Yes Catholics can absolutely eat shrimp during Lent! As someone who’s researched Catholic dietary traditions extensively I’ll break down everything you need to know about enjoying seafood during this important religious season.
Quick Answer
Catholics are allowed to eat shrimp and other seafood during Lent, including on Fridays when meat is prohibited Seafood is not considered “meat” under Catholic Lenten fasting rules.
Understanding Lenten Food Rules
Here’s what Catholics need to know about fasting and abstinence during Lent
Basic Rules:
- Must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
- No meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent
- Seafood is permitted, including shrimp, fish, and shellfish
- Children and elderly are usually exempt from these rules
What Counts as “Meat”?
The Catholic Church defines meat as flesh from warm-blooded animals like:
- Beef
- Pork
- Chicken
- Lamb
- Duck
Approved Seafood Options
You can eat any of these during Lent:
- Shrimp
- Fish (all types)
- Lobster
- Crab
- Clams
- Scallops
- Oysters
- Mussels
- Calamari
Why Is Seafood Allowed?
Historical Background
There are several theories about why seafood gets special treatment during Lent:
-
Biological Distinction: Fish and seafood are cold-blooded, unlike warm-blooded land animals.
-
Economic History: In the past, fish was typically cheaper and more accessible than meat.
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Religious Tradition: The practice may have roots in Jewish dietary laws that separate land animals from sea creatures.
Theological Reasoning
St. Thomas Aquinas provided two main reasons for allowing seafood:
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Symbolic Meaning: Since Christ offered his flesh on the cross, Catholics abstain from flesh meat.
-
Physical Effects: Aquinas believed land animal meat provided more physical pleasure and increased certain bodily desires more than seafood did.
Tips for Eating Seafood During Lent
Do’s:
- Host Friday fish fries with friends
- Try simple homemade fish recipes
- Use canned tuna for easy meals
- Enjoy seafood-focused restaurants
Don’ts:
- Mix seafood with meat ingredients
- Go overboard with expensive seafood (keeps with spirit of sacrifice)
- Forget about the meaning behind the practice
Common Questions
Is fancy seafood okay?
While technically allowed, super expensive seafood like lobster might go against the spirit of Lenten sacrifice. Use your judgment!
What about seafood with meat sauce?
Better avoid dishes that mix seafood with meat products on Fridays. Stick to purely seafood-based meals.
Can I eat imitation seafood?
Most Catholics consider imitation products okay since they’re usually made from fish protein.
Making Good Choices
While the rules say seafood is fine, remember that Lent is about spiritual growth and sacrifice. I’d suggest:
- Choose simple seafood preparations
- Don’t use the seafood exception as a loophole
- Focus on the spiritual meaning
- Consider your personal conscience
Conclusion
The bottom line? You can definitely enjoy shrimp and other seafood during Lent! Just keep the spirit of the season in mind and make choices that support your spiritual journey.
Remember – these rules are meant to help us grow closer to our faith, not to be a burden. When in doubt, chat with your local priest about specific situations.
Have you got other questions about Lenten food rules? Drop them in the comments below! And don’t forget to share your favorite Lenten seafood recipes with our community.
Disclaimer: While I’ve done my research, always check with your local parish for specific guidelines, as practices can vary slightly by region.
Our food intake, teaches Thomas, effects our libido.
I bet you’re weren’t expecting that answer! And there is science to back it up. Higher testosterone leads to a higher libido. It’s scientific fact.
Guys, do you want to increase your testosterone, eat more red meat and fatty meats. Same goes for women. Harvard Medical School found that women can increase their fertility responsiveness by increasing protein intake and switching to full-fat milk.
Want to decrease your testosterone? Eat more salad, soy, sugar, simple carbs, veggies, and lean fish. Cut out red meat and dairy.
Remember that Thomas Aquinas sat under the teaching of Albert the Great – Europe’s premier biologist. It may sound medieval, but they were on to something back then. They knew that human fertility (and sexual concupiscence) was related to the consumption of animal products.
Is it any accident that the terms like:
- red-blooded
- hot-blooded
- stud
- bull
- red meat
- muscular
- meaty
- braun (originally meaning “meat” or “roast”)
are related to fertility and virility.
But what about lobster or oysters?
Writing in the 13th century, Thomas recognized this problem: “Further, some fish are as delectable to eat as the flesh of certain animals. Now “concupiscence is desire of the delectable,” as stated above (I-II, 30, 1).”
Saint Thomas writes that the Church rules regarding this in general and that eating flesh meat is generally more desirable than eating fish. If you doubt this, count the number of burger restaurants, steak houses, and fried chicken restaurants and compare that number to the number of Long John Silver franchises.
Of course, lobster is much better than Long John Silvers, isn’t it? It’s probably a good rule of thumb to avoid lobster or crab in the spirit of penance. However, for me, I’d much rather have a steak or burger than lobster.
It’s very similar to wine. The Church doesn’t forbid drinking $100 bottles of wine during Lent, but it’s contrary to the spirit of Lent. The Church’s general rules of Lent are the bare minimum. The heartfelt sacrifice of love by which we offer little hidden penances (like eating the salad and not the lobster on Friday) to Christ bring joy to His heart and grace to our souls. Most people don’t regularly eat lobster anyway. Most people do, however, eat meat regularly, and the Church thinks that we should make more sacrifice in this regard on Fridays.
And who knows, maybe your decreased consumption of hamburgers and steak will keep you on the straight and narrow!
[reminder]Question: For you personally, is Lenten fasting and abstinence more about the lack of pleasure or the discipline? Can these even be distinguished? For me, it’s about the discipline: making my will conform to a standard and telling my appetites “no!” What about you?[/reminder]
Would you like to get Dr. Marshall’s latest book Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages for FREE? Please click here to receive it. Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.