PhuturePriest Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) This is a thread to throw some innovative ideas for Lent. For me, Lent is never a simple matter of choosing what I'll do beforehand and then sticking with only that all the way through. I like to modify what I'm doing throughout Lent through trial and error to try and get the best experience I can. Currently, the best innovative idea I have (which I just got done doing) is walking through a cemetery while praying the Rosary. Super peaceful experience, 10/10 will do again. Anyone have cool ideas like that for me and possibly others to try out? Edited February 24, 2016 by PhuturePriest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Every day, write a letter to someone you love (or maybe, don't love so much) telling them what you love about them, have learned from them, what they've meant to you in your life, etc. Then send it. By snail mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatitude Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Give up complaining. Or try to go at least one day without any complaint, giving thanks instead. Inspire yourself with St Paul's command to "always be thankful." (I made it until noon on Ash Wednesday before I realised two complaints had slipped out. This one is tougher than it looks, at least for me.) If you're on public transport, pray a Hail Mary for each person you see getting on and off the bus, or (on longer journeys) for each person in your compartment. Get up as soon as your alarm goes and make your first act a prayer. Edited February 24, 2016 by beatitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 1 minute ago, beatitude said: Give up complaining. Or try to go at least one day without any complaint, giving thanks again. Inspire yourself with St Paul's command to "always be thankful." (I made it until noon on Ash Wednesday before I realised two complaints had slipped out. This one is tougher than it looks, at least for me.) What are you trying to do, ruin my life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthfinder Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Or maybe, stick to one thing/set of things and don't tinker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 2 minutes ago, truthfinder said: Or maybe, stick to one thing/set of things and don't tinker I modify in accordance with what is practical and what works. If something I set out to do turns out to be too much given my schedule, I modify it to become more practical and, consequently, more enriching. I also add some stuff if I feel I'm not doing enough, which is what I did with the Rosary at cemeteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 1 hour ago, PhuturePriest said: Anyone have cool ideas like that for me and possibly others to try out? Giving up sin sounds like a pretty radical idea in my world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 27 minutes ago, Peace said: Giving up sin sounds like a pretty radical idea in my world. You should give up sin whether or not it is Lent. The spirit of fasting is in denying ourselves licit pleasures and comforts for the sake of mortification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 9 minutes ago, Nihil Obstat said: You should give up sin whether or not it is Lent. The spirit of fasting is in denying ourselves licit pleasures and comforts for the sake of mortification. I kind of look at Lent as a time to form a new good habit or to break a bad one. I think the point is to remove things from one's life that hinder your relationship with God, or to do something that improves your relationship with God. I don't think giving up chocolate in and of itself accomplishes that much, unless done in a manner that achieves that purpose. In Lent you sometimes see folks giving up things that don't matter while still engaging in some of the very actions that most damage our relationship with God. You end up being a thinner, fitter, cheater and adulterer. . . So I think that for many of us giving up sin for Lent and actually accomlishing it could be pretty innovative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 10 minutes ago, Peace said: I kind of look at Lent as a time to form a new good habit or to break a bad one. I think the point is to remove things from one's life that hinder your relationship with God, or to do something that improves your relationship with God. I don't think giving up chocolate in and of itself accomplishes that much, unless done in a manner that achieves that purpose. In Lent you sometimes see folks giving up things that don't matter while still engaging in some of the very actions that most damage our relationship with God. You end up being a thinner, fitter, cheater and adulterer. . . So I think that for many of us giving up sin for Lent and actually accomlishing it could be pretty innovative. Hey, giving up chocolate is a serious mortification for some people. It teaches detachment from the world. Show some respect. (I take your point, though.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 (edited) 20 minutes ago, Peace said: I kind of look at Lent as a time to form a new good habit or to break a bad one. I think the point is to remove things from one's life that hinder your relationship with God, or to do something that improves your relationship with God. I don't think giving up chocolate in and of itself accomplishes that much, unless done in a manner that achieves that purpose. In Lent you sometimes see folks giving up things that don't matter while still engaging in some of the very actions that most damage our relationship with God. You end up being a thinner, fitter, cheater and adulterer. . . So I think that for many of us giving up sin for Lent and actually accomlishing it could be pretty innovative. Yes, it is better to become a better person. That is true of Lent as well as other times. But I think you are missing the point that Lent, out of all the times of the Church's liturgical year, is particularly oriented towards fasting. And giving up things that are already bad is not fasting, nor is it penance. Edited February 25, 2016 by Nihil Obstat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 28 minutes ago, Gabriela said: Hey, giving up chocolate is a serious mortification for some people. It teaches detachment from the world. Show some respect. (I take your point, though.) I've particularly struggled with giving up pop this year, mostly because I began classes and I got so stressed out I began drinking it for comfort. Now that I'm slightly more adjusted to classes I'm trying to not drink it, or at least drink as little as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Nihil Obstat said: Yes, it is better to become a better person. That is true of Lent as well as other times. But I think you are missing the point that Lent, out of all the times of the Church's liturgical year, is particularly oriented towards fasting. And giving up things that are already bad is not fasting, nor is it penance. My bad. Did I write something that is not in accordance with the rule book? I am perfectly aware that giving up sin does not meet the technical definition of fasting. If you desire to fast, please fast away to your heart's content. I do not recall telling anyone to refrain from fasting. And the point of fasting and penance, as you are well aware, is not just to deny oneself. The point is interior conversion. The point is to improve one's relationship with God. For many people, making a firm commitment not to sin could be the best thing that they could do, and Lent is a good time to recommit to that. The OP asked for some "innovative ideas for Lent." I offered one. So get over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 1 hour ago, PhuturePriest said: I've particularly struggled with giving up pop this year, mostly because I began classes and I got so stressed out I began drinking it for comfort. Now that I'm slightly more adjusted to classes I'm trying to not drink it, or at least drink as little as possible. I gave up all things sweet and all day long I just want to punch somebody. Sainthood seems so very far away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 It seems Phatmass' time-honored tradition of getting ridiculously touchy and aggressively angry during Lent is alive and well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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