Fish on Friday

[RPRPsych]

I think the other thread listed seal, walrus, dolphin, and whale.

Shark, particularly minced shark, is quite a delicacy in my part of the world.

What about kangaroo?

 

[Vico]

OK. Why is it OK to eat fish on Fridays during lent, but not “meat”. What makes a food “meat”?

I have heard that it is because the flesh of fish has no blood in it.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place. Not sure which heading it should go under.

Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote:I answer that, As stated above (Article 6), fasting was instituted by the Church in order to bridle the concupiscences of the flesh, which regard pleasures of touch in connection with food and sex. Wherefore the Church forbade those who fast to partake of those foods which both afford most pleasure to the palate, and besides are a very great incentive to lust. Such are the flesh of animals that take their rest on the earth, and of those that breathe the air and their products, such as milk from those that walk on the earth, and eggs from birds. For, since such like animals are more like man in body, they afford greater pleasure as food, and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust. Hence the Church has bidden those who fast to abstain especially from these foods.
…

Reply to Objection 2. In the institution of fasting, the Church takes account of the more common occurrences. Now, generally speaking, eating flesh meat affords more pleasure than eating fish, although this is not always the case. Hence the Church forbade those who fast to eat flesh meat, rather than to eat fish.

The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, II, II, Question 147, Article 8.

 

[Origen52]

Couldn’t resist.

Maybe we should compile a list of all the esoteric Lent foods and make it a sticky on this forum, as a future reference!

So far, we have:

1. Muskrat
2. Alligator
3. Capybara (from the other thread you linked to…)

What next?

For me it would be a penance to eat any of these.

 

[RPRPsych]

For me it would be a penance to eat any of these.

 

[TimothyH]

I’ve eaten gator. It wasn’t prepared very well - a little chewy and it did taste just like chicken.

-Tim-

 

[babs57]

Reply to Objection 2. Now, generally speaking, eating flesh meat affords more pleasure than eating fish, although this is not always the case. Hence the Church forbade those who fast to eat flesh meat, rather than to eat fish.

The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, II, II, Question 147, Article 8.
[/INDENT]

I guess here in America we are so used to eating beef, pork and chicken, that fish seems like a delicacy to us. Not much of a fast! However, at $6.00 a pound, we could maybe call it a penance!

 

[Jon_S_1]

I guess here in America we are so used to eating beef, pork and chicken, that fish seems like a delicacy to us. Not much of a fast! However, at $6.00 a pound, we could maybe call it a penance!

Yes I thought that the other day as instead of buying my $5 rotisserie chicken I spent $30 on salmon fillets.

Perhaps it’s time to rethink this? Fish really is more of a luxury item in the US

 

[GEddie]

Yes I thought that the other day as instead of buying my $5 rotisserie chicken I spent $30 on salmon fillets.

Perhaps it’s time to rethink this? Fish really is more of a luxury item in the US

The increased cost is in itself a penance.

If I lived nearer the sea, I’d give thought to catching my Lenten protein myself. However, the Rio Bravo is just too polluted!!!

ICXC NIKA

 

[Vico]

I guess here in America we are so used to eating beef, pork and chicken, that fish seems like a delicacy to us. Not much of a fast! However, at $6.00 a pound, we could maybe call it a penance!

It is possible to get certain cuts of meat and types of fish for relatively low prices. But the other reason for the choice of fasting from red meat is, as St. Thomas stated, an increase in lust from eating them:“For, since such like animals are more like man in body, they afford greater pleasure as food, and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust. Hence the Church has bidden those who fast to abstain especially from these foods.”

 

[Miserissima]

It is possible to get certain cuts of meat and types of fish for relatively low prices. But the other reason for the choice of fasting from red meat is, as St. Thomas stated, an increase in lust from eating them:“For, since such like animals are more like man in body, they afford greater pleasure as food, and greater nourishment to the human body, so that from their consumption there results a greater surplus available for seminal matter, which when abundant becomes a great incentive to lust. Hence the Church has bidden those who fast to abstain especially from these foods.”

