The 'Fish' Symbol & Its Use

[Mattjolley]

I was just wondering, is this symbol used by Catholics aswell as the other christian denominations, as I have never seen members of my local parish using it, on lapels or their cars, etc.

Is it not accepted by us Catholics? Just thought about this for the first time today! For anyone (although I’m sure were all familiar with it) unsure of what i mean, its the oval shaped fish symbol, a bit like an eye but with a tail, hehe.

Matt

 

[anniemart]

Sure! It’s very popular in our diocese. I think it’s been around for quite some time. This past spring, our bishop used a video with this symbol in it for increasing vocations titled “Fishers of Men.” As a matter of fact, I’ve seen several men wearing a bracelet made up of fishing leaders clips. I also have a necklace with this symbol hanging from it. We have the symbol on our trucks; I think it’s a really cool way to show other motorists that you have God in your life.

You know what I noticed after we put the symbol on our trucks? Other motorists were a lot more friendlier…changing lanes; entering the onramp, in parking lots, etc. It took us pleasantly by surprise!

His mercy is endless and there for the task of asking.
God Blesses us every minute of every hour of every day.:heaven:

 

[tee_eff_em]

Of course Catholics use it – Look on the calendar any Friday in Lent.

More seriously: Ichthys at wikipedia.

tee

 

[tomarin]

is this symbol used by Catholics as well as the other christian denominations

you might say “we” invented it. it’s an early symbol of christianity that was scratched on doors in the era of roman persecution by christians to indicate where a fellow christian family lived. no doubt it reflected the fact that so many of the apostles were fishermen who jesus had made “fishermen of men’s souls”.

 

[Mattjolley]

you might say “we” invented it. it’s an early symbol of christianity that was scratched on doors in the era of roman persecution by christians to indicate where a fellow christian family lived. no doubt it reflected the fact that so many of the apostles were fishermen who jesus had made “fishermen of men’s souls”.

I was going to say, I knew of its roots, as an afterthought to my initial post, I figured that of course Catholics use it, since the very early church used it as a sort of code to recognise those who were also followers of The Way. Sort of answered my own question before I could get back to here! Thanks anyway guys.

P.S. I had a nice silver ring with this symbol on it lying round, I was worried about wearing it until I realised that its definately a catholic symbol, how slow of me!

 

[Andruschak]

you might say “we” invented it. it’s an early symbol of christianity that was scratched on doors in the era of roman persecution by christians to indicate where a fellow christian family lived. no doubt it reflected the fact that so many of the apostles were fishermen who jesus had made “fishermen of men’s souls”.

But parodies DO exist…

northernsun.com/n/s/home/darwinfish.html?mv_pc=gg31&gclid=CKuE56Srno4CFSQwYAodBmoHTQ

 

[PhilotheaZ]

it’s an early symbol of christianity that was scratched on doors in the era of roman persecution by christians to indicate where a fellow christian family lived. no doubt it reflected the fact that so many of the apostles were fishermen who jesus had made “fishermen of men’s souls”.

I had heard that the fish was used as a secret symbol because the Greek word for “fish” (ichthus) is an acronym (first letter of each word) of the phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

When our parish (Sts. Peter and Paul) in Hopkinsville, KY built a new church a few years ago, the pastor chose door handles in the shape of fishes, I think both because of the secret symbol and because Peter, our patron, was a fisherman.

 

[puzzleannie]

I had one on my old car, right next to the neon OL Guadalupe, who always got me a pass from the guards to go over the border in our mission trips when we were loaded up with food and clothing.