A natural question, it seems, when one considers the prevalence of Catholic Fish Fries in the liturgical season of Lent is: Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays?
Our Fish Fry at St. Patrick takes place every Friday during the liturgical season of Lent. Lent is the period of 40 days prior to Easter in which we, as Catholics, prepare our hearts, minds, and souls to celebrate the great Solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter. As part of our preparation, we take on special practices, penances, and sacrifices as spiritual discipline. This includes fasting and abstinence.
Fasting is required by Catholics from age 18-59 and is considered to be, in the course of one day, one normal meal and two smaller snacks that do not equal a full meal. Two days during Lent are considered days of fasting: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Abstinence is a practice, required by Catholics 14 years and older, where one is to abstain from eating meat. Ash Wednesday, all Fridays in Lent, and Good Friday are days of abstinance for the faithful. Fish, which serves as a representation of Christ (think of the fish bumper sticker and the artwork in our church), is the only animal flesh consumed by Catholics on Friday. Thus, the custom of eating fish on Fridays remains a tradition in the Church.
There is also something to eating together in community: think of the Last Supper, Christ eats with his community of apostles, and in turn, we share a sacrificial meal at every Mass as a community with those around us and those participating in the Heavenly Banquet. At our Lenten Fish Fries, we are able to come together and share a meal and fellowship with our parish family and the wider community! The Lenten Fish Fry remains a cornerstone of our community and we can't wait to welcome you for it!