One of the things that attracts both Catholics and non-Catholics in Lent is the season of penance and atonement.  For many, this comes in the form of abstaining from a vice, like chocolate, caffeine, or excess television.  For others, it may come in the form of doing more of something good, such as volunteering or almsgiving.

For many Americans today, though, Lent is seen mostly as a challenge.  Can I survive going without something I crave or desire?  Can I show that I can defeat what ails me?  This mentality fits the ultra-competitive nature of what we now see in today’s society.  However, just like today’s society, many will retreat back to old habits once the challenge is over.  This defeats the purpose of the Lenten season, since the motivation to improve our lives was based on our own selfish desires and not the desire and will of Christ.

As such, I would like to challenge you this Lent to look to improve in your spiritual life beyond Lent.  Think of it as a Lenten+ promise.  One way you can do that is to start a 54 day Novena.

The word “novena” comes from the Latin for “nine.”  A novena involves saying a set of prayers, typically a rosary, for 9 days for a particular intercession, perhaps for yourself or maybe for someone else.  The 54 day novena is really a series of six novenas said consecutively for the same favor.  The first 3 novenas are said for a particular petition, while the final 3 novenas are said in thanksgiving for the petition, even if the petition has not yet been granted.  The traditional novena involves rotating the mysteries said on the rosary each day, i.e. Joyful on Day 1, Sorrowful on Day 2, Glorious on Day 3, Joyful on Day 4, etc.

If one were to start the 54 day novena today (February 2), they would end the 54 day novena on March 26, which this year is Easter Vigil.  Or, you can start on Ash Wednesday of each year and end on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday following Easter Sunday.  Either way, as Catholics, we believe in Mary’s intercessory power as she is Jesus’ Beloved Mother, and are reminded as such in the Memorare:

“Oh most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins my Mother.  To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.”

If you would like a guide for how to more fully pray the 54 day Novena, the Knights of Divine Mercy in Madison, Wisconsin have provided a great resource online for the novena, including extra prayers and a history of the novena.

http://knightsofdivinemercy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/54_Day_Novena_Rosary.pdf

 

 

 

 

The history of fish fries in the United States is actually fairly short in comparison to both the history of the United States, let alone the Catholic Church.  To understand the American fish fry, a few questions must be answered.

What is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in regards to meat on Fridays?

The Roman Catholic Church lists seven requirements for all Catholics, known as precepts.  One of those precepts pertains to the practice of abstinence of meat:

“The fourth precept (“You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis [i.e., self-discipline, asceticism —ed.] and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.” – from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2043

More specifically, according to Canon Law (info found here:  http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4O.HTM), Catholics above the age of 14 are required to abstain from eating meat on all Fridays, unless a solemnity falls on a Friday (examples include Christmas, Epiphany, Assumption among others), or if the local bishops conference determines more specific forms of penance and days to abstain, as the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops allowed in 1966 in its paper Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence.

Why is Friday the day for penitence?  Why fish, or really, anything other than fish?

Friday is chosen as the day for fasting and abstinence because of Tradition with a capital T.  Christ was crucified on the cross at the third hour and rose on the third day.  With Easter Sunday being the third day, Friday would be the day He was crucified.  As such, Catholics commemorate Fridays as a way to remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross by performing some penance, such as not eating meat.

Now, specifically, the meat that was disallowed were considered flesh meat, which would include beef, pork, sausage, ham, chicken, lamb, veal…really, anything that would be considered a warm blooded animal.  It is not specifically known why fish was allowed but other “meats” were prohibited on Fridays, but many believe it’s due to the discipline required to give up those types of meats compared to fish, as well as the fact that fish are generally considered less costly than flesh meats and would be worthy of a penance.

Along with fish, other types of seafood, including crab, lobster, and shark are allowed to be consumed but note that these types of foods are more expensive and would violate the principle of asceticism discussed in the Catechism.  Other types of food that are also allowed include amphibians, such as frog legs, chicken eggs, since the product is not flesh meat, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese pizza, and, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, alligator.

So, what started the fish fry?

While the fish fry is primarily an American tradition, its roots can be found in the Germanic culture of the Midwest.  The tradition is strongest in Wisconsin, where there are many German Catholics who enjoy fishing.  The fish fry mostly took off in the 1920s and 1930s, when pubs were unable to sell beer during Prohibition.  Fried fish dinners were seen as a very profitable source of new income, as fish was both plentiful from the many lakes in the state, as well as relatively low cost to make a dinner out of fish.

The fish fry has since expanded across the nation and is most prominent in areas where Catholicism, and to some extent, people of German descent, still reside.  The fish fry does vary by region, whether by the main course (catfish in the South vs. walleye and cod in the Midwest vs. crab and lobster in the Northeast), the side dishes (hush puppies and vs. German potato salad/corn), or the places that offer fish fries, as even Baptists and Lutherans enjoy a good fish fry or two!

Where can I find my local Catholic fish fry?

Most dioceses in the United States will list a schedule of the parishes with fish fries.  In the Archdiocese of Louisville, the fish fries in Louisville have not yet been posted as of February 2, but will be found here:  http://www.archlou.org/parishes/picnics-festivals/.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis, where the parishes in Southern Indiana reside, also have not listed their fish fries on their website.  However, you can check out the websites of the parishes of the New Albany Deanery here for more information:  http://www.archindy.org/parishes/deanery/newalbany.html

In The Next Post…

Tune in to the next blog for a challenge for Lent and beyond!

References:

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting_and_abstinence_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Church#cite_note-18

http://www.wsaw.com/feature/headlines/Fish_Fry_Culture_Has_Rich_History_in_Wisconsin_140365273.html

 

Welcome to Fish Fry Chronicles!  This blog is dedicated to one of the biggest social events that Catholics across America regularly look forward to each year.

In the next few months, I will explore the history of the fish fry and the history of Catholic abstention practices.  Each Friday during Lent (plus Good Friday), I will attend a different fish fry in the Louisville area, presenting on the food, atmosphere, people, and history of either the parishes or the saints that the parishes are named after.  For those counting, that will be 7 different fish fries.

Along with fish fries, I will also write about other aspects of Catholic teaching and culture that are happening in and around Louisville.

Tune in soon to read how fish fries came to be in the United States.  Hint:  It’s all because of Prohibition!