Salmon would break my grocery budget. So, I make vegetarian portions for me and regular portions for the kids. I don’t know what to do of they are still finicky when they’re of age to abstain!

 

[Jon_S_1]

Salmon would break my grocery budget. So, I make vegetarian portions for me and regular portions for the kids. I don’t know what to do of they are still finicky when they’re of age to abstain!

Yeah, I don’t like fish very much either, but I work as a Fireman and most of my coworkers are at least catholic in name, so I was able to get them on board for making a lenten meal for dinner. But to them that means some sort of meat so for me someone who really does not like fish, it meant a bland fish like swordfish, tuna or salmon. And I am not rich enough for the first two I listed!

For home, it is tuna sandwiches, mac and cheese, cheese pizza, salads, or one of my favorite if done right…Potato tacos.

 

[Miserissima]

I need that taco recipe!

As it i stands, I sneak Gerber dinner baby foods (chicken and apple us hidden the best) into their sippy cops just to be sure they get enough.

 

[Jon_S_1]

I need that taco recipe!

As it i stands, I sneak Gerber dinner baby foods (chicken and apple us hidden the best) into their sippy cops just to be sure they get enough.

Here it is. I have had mixed luck making it myself. I think the key is using good oil and make sure its hot.

I just can’t duplicate the Taco Chef at Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church in La Habra California. She makes them AWESOME!

saveur.com/article/Recipes/Tacos-de-Papa-Potato-Tacos

It looks a little more complex than it is since they include their own salsa recipe in the taco recipe.

Its basically- mashed potatoes put into a corn tortilla, and deep fried until crispy. I top it with typical taco fixings, Cheese lettuce tomato and salsa.

Kids definitely love it. Make sure the oil is hot so the potatoes don’t soak it up and drain them well.

 

[Sunbreak]

Yes I thought that the other day as instead of buying my $5 rotisserie chicken I spent $30 on salmon fillets.

Perhaps it’s time to rethink this? Fish really is more of a luxury item in the US

Yes, but you don’t have to eat fish at all. Macaroni and cheese, pasta with meatless sauce, vegetarian lasagna, bean dishes can all be eaten.

 

[RPRPsych]

Salmon would break my grocery budget. So, I make vegetarian portions for me and regular portions for the kids. I don’t know what to do of they are still finicky when they’re of age to abstain!

Fish is pretty expensive here too, though I can get it at a lower price if we head directly to the market. My wife and I do that sometimes. (You do need to hold your nose a bit, though. )

Wonder what I’ll do when the kids come along, though.

 

[Kevin_B]

Fish does indeed have blood.

But the whole point of abstinence is that our LORD gave up the flesh of His own body for us.

So we give up “flesh” for Him.

Human flesh is warm when alive, and cold in death. So for Lenten purposes, warm-bodied critters are considered “flesh.”

ICXC NIKA

I know this is a very lighthearted thread, and I don’t want to start an argument, but this sounds like the people who claim we use a Christmas tree because it has 3 points and therefore represents the trinity, when everyone knows darn well the reason we have a Christmas tree is because we were trying to convert pagans. And there’s nothing wrong with trying to convert pagans, so I don’t know why so many Christians want to hide the origin of the Christmas tree, and I sincerely doubt that this is the actual reason behind not eating fish.

I think the true reason is this one:

My understanding was that in the past, fish was a normal part of the food and daily diet. It was “commoner” food.

Meat from mammals and Birds was much less widespread and was seen as a luxury eaten on special occasions and by those who were more wealthy in general.

So on Fridays, one was not to have the elegant food, but the plain food in remembrance of the suffering of our Lord on Good Friday.

I honestly think the Church should update its guidelines from “abstain from meat” to instead say “abstain from fancy foods”. After all, on a normal friday I might have beef stew or something boring but on Fridays in Lent down here in New Orleans everyone has a crawfish boil and eats really good food. Seriously, in New Orleans, with the exception of a handful of steaks and ducks around town, 95% of our best cuisine could be eaten on Fridays in Lent. I mean, most of us already IMPLY “Eat simply on Fridays in Lent”, so why not make it official so our rules are up to date with the current 1000 years? Of course, updating a rule to make sense in the modern day is not really the Church’s thing, is it?

