religious ideals, I like the fact that around here there's usually great sales on fish during lent! I love fish and try to take full advantage of the sales! I say .. let them eat fish .. on sale ... I will too!

 

[clgwli]

Catholics no longer have to abstain from meat on all Fridays--just during Lent. It was changed some years ago when the Church began changing many things--becoming more progressive, I guess. I can remember eating a lot of tuna-noodle casserole and potato soup on Fridays when I was growing up.

Not true. Vatican II did not do away with it

http://www.catholic-pages.com/life/fridaymeat.asp

 

[freckles and boo]

I am not Catholic but live in a very Catholic area. All I know is that if I want frozen cheese pizzas I had better stock up BEFORE Lent.

 

[golfgal]

Lots of Catholics just follow the traditions without knowing why. I'm a certified Catechism teacher, so I had to learn all the whys and hows and wherefores of our religion.

Of course your Catechist training taught you that, wouldn't want the Catholic church telling you the real history. Keep in mind I am an active Catholic, with a strong Catholic School background. I support the no meat on Friday but the real history behind that is interesting.

Not true. I once had a link to support this but after I lost my favorites I lost it too and cannot quickly google it.

In our house we fast on Good Friday as well as Ash Wednesday as well. We eat no forms of meat at all on Fridays (not even fish).

Technically all Catholics should abstain from eating meat on ALL Fridays of the year. Not just Lent. If one does not abstain from eating meat a form of penance should be done.

Well, the nuns at my Catholic elementary school and Catholic college all said that the 'fish' rule DID come from one of the Pope's who's family owned a fishing industry and supported the 'eat fish' on Friday's. If you look historically, not all areas of the world at the time had fish readily available and often meat was not a luxury. Vatican II changed the no meat on any Friday.

Thank you for that explanation I think the markets should lower the price of lobster and scallops just for Good Friday!!

See, this is the real issue I have with fish on Friday during lent. So big deal, you don't have your tater tot hot dish but go out for lobster instead? Big sacrifice. The priest in our old parish had a great view on this. His thinking was that if giving up meat wasn't a sacrifice, then give up something that is. If you have a fancy coffee every morning from the coffee shop, give THAT up on Friday or don't eat between meals on Friday or give up watching TV. Give up something that makes you think about what you are doing and impacts your life in some way vs going out for a lobster dinner instead of staying home and making something without meat.

We generally have meatless spaghetti, mac-n-cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. during lent.

 

[luvmy3]

I remember getting in trouble because I made myself chicken flavor Ramen noodles. My father took the "no meat" rule very seriously.

What I find ironic is how the Church likes to change the rules to suit their needs. A few years ago St. Patrick's day fell on a Friday during lent. The Irish Catholics got the Okay to eat their corned beef. Funny how it works like that

 

[mjkacmom]

Ugh. Creamed peas and tuna fish on toast. We didn't eat meat on Fridays, ever. Lent saw no snacking between meals, and the additional non-meat day of Wednesdays throughout Lent. Not truly as long as it seemed as a kid.

No eating before receiving communion (back then either)...

All pre-Vatican II. My brother and I say that is the main difference between he and I and our two sisters. We were raised pre-Vatican two and they were raised after Vatican II! Not totally accurate, but works for us!

I do remember some discussion a few years back about seafood/fish being more of a luxury these days than they were in the past, and perhaps the tradition should be revised.

As far as I know it hasn't been, and devout RC folk still abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

We had creamed tuna on toast at least once a week when I was growing up!

 

[golfgal]

I remember getting in trouble because I made myself chicken flavor Ramen noodles. My father took the "no meat" rule very seriously.

What I find ironic is how the Church likes to change the rules to suit their needs. A few years ago St. Patrick's day fell on a Friday during lent. The Irish Catholics got the Okay to eat their corned beef. Funny how it works like that

They were encouraged to abstain from meat another day of the week and it wasn't a blanket dispensation, only some bishops granted that. I know our's did not. I don't see anything wrong with this, just the Catholic church recognizing and accepting the traditions of the Irish.

 

[amberc]

I live in a very catholic area as well... What gets me is that the catholics around here eat boiled seafood (mainly crawfish) every Friday during Lent....Is that really a sacrifice?? I'll take boiled crawfish over a burger any day of the week!!!!!

 

[luvmy3]

They were encouraged to abstain from meat another day of the week and it wasn't a blanket dispensation, only some bishops granted that. I know our's did not. I don't see anything wrong with this, just the Catholic church recognizing and accepting the traditions of the Irish.

I don't see anything wrong with it, I just find it ironic that they recognize some traditions and not others today.
My Irish Catholic family was more than happy to be able to have their corned beef but I do know they did have their fish on another day of that week as well