Comments on: Lenten Fish http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/ News, opinion, commentary, & general mischief from Jared Bridges Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:45:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ethel http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-4400 Ethel Mon, 28 Feb 2005 05:52:29 +0000 http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/#comment-4400 No hefty historical data here, just simply commenting that, yes, indeed, judging by my kid's reactions to certain meals, that eating "flesh-meats" is more pleasurable and preferable to eating fish. "Fish? Is it fried? No? yuck!" No hefty historical data here, just simply commenting that, yes, indeed, judging by my kid’s reactions to certain meals, that eating “flesh-meats” is more pleasurable and preferable to eating fish.

“Fish? Is it fried? No? yuck!”

]]> By: Fr Jim Tucker http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-4395 Fr Jim Tucker Sat, 26 Feb 2005 15:05:24 +0000 http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/#comment-4395 The economic explanation is an urban legend. Broadly put, the law of abstinence (as practiced today) forbids the flesh of warm-blooded animals. The details of what's allowed and what isn't have varied from place to place and time to time. The Eastern Christians even forbid milk, eggs, and anything that was ever a part of an animal. I think some of them forbid fish, too. At any rate, historically the eating of flesh-meats has been considered more pleasant than eating things pulled out of the water. That, I imagine, has as much to do with it as anything. As is often the case, the Catholic Encyclopedia has <a href=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01067a.htm>a good article on abstinence</a>, although some of the legislation is out of date. The economic explanation is an urban legend. Broadly put, the law of abstinence (as practiced today) forbids the flesh of warm-blooded animals. The details of what’s allowed and what isn’t have varied from place to place and time to time. The Eastern Christians even forbid milk, eggs, and anything that was ever a part of an animal. I think some of them forbid fish, too. At any rate, historically the eating of flesh-meats has been considered more pleasant than eating things pulled out of the water. That, I imagine, has as much to do with it as anything.

As is often the case, the Catholic Encyclopedia has a good article on abstinence, although some of the legislation is out of date.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/comment-page-1/#comment-4024 Jennifer Fri, 18 Feb 2005 20:54:44 +0000 http://www.jaredbridges.net/archives/2005/02/18/lenten-fish/#comment-4024 An explanation that I heard back in college (for "fish on Friday", not just during Lent) is that the fishing boats would always come in on Friday, and in pre-refrigeration days, the fish needed to be eaten sooner rather than later. So the Church, in an effort to help out, "encouraged" everyone to eat fish on Friday by banning consumption of other meats. Some Catholics will observe the fish rule throughout the year, I think most in the US stick to Fridays during Lent. That came straight from the mouth of a Catholic who went to Mass exactly twice a year, so for what it's worth... An explanation that I heard back in college (for “fish on Friday”, not just during Lent) is that the fishing boats would always come in on Friday, and in pre-refrigeration days, the fish needed to be eaten sooner rather than later. So the Church, in an effort to help out, “encouraged” everyone to eat fish on Friday by banning consumption of other meats.

Some Catholics will observe the fish rule throughout the year, I think most in the US stick to Fridays during Lent.

That came straight from the mouth of a Catholic who went to Mass exactly twice a year, so for what it’s worth…

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