“Though its founding may be better explained in terms of the Protestant Reformation or the
secular Enlightenment and though the impact of Catholicism is more palpable in other countries
and languages, the United States still resonates with the influence of Catholic ways, a fact that
may be adduced not only from the cities, counties, and streets named after Catholic saints,
feasts, and even sacraments, but from the very holidays—secular as well as sacred—it keeps.”
(Michael P. Foley, Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Fridays –
The Catholic Origin to just about Everything, p.1)