This Friday, try alligator and frog if you don’t like fish

As a Catholic convert, I’ve been slow to appreciate the profound beauty and practical necessity of Lent in my life. When I first entered the Church 20 years ago, I looked at the Season as an antiquated time when Catholics bragged to one another about giving up chocolate. I also knew they had to follow extra rules, particularly about fasting on certain days like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (this I understood and appreciated). But the rule to not eat meat on Fridays — except fish — that got my back up.

“Fish is meat!” I remember arguing with my very patient priest. 

“Yes, it is.” He scratched his head, forming his thoughtful reply. “But fish is generally considered a less pleasurable type of meat. And if you choose to eat it during Lent, you should keep with the spirit of the fast and only consume what is absolutely necessary to maintain bodily strength.” 

His argument made sense — I couldn’t deny it. Still, it’s taken me years to appreciate Lent /fasting and how much I desperately need both the Season and its practices in my life. In trying to align myself with Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert by turning away from earthly pleasures and comforts (as best as I can), I always wind up gaining so much more of Him. 

“To fast is to feast with angels,” St. Athanasius once aptly said. 

I’ve also heard Lent described as a time to reorder one’s life. It’s become my cue to get my finances in order and to deep clean my house — to eliminate clutter, sort out closets and drawers while my windows are wide open so fresh spring breezes blow through my musty old house. 

I always end up exercising more during Lent; between this and eating less food/ less indulgent foods (cue the reptile part of this piece already!), I always wind up — literally — trimming the fat from every area of my life (including my middle-aged body!). 

So, yeah — it’s only taken me two decades, but I’ve come to actually love Lent. Still, how is a busy mom supposed to handle meal-planning on Fridays when several very hungry family members are allergic to fish? Cheese pizza only assuages their unruly appetites for about two seconds; no wonder an excerpt from this article by Aleteia’s own Philip Kosloski caught my eye:

In Latin the word used to describe what kind of “meat” is not permitted on Fridays is carnis, and specifically relates to “animal flesh.” This has left the door open to many other creatures that do not fall under this strict definition.

The USCCB gives a more complete explanation of what constitutes “meat.”

Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs — all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles (cold-blooded animals), and shellfish are permitted.

What this means is that animals such as alligator, turtle, and frogs are permitted during Lent.

Kosloski goes onto describe a Lenten dish of stewed capybara that’s a favorite in several South American countries. But my gang has a hankering to try alligator and shark meat this Friday. And while I couldn’t get my hands on any at the supermarket, our local jerky shop had a wide selection!