Lent: Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays?
Every Lent, the same question surfaces at dinner tables and parish gatherings: Why fish? Why does the Church ask Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays, yet allow salmon, shrimp, or a tuna sandwich?
The answer is older—and more meaningful—than most people realize.
1. It begins with Friday itself
For Christians, Friday is the day of the Passion. It’s the weekly remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion. From the earliest centuries, believers marked Friday with some form of penance. Not dramatic gestures—just a small, steady act of self‑denial that kept the memory of Christ’s sacrifice close to daily life.
2. Meat meant feasting
In the ancient Mediterranean world, meat wasn’t an everyday food. It was celebratory—weddings, festivals, victories, homecomings. To give up meat was to give up something rich, festive, and symbolic of abundance. Abstaining from it became a quiet way of stepping back from celebration and entering a posture of humility.
Fish, by contrast, was ordinary food. It didn’t carry the same cultural weight. Choosing fish wasn’t about indulgence; it was about simplicity.
3. It’s not about fish—it’s about solidarity
Lenten abstinence isn’t a diet rule. It’s a spiritual practice meant to shape the heart.
• It creates space for reflection
• It links the believer to the suffering of Christ
• It unites Catholics around the world in a shared discipline
• It reminds us that faith is lived through the body, not just the mind
The point isn’t the menu. The point is the intention.
4. A tradition that keeps evolving
The Church’s fasting rules have changed over the centuries—sometimes stricter, sometimes more flexible—but the core idea remains the same: one day a week, step out of routine and choose simplicity for the sake of love.
Lenten Fridays invite us to remember that sacrifice doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s as small as what we put on our plate.
post inspired by Easter at the Mission by Sula, parish cat at Old Mission.
Description
Discover Easter Through the Eyes of a Church Cat!
Join Sula, the now-famous church cat, on a fascinating journey through the meaning and traditions of Easter in her fifth book! With her signature mix of history, Catholic dogma, and humor, Sula explores questions like:
🐾 What is Easter, and why is it called the Paschal Mystery?
🐾 Why do Catholics observe Lent, Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week?
🐾 What are the traditions behind Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday?
🐾 How do these events lead to the Easter Vigil and Easter Morning?
Beautifully illustrated by Uliana Yanovich, this engaging book is filled with people-cat pictures, making it a delightful read for cat lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about Easter’s deeper meaning.
🐱📖 Whether you're a lifelong Catholic or just learning about Easter, let Sula be your guide through the traditions, symbols, and spiritual significance of this sacred season!
🔹 Perfect for readers of all ages
🔹 A must-have for Easter book collections
🔹 A fun and insightful gift for cat lovers & faith seekers
Keywords: Easter book for Catholics, What is Easter?, Catholic Easter traditions, Lent and Holy Week explained, Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Why is it called the Paschal Mystery?, Easter books for cat lovers, Sula the Church Cat books, history of Easter in Catholicism
5-Star Review on Readers' Favorite by Rebecca Winer
Easter at the Mission: A Cat's Observation of the Paschal Mystery by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is told in the voice of the cat who lives at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista in California. This is the fifth book about the Mission written by Sula. She roams the chapel, the grounds, the cemetery, and the mission gift shop. Sula is fed and loved by many who come to the Mission and are frequently greeted by her. Sula calls God 'the Boss.' This book concentrates on what Catholics believe about the time from Ash Wednesday through Resurrection Sunday. The Stations of the Cross are explained. The structure of the Mass changes during the time from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday.
My favorite part of Easter at the Mission by Sula Parish Cat at Old Mission is the humor. I learned some things about history, such as St. Francis trying to peacefully end the Crusades. I found it interesting that for Ash Wednesday the ashes are made by burning the past year’s Palm Sunday branches. I appreciated that people can learn how Easter and Lent are determined on the calendar, which explains why Easter is on a different day each year. The pictures of Sula roaming around the Mission help us understand that it is a real cat, not just a fictional one. I have learned things about the Catholic faith. I especially liked the part where the cat explains to readers about the Stations of the Cross. I think this book would be great for Protestants to read to better understand what Catholics believe.
To listen to the trailer for Easter at the Mission, click HERE.
Listen to the story on KSBW television about Sula HERE.
Watch Sula at home at Old Mission SJB HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Read an interview: Mudpie Interviews Sula
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