This past Friday my husband and I were in an Uber headed to the airport and headed home. It was around lunch time so we talked about where we might grab a quick bite to eat while waiting for our flight. He mentioned he was craving Jersey Mike’s, which he loves, but then realized it was Friday and it’s Lent so meat was a no no and a no go. I responded that maybe there’s a McDonald’s there and we can get a Filet-O-Fish. Yeah, I know, don’t tell Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. but those little fish sandwiches are a Lenten tradition for many. And quite perfectly, they were created by a Catholic and for that very reason.
It all stems back to the Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent and an innovative franchise owner named Lou Groen. A devout Catholic, Groen came up with the idea of serving a fish sandwich to customers at his Cincinnati McDonald’s restaurant. It was introduced in 1963 and the legacy continues nationwide. So popular is the sandwich, that it once had its own mascot called Phil A. O’Fish, who premiered in 1976. Dressed in a sailor suit and net and ready to go fishing, he no longer exists but love for his namesake sandwich remains.
As a Catholic, Groen was looking for a Lenten Friday meal but as a businessman he was also looking for something that would prevent customers from fleeing down the street on Fridays to a local fish joint. The sandwich was somewhat of a risk for a restaurant based mainly around hamburgers, but Groen’s creation of a simple breaded fish patty on a bun with tartar sauce and a slice of cheese was brilliant. With 87 percent of the Cincinnati population being Catholic, his creation and research paid off. In a big way.
The year it was introduced, the sandwich saved the franchise and became a permanent menu fixture. During Lent, the original location sells more than 500 fish sandwiches a day, making up almost 20 percent of sales. Outside of Lent, those numbers are 70 per day and only six percent of total sales.
Originally made with halibut, the Filet-O-Fish now consists of Alaskan Pollock, a type of cod, due to halibut being too expensive. The fish is caught fresh and not raised on farms and what kinda sets it apart is the fact that the bun is soft because it’s steamed. It’s the only sandwich on the Micky D’s menu with a steamed bun.
The franchise remains in family hands; a family that has not only passed down the business but their Catholic faith as well, through generation after generation. My guess is they’re all abstaining from meat this Lent and probably enjoying a Filet-O-Fish. Or two.
So why do Catholics not eat meat on Lenten Fridays? The tradition stems from early Christian teachings that emphasize penance and sacrifice. Come to find out that Lutherans and Episcopalians, among perhaps others, also follow the custom.
Abstinence is a form of penance and penance expresses sorrow and contrition for wrongdoings. It indicates an intention to turn away from sin and back to God. It’s also a sacrifice for most and so by refraining from eating meat, we are reminded of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for us: His very life. Since Jesus sacrificed His flesh for us on Good Friday, we abstain from eating “flesh meat” in His honor.
Flesh meat includes the meat of mammals and poultry, including beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Fish don’t belong to the flesh meat category. Also, according to 9th century definitions, fish don’t bleed so they don’t count as “meat.” In addition, back in the day, flesh meat was more expensive and often reserved for feasting and rejoicing whereas the cheaper fish was eaten more often and not associated with celebrations.
In the end, it’s all done in a spirit of humility and aligns with the concept of Lent being a period of giving up certain pleasures and appreciating the many blessings in our lives. Sometimes it really is as simple as a piece of fish on a bun. Just ask McDonalds.
Beyond Words 