:The blessing and distribution of the bread and of the fish have been seen as a New Testament [[Typology|type]] and [[analogy]] of the [[Eucharist]]. <br> The Greek letters of the word '''ΙΧΘΥΣ''' ICHTHYS ''ichthus'' "fish" have since the time of the Apostles been used as a [[Cryptography|cryptogram]] for Jesus, the individual letters of '''ΙΧΘΥΣ''' representing the words for '''Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ''' '''''I'''esous '''C'''hristos '''Th'''eos (h)'''Y'''ios '''S'''oter''—'''J'''esus '''Ch'''rist '''G'''od's '''S'''on '''S'''avior. <br>According to Catholic theology, eating the bread of the Eucharist is the ''antitype'' fulfillment of the of the eating of the flesh of the '''[[Ichthus|Fish]]''', the '''Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior'''. <br> Compare John 6:52-58 and 1 Corinthians 10:16-21 "''sharing in the body of Christ''" and 2 Peter 1:3-4 "''sharing in the divine nature''".
:The former (no-longer required) traditional Catholic self-denial discipline of eating fish not meat on all Fridays as a memorial of the day of his sacrifice on the cross, and on Fridays during the forty days of [[Lent]] (still required) as a memorial of his fasting in the desert when he was tempted by the [[Devil]], was originally intended as a reminder of Christ's self-denial for the sake of sinners and a symbolic means of identifying with him and outwardly identifying oneself as a Christian, and also as a reminder of the moral obligation of all Christians to discipline the flesh nature by the practice of [[virtue]] (Romans 13:14–15:7; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 5:16-24; Philippians 3:9-19; Colossians 1:21-24; Mark 8:35-37). Outside of Lent the Catholic Church still requires by church law (Hebrews 13:17) obedience to some form of penitential self-denial on Fridays, preferably in the practice (Ephesians 2:10) of '''''practical''''' forms of [[corporal and spiritual works of mercy]] in heart-felt gratitude for the unmerited gift of [[salvation]] through Christ alone. <br> See article [http://walkinginthedesert.com/2016/04/20/do-catholics-need-to-abstain-and-do-penance-on-fridays/ '''Are Do Catholics still required need to abstain and do penance and abstinence on Fridays outside of Lent?''' By Arturo Ortiz (walkinginthedesert.com)]
:Christian Fundamentalists warn that this required discipline in the Catholic Church is a violation of 1 Timothy 4:1-11, and a sure sign of false doctrine against the freedom of the children of God (Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:1). <br> Compare Colossians 2:20–3:17.