Lent

[Sharon]

I'm married to a Catholic, so I do observe Lent in a fashion.

I don't fast or abstain from meat (but I do cook meat-free so my husband can continue his observance.) Last year, I told him he needed to fast a little less hardcore--he was getting seriously irritable and having trouble focusing. I support his religious observance, but not at the cost of our family's well-being.

My parents-in-law are old enough they are exempt, our kids are young enough they are exempt, and I'm evangelical enough I'm exempt.

[redbeardiam]

I just started last year. Gave up alcohol. Not as a lifestyle change, just sacrificing something I enjoyed. I found it to be a very helpful practice spiritually - Easter was a much bigger deal for me. So I'll be observing again this year.

[redbeardiam]

(02-20-2012 09:43 AM)AmazedByGrace Wrote:  Every weekday of Lent (Monday through Friday) is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat and dairy products (eggs, butter, milk, etc.) Fasting involves eating and drinking nothing at all (except water and medicine) from midnight until noon. The rest of the day normal meals can be taken but without meat or dairy products. Dairy products are excluded because they are animal byproducts. Saturdays and Sundays are exempt from fasting and abstaining, as are the following three feast days: Saint Maron, February 9, The 40 Martyrs, March 9 and Saint Joseph, March 19.

Wow. You guys kick it old school.

[amyrose5]

Our parish priest encourages us not to "give something up" but to DO something. And I have heard this from many other priests in recent years, as well. When I was still teaching at Catholic school, the priest there talked to the high school kids about how something like giving up candy is a more childish way and committing to an action instead is a more mature faith approach to Lent. Both our parish priest and the priest at school also advocated that if you are going to give something up, you use that to do something. If you're giving up a daily latte at the coffee shop, find a meaningful charity to give that money to. But even better, commit to volunteering, going to an extra mass during the week, improving your prayer life, reading something to help your faith grow, committing more time to your family or spouse, etc...

[Scorpio]

(02-20-2012 09:24 AM)Elijah Craig Wrote:  I'm giving up sex for Lent.

This year I'm giving up Lent for sex.

[amyrose5]

(02-20-2012 09:14 AM)laurat99 Wrote:  My hubby is too much of a "former fundy" to participate in Lent, and would have no problems grilling steaks every Friday for our Catholic neighbors to smell. My side of the family, with one practicing Catholic, is having a get-together on a Lenten Friday, so we included a meatless option for him. He's not coming.

He's probably going to the fish fry. We look forward to the fish fries starting because it is so cheap and so good.

And grill away. Your Catholic neighbors won't care.

The notion that it would somehow upset them reminds me of my idiot Catholic high school classmates posting crap on Facebook comparing the contraception/insurance controversy to cooking pork in front of Jewish people. Jewish people are not afraid of or offended by pork. They just don't eat it (IF they keep kosher, not all do). And Catholics are not upset by your meat on Friday during Lent.

[Recovering]

(02-20-2012 10:17 AM)amyrose5 Wrote:  Our parish priest encourages us not to "give something up" but to DO something. And I have heard this from many other priests in recent years, as well. When I was still teaching at Catholic school, the priest there talked to the high school kids about how something like giving up candy is a more childish way and committing to an action instead is a more mature faith approach to Lent. Both our parish priest and the priest at school also advocated that if you are going to give something up, you use that to do something. If you're giving up a daily latte at the coffee shop, find a meaningful charity to give that money to. But even better, commit to volunteering, going to an extra mass during the week, improving your prayer life, reading something to help your faith grow, committing more time to your family or spouse, etc...

Yes. Someone explained to me once that Catholics don't eat meat on Fridays, not as an act of self-denial, but so they always have a reason to remember the death of our Lord. I think Lent is the same way. If self-denial helps you focus more on Christ, then it is a good thing, but you can just as easily choose to do something positive.

[redbeardiam]

For me, the practice has at least 3 functions...first, even though my sacrifice is small, it reminds me of the greatness of the sacrifice of Christ. Second, it serves as a way to increase my prayer life as I try to pray every time I want what I gave up. Third, it makes the celebration of Easter a really big deal for me and drastically increases my awareness and anticipation leading up to that celebration.

If were about self-discipline, it would be pointless.

[elfdream]

I am giving up white sugar. That means among other things no sweettea for forty days and I'm a southerner .

Our church is doing the stations of the cross every Friday evening. I am going to try and attend that weekly if possible.

[Recovering]

(02-20-2012 12:06 PM)elfdream Wrote:  I am giving up white sugar. That means among other things no sweettea for forty days and I'm a southerner .

Our church is doing the stations of the cross every Friday evening. I am going to try and attend that weekly if possible.

Oh, I've never done stations of the cross, and I have always wanted to. I am looking forward to that this year.