When asked if fish qualifies as meat, most of us would probably say “yes. “After all, do you know any vegetarians, vegans, or other people who don’t eat meat who eat fish and say it doesn’t count?” But there’s a surprising amount of disagreement about this subject, especially when it comes to religious holidays like Lent.
Meat is the flesh of any animal that is eaten, according to Merriam-Webster and the US Department of Agriculture. But if you ask a Catholic, you might be surprised by how they define fish vs. meat and which animals they consider fish. Many of us know that Catholics over the age of 14 follow a special diet during Lent, which includes not eating meat on Friday; they also fast. However, fish is fair game, and there are several theories as to why this is.
As the US Conference of Catholic Bishops says, meat only comes from animals that live on land. Some say it’s just a matter of definition. The tradition of not eating meat on Fridays, the day Jesus Christ was killed, comes from most religious sources. People don’t want to spill blood on that day. Additionally, theologians in the Middle Ages pushed the practice as a way for Catholics to be more humble and grow spiritually by giving up the decadence, luxury, and physical pleasure of meat.
For Catholics, Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving leading up to Easter. observers fast from things like sweets alcohol, and meat on Fridays. However, fish is permitted. This exception often puzzles non-Catholics and even some Catholics themselves. Why is fish allowed when meat is not?
The tradition dates back centuries and involves church teachings, regional customs, and symbolic meanings. While the origin may seem convoluted, the intent is to practice self-discipline and sacrifice.
Definition of Meat in Catholicism
In Catholicism “meat” refers only to the flesh of warm-blooded land animals. Fish being cold-blooded water creatures, do not fit the definition.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains that abstaining from meat acknowledges the sacrifice of Christ’s flesh on Good Friday. Only land animal flesh is considered relevant to this symbolism.
Origin of the Practice
The tradition of abstaining from meat has biblical roots. In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel fasted from meat and wine. Early Christians adopted fasting to grow closer to God.
In the Middle Ages, theologian Thomas Aquinas promoted abstaining from meat as a way to curb carnal pleasures and bodily indulgence. Back then meat was considered a luxury.
Aquinas cited the leading biologist of the era, Albert the Great, saying mammals’ flesh was most nourishing and pleasurable for humans. So Catholics should avoid it for discipline.
Since fish was seen as less indulgent, it remained permissible. The tradition stuck over time.
Regional Influences on the Fish Exception
Local culture and cuisine impacted which animals counted as “fish” over the centuries.
Beaver was classified as fish in 17th century Quebec so Catholics could eat it for protein during Lent when meat was forbidden.
Capybara, a rodent sometimes consumed in South America, earned a fish designation too.
Alligators, frogs, turtles, and even snakes got grouped as fish in some places. This flexibility allowed people to observe Lenten fasting while respecting regional food traditions.
Symbolism of Fish for Christians
Beyond definitions, fish holds symbolic meaning for Christians. Some key associations include:
-
Early Christians used the Greek word for fish, “ichthus,” as an acronym for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
-
The miracle of the loaves and fish foreshadowed the Eucharist with bread and wine.
-
Jesus fed the apostles fish after his resurrection, a sign of their new life in Christ.
-
The disciples were mostly fishermen. Fish remind Christians they are called to evangelism.
So eating fish on Fridays invokes Christ’s miracles and sacrifice. It represents the apostles and our ongoing Christian mission.
Rules and Guidelines for Eating Fish During Lent
If you choose to observe the Lenten fish custom, here are some ground rules:
-
Abstain from all meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent.
-
Fish is permitted in place of meat on those days. Seafood like shrimp and lobster is acceptable.
-
Limit fish and seafood to one full meal per day, ideally dinner. Don’t indulge excessively.
-
The rules apply for Catholics ages 14 and up. Younger children are exempt.
-
Pregnant, nursing, elderly, or sick people may be excused by their priest.
