Q. 1. What is the meaning of the "fish symbol" in the Catholic Church?

A. 1. The origin of the fish symbol can be traced to the first decades of the second century.

While one would be led to believe that the fish symbol must be associated with the multiplication of the bread and the fish on the Sea of Galilea [John 21:9], such is not the case. Its popularity among Christians was associated with the Greek word for fish "Ichthys." From the letters of the word "Ichthys" is derived the first letter(s) of five Greek words " Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter" which means "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour."

Symbols, such as the fish, were a great way for the Christians to recognize one another in time of persecution. For Christians, the word "Ichthys" was a profession of faith in the Divinity of Christ, the Redeemer of mankind.