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Fish on Fridays

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by wpe3bql, Jul 9, 2015.

  1. wpe3bql

    wpe3bql Member

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    I remember when I was in the military back in the 1960's, the chow hall facilities always seemed to offer fish for their Friday meals.

    I didn't mind eating fish because I enjoy fish as a meal. However, I soon began to see a trend, namely, it was ONLY on Fridays that fish was the principal "meat."

    So, I asked someone who worked in the chow hall why this was so. Why no fish on, say, Tuesday? He told me that he thought it was because Catholics believed that a person should eat fish on Friday.

    Okay, but WHY?

    The only reason I could figure out was that possibly it had something to do with the "fact" that Catholics believe that Jesus was crucified on "Good Friday," and that's how they commemorated His crucifixion.

    Is this, in fact, true?

    Now, generally speaking, I don't place a lot of stock in most all traditions that, for some reason, Catholics maintain. To me, I find little or no Biblical reason for them.

    I'm curious to find out if the custom of eating fish on Friday did have its origin within Catholic tradition.

    Again, I DO like fish. It's probably better for us than most of the fat-laden "red meat" that is common among Western dietary patterns.

    Compared to, e.g., that of many Oriental dietary patterns that are primarily "fish-patterned" (along with rice). Mortality rates seem to be a lot higher in the West compared to those in the Orient, and, for that reason, I suspect that we in the West might be healthier if we reduce our "red meat" consumption.

    That being said, I come back to my original question concerning Catholics eating fish on Fridays.

    Do they do that to some how commemorate Christ being crucified on "Good Friday," or is there another reason for the custom of "Fish Fridays"?
     
  2. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    From NPR
    And I do not eat fish, because when I was in school - only fish was served, since the Greater Salt City area is RC.
     
  3. wpe3bql

    wpe3bql Member

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    Okay Sarge....so you don't eat fish.

    Did the Ermy's MESS halls make it a practice to serve fish on Fridays?

    If they did, did they also serve it on, say,
    Mondays?

    If not, WHY didn't they?

    IOW, why not try answering the OP's question---if you can. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  4. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    When I was in elementary school we usually had fried fish on Friday. I thought it was because it was Fry-day.
     
  5. Carolina Baptist

    Carolina Baptist Active Member

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    The Coast Guard always had fish (occasionally lobster :thumbsup: ) on Friday. I just assumed it was because of the Catholic tradition. I didn't mind because I like fish and was not offended by their practice.
    Thursday was usually soup using the leftovers from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
     
  6. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    That's a good guess and it's mostly right.
    The requirement to refrain from red meat on Friday way dropped after the Second Vatican Council in the mid 1960's.
     
  7. Gerhard Ebersoehn

    Gerhard Ebersoehn Active Member
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    I'll take a trisal [Afrikaans for 'attempt'] . . .

    John 20:19 "being evening with reference to that day the First Day of the week" was, the Second Day of the week beginning with its "evening".

    John 20:26 "after eight days" -- Tues 1; Wed 2; Thur 3; Frid 4; Sat 5; Sun 6; Mon 7; Tues 8.

    Alternatively you can take it from Sunday, and it will still 'work out' . . .

    John 20:26 "eight days" -- Mon 1; Tue 2; Wed 3; Thur 4; Frid 5; Sat 6; Sun 7; Mon 8; Tues "after".

    John 20:1 "after these [another two] days" -- Thurs 1 Friday 2 . . . 21:9 FISH!

    FOFL!
     
    #7 Gerhard Ebersoehn, Jul 10, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 10, 2015
  8. Melanie

    Melanie Active Member
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    It certainly is an RCC tradition, and a requirement. It is linked to the death of Our Saviour on a Friday, and it is a concrete reminder for the faithful. The second Vatican council did dilute the requirement of refraining from eating red meat, but if so ANOTHER penitential act was to be substituted.

    I was surprised about finding Friday mess arrangements supported the catholic population in your experience, as it was often not the case on this side of the world, where you would end up with a plateful of veg!

    The pre Vatican2 council dietary requirements added up to a fairly balanced diet , so I follow it with great joy!
     
  9. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Interesting you use the word "tradition" therefore eating fish on Friday is NOT a Bible commandment.

    However, many believe that Jesus died either on Thurs or even possibly on Wednesday.

    If the Army mess hall only had fish on Friday - then I just did not have meat that day.

    And No, I do not remember them serving fish on any other day.

    I had heard that the Pope was trying to help fisherman sell more fish - thus the requirement for only fish on Friday.
    however, I am unable to find any valid source to back this up one way of the other.
     
  10. Melanie

    Melanie Active Member
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    Yeah Salty, it is no big deal! My neighbourhood has a LARGE population of conservative Catholics....the local fish and chippery do a ROARING trade on Fridays, which is a great excuse for mums to have Friday off from cooking tea.
     
  11. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
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    It is difficult to sort the facts from the hocus pocus and urban legend.

    I recall from the first and second grades in a parochial school in central U.S. circa 1951-52, during the reign of the XII pius, that it was a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday. Fish was O.K. Apparently the ban was on the color of the meat. This seems a serious dilemma for Canon Law. Is not fish a meat? Vatican II settled the problem. Or did it. According to some, that council was unauthorized and all popes since then are antipopes. Depends on who you read after. All papal bulls are not necessarily in effect today.

    Is it possible to have an anti-pope resign?

    Maybe it really is a mortal sin to eat red meat on Friday?

    Something is seriously convoluted.

    Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

    Bro. James
     
    #11 Bro. James, Jul 22, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2015
  12. Melanie

    Melanie Active Member
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    .....and Bro. James there are the sedevacantists.....mustn't forget them!

    Can a pope be sacked?
     
  13. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    While I was searching for a link on the fishermen - I did come across a page that said the ban was on warm blooded animals.

    Thus it would be acceptable to eat a snake, frog or any fish
     
  14. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
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    Thank you for the clarification. It still does not explain why eating warm blooded meat was a mortal sin before Vat.II and not so afterward.

    Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

    Bro. James
     
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