Giving Stuff Up For Lent

[AveMariaPurissima]

Beatitude and Maximillion, thank you for sharing your insights! 

I'm still trying to figure out what to do for Lent.  My Lent last year did not go well, so I hope, with God's grace, to do better this year!!

[Didacus]

I think we should keep our lents to ourselves, but it never works out that way.  Everyone always notices.

I stop smoking for lent - used to stop smoking not drinking, but then I ended up not drinking at all.

This year - I am seriously thinking of once lent is over, I would not start up again.

[Lil Red]

prayers, fasting, almsgiving. 

 

i'm going to try to actually do those things well this Lent. 

[TheresaThoma]

For me I think I will not buy any "personal" food and just eat what is in community food (where I live/work we have donated, and some bought, food for the whole house but many like to buy personal food as well).

I also want to add in a daily rosary.

I might add in some other stuff later, we'll see. My favorite piece of advice about any Lenten practices is that " it should make you easier to live with, not harder".

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I don't think most non-Jews realise exactly what keeping kosher entails. There are all sorts of rules about separating meat and dairy that mean you would need two sets of crockery for each, stored in separate cupboards (orthodox Jews often have two sinks and occasionally even two ovens); and there are rules about food preparation too, such as breaking eggs one by one into a glass jug (to check for blood spots) and, in the case of hard-boiling, cooking them in threes to render any blood spots null. I don't see why we would do this as Catholics. It doesn't have the same meaning for us as it does for Torah-observant Jews, and it makes very little sense to do something just because it's difficult. I think any penance should have a clear purpose and be meaningful in our own lives.

 

I also think that one aim of Lent should be to think less about food and bodily pleasures, so I wouldn't make such a drastic change to your diet that food is going to be a constant thought. I used to be a fan of big austerities (even trying to keep the old 'Black Fast' one year) but then I realised that I was motivated more by curiosity about my own capacity for endurance and a desire to make Lent interesting than by repentance, so I began doing things that were much simpler (but far harder, as they felt less 'special' and intriguing!). I have found lately that impatience/snappishness is one of my biggest failings, so I am going to be practising mortifications that I will help me to get a hold on my short temper. None of them look particularly grand or sweeping but they certainly seem difficult enough to me. :P This is the approach I have come to prefer - identify a weakness to work on or a virtue to practise and take that into the desert with Jesus.

 

I understand your point, and I agree it is not for everyone. The reason I kept kosher was I actually was doing a study of the relationship of the covenants and dietary laws, Each time the covenant changed the dietary rules changed as well. I didn't do it because it was hard I did it as a way to grow in relationship with our Jewish Fathers in the faith. Thinking about food for me is not so much about the bodily pleasures of, but rather the great gift God has made in creation for me for the sustenance of my health. If he puts such care into my bodily growth and food, which is temporary, how much more does he put into my spiritual growth and food. How much loving care He wants to give me. I see your point and it is a valid one for many. I think a lot of us stop at an obvious point sometimes and fail to see the spiritual realities even in the physical world around us. I know I do, so for me it is good for me to do these types of things because it's about conversion too. Again not saying your wrong, but I don't think you way of seeing it necessarily fit with my intentions and how it works for me. Part of the beauty of the faith :)

[beccasmiles89]

In the past, I've given up the negative self-talk & replaced it with a prayer seeking the truth & asking for a blessing. :) That's hard for me! I want to try it again this year. :)

Love this!!!

[cappie]

TO KEEP A TRUE LENT.

by Robert Herrick

 

IS this a fast, to keep

                The larder lean ?

                            And clean

From fat of veals and sheep ?

Is it to quit the dish

                Of flesh, yet still

                            To fill

The platter high with fish ?

 

Is it to fast an hour,

                Or ragg’d to go,

                            Or show

A downcast look and sour ?

No ;  ‘tis a fast to dole

                Thy sheaf of wheat,

                            And meat,

Unto the hungry soul.

 

It is to fast from strife,

                From old debate

                            And hate ;

To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent ;

                To starve thy sin,

                            Not bin ;

And that’s to keep thy Lent.

 

Source:

Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II.

Alfred Pollard, ed.

London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 240.

[TheLordsSouljah]

One of my friends sent me this great little web page with suggestions: 

 

http://lifeteen.com/weird-lent-ideas-that-will-make-you-holier/

 

Even though they are little things, I found it really helpful... worth a check out! :)

 

I'm hoping to jump out of bed every morning, kiss the floor, and pray a Hail Mary while doing sit ups for every word.

And I'm going to give up doing anything fancy with my hair.

 

Perhaps I'm ambitious :P

But just writing it to try to be accountable :) A blessed lent everyone!