-
Avoid meat broths, gravies, or drippings on fast days. Read ingredient labels.
So feel free to enjoy simple baked fish, seafood soup, shrimp salad or the like in moderation. The focus should still be on sacrifice, not feasting lavishly on lobster!
Contemporary Perspectives
Today overindulgence seems a greater concern than deprivation for most observant Catholics. Limiting meat intake can also reflect current health and environmental ethics.
Pope Francis has criticized Lenten sacrifice as superficial if it does not address meaningful social change. He calls it “plastic fasting.”
Some faithful now add “fasting” from plastic, fossil fuels, or wasteful habits to their Lent traditions. This honors the ascetic spirit while nurturing creation.
Key Takeaways
-
Only warm-blooded land animal flesh is considered “meat.” Fish do not meet that criteria.
-
In medieval theology, mammals were seen as indulgent foods to avoid. Fish was thought more austere.
-
Local cultures influenced what animals counted as fish, like beaver and capybara.
-
Fish hold symbolic meaning relating to the apostles, miracles, and the Eucharist.
-
Rules still dictate eating fish in moderation just one meal per day. The focus remains on self-discipline.
-
Some modern Catholics are expanding the idea of fasting to limit environmental harm.
So while the origin is complex, the spirit remains limiting pleasure and turning focus to God. Fish on Fridays offers sustenance while still embracing sacrifice. This Lent, consider how your own observances can increase mindfulness, temper excess, and care for others.
Why meat is off the table for Lent, but fish can stay
Fasting has a long history in the Catholic faith. It was used to strengthen the connection between believers and their god in the Old Testament. In the Middle Ages, however, the practice of not eating certain foods during Lent took on a slightly different meaning. This was largely due to the influence of theologian Thomas Aquinas’s work Summa Theologica. The text says that not eating meat is important because it reminds us that Christ gave up his own flesh for us when he died.
The flesh that Catholics were advised to abstain from were “those foods which both afford most pleasure to the palate, and besides are a very great incentive to lust” (via CCEL). Referencing the teachings of Albert the Great, Europes top biologist at the time, Aquinas argued that eating animals that were physically similar to humans (warm-blooded animals, that is) would be most pleasurable and nourishing, and therefore, could inadvertently increase feelings of lust and enhance virility.
During Lent, people try to be as disciplined as Christ by fasting and being humble, and they work on their self-control by giving up certain pleasures, like eating “meat.” But because fish weren’t as much like Christ, they weren’t thought to be as tasty as land animals, so they were safe to eat during Lent.
Why do we eat fish on Fridays during Lent? | Catholic Planner
Do Catholics eat fish on Fridays during Lent?
Catholics: Stop eating fancy fish on Fridays during Lent. Kingfish ceviche tacos, coconut macadamia-crusted salmon steaks, Lobster Thermidor. Hey, it’s not meat! (iStock/Bartosz Luczak) If you ask most Catholics why we eat fish on Fridays during Lent, you will likely hear that it’s meant to be a kind of sacrifice.
Can you eat fish during Lenten?
And according to non-Protestant traditions, giving up meat on certain days is a form of penance. In terms of eating fish as part of the Lenten fast or on Fridays generally, this is a Roman Catholic tradition that some Anglicans and Lutherans also follow to a lesser extent. Strictly speaking, nobody is required to eat fish…ever.
Why do people eat fish on Fridays?
The real economic story behind fish on Fridays turns out to be much better. Let’s start with a quick lesson in theology: According to Christian teaching, Jesus died on a Friday, and his death redeemed a sinful world. People have written of fasting on Friday to commemorate this sacrifice as early as the first century.
Should you eat fish on Friday?
Depending on what part of the Christian tradition you’re from, eating fish on Friday is more or less a part of your upbringing. Older Catholics, for example, grew up eating fish every Friday throughout the year. And chances are, their mothers had a bunch of recipes to try and make eating fish regularly more interesting.