(Maybe Francis will do it!)

Oh, and if it is prepared well, alligator tail is very good. I wouldn’t compare it to chicken, but maybe to calamari or sea scallops or something, in that the taste is definitely from the sea, but the texture is a big meatier than fish. But you can fry it and dip it in cocktail sauce and it is very tasty

 

[Jon_S_1]

I know this is a very lighthearted thread, and I don’t want to start an argument, but this sounds like the people who claim we use a Christmas tree because it has 3 points and therefore represents the trinity, when everyone knows darn well the reason we have a Christmas tree is because we were trying to convert pagans. And there’s nothing wrong with trying to convert pagans, so I don’t know why so many Christians want to hide the origin of the Christmas tree, and I sincerely doubt that this is the actual reason behind not eating fish.

I think the true reason is this one:

I honestly think the Church should update its guidelines from “abstain from meat” to instead say “abstain from fancy foods”. After all, on a normal friday I might have beef stew or something boring but on Fridays in Lent down here in New Orleans everyone has a crawfish boil and eats really good food. Seriously, in New Orleans, with the exception of a handful of steaks and ducks around town, 95% of our best cuisine could be eaten on Fridays in Lent. I mean, most of us already IMPLY “Eat simply on Fridays in Lent”, so why not make it official so our rules are up to date with the current 1000 years? Of course, updating a rule to make sense in the modern day is not really the Church’s thing, is it?

(Maybe Francis will do it!)

Oh, and if it is prepared well, alligator tail is very good. I wouldn’t compare it to chicken, but maybe to calamari or sea scallops or something, in that the taste is definitely from the sea, but the texture is a big meatier than fish. But you can fry it and dip it in cocktail sauce and it is very tasty

Yeah, When I made one of my best dinners of the year on Ash Wednesday (Ahi Tuna Steaks, and vegetables and rice) I sat their and wondered “Isn’t this missing the point” I fasted all day and then its like a reward to have this awesome fish dinner which really is an expensive luxury!

I agree the point is about simplicity and humility, so I am going to take that to heart as best I can as I prepare my future lenten meals. Simple Mac and Cheese or Cheese pizza or something like that is probably more appropriate.

Id love to see direction come from the Pope now or in the future regarding that. Even just a simple exaltation to remember to spend Fridays, including our meals, in a spirit of humility and simplicity. In a way where we spend less than normal on meals so we can give the remainder to the poor.

 

[RPRPsych]

Yeah, When I made one of my best dinners of the year on Ash Wednesday (Ahi Tuna Steaks, and vegetables and rice) I sat their and wondered “Isn’t this missing the point” I fasted all day and then its like a reward to have this awesome fish dinner which really is an expensive luxury!

I agree the point is about simplicity and humility, so I am going to take that to heart as best I can as I prepare my future lenten meals. Simple Mac and Cheese or Cheese pizza or something like that is probably more appropriate.

**Id love to see direction come from the Pope now or in the future regarding that. ** Even just a simple exaltation to remember to spend Fridays, including our meals, in a spirit of humility and simplicity. In a way where we spend less than normal on meals so we can give the remainder to the poor.

I think there was a thread on the Vatican studying this issue in the Philippines, quite recently.

Also, I wonder what “Fish Eaters” would think of this thread.

 

[Blessed_is_He]

About the Pope protecting the fish industry is that true? My friend told me about that years ago. Also, why is the Church law of meatless Friday’s on every Friday lifted?

 

[Jon_S_1]

About the Pope protecting the fish industry is that true? My friend told me about that years ago. Also, why is the Church law of meatless Friday’s on every Friday lifted?

The fish industry thing is not true.

The church law in the US is that you are to not eat meat ever on Fridays, however, instead of abstaining from meat on Fridays outside of lent, one can do a work of mercy instead, but the penitent nature of the day remains.

The goal was, get people out being the hands and feet of Christ instead of “just another fish Friday”.

Unfortunately people now do neither.