Lent

Off Topic
21

[quote]daveirl wrote:
Ashes wrote:
Ive tried to give up the ale a couple of times but I never last very long (usualy til the weekend!). The big problem is St Pat’s day falls in Lent making it pretty much impossible to give up the drink for the whole period anyway!

Dont know what Il do this year, personally I find that a few extra masses are the best way to prepare for Easter.

In the Irish brand of Catholism you’re allowed break lent on Patrick’s Day :)[/quote]

Thats my favourite brand, I choose it every time!

22

Abstinence.

23

[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
Any practicing or lapse catholics giving up anything for lent this year?[/quote]

Catholic guilt.

24

[quote]Avoids Roids wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Avoids Roids wrote:
I didn’t realize Lent was just for Catholics.

I didn’t realize anyone else did it.

Lent is observed by all Western Christian religions and most Eastern as well. However, in most religions it is voluntary and Sundays are exempt from any abstinence as are people over 59 years of age.

It is the concept of ‘fasting’ that gives bodybuilders the biggest problem. Originally you were allowed one meal per day but, if required to maintain health, Churches grudgingly allowed you to have two additional meals but they could not equal in total the amount of food consumed during the main meal. Not a healthy way to live.

[/quote]
At least in the Catholic practice, fasting is only requried on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. You’re not suppose to eat meat on Fridays, but can have as much of anything else you want. I have a friend that talks about the idea that Sundays during Lent are free days. Every other Catholic around here never heard of that. My kid’s Catholic H.S. also talks about doing something positive instead of giving up something.

25

[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
Any practicing or lapse catholics giving up anything for lent this year? I’m giving up soda, and hopefully I’ll just stay off it for good.[/quote]

Not trying to be a dick, but aren’t you supposed to give up something you like - something you intend to go back to. Using Lent to help you quit something you actually hope to give up for good isn’t really in the spirit of sacrifice.

With that said I’ll be giving up porn…

for about five minutes!

26

Giving up snuff, I went 6 months before but I gotta kick this.

27

[quote]Loose Tool wrote:

That “not giving something up” idea seems contrary to the idea of penance, denial and abstinence. I didn’t realize that individual schools had the latitude to ignore canonical law. We’re all going to hell in a hand basket now.

[/quote]

Not true. The day and its activities can only be divided so far. If someone chooses to add 1 hour of everyday to religious studies or spending time with the family or volunteer work then equal time has to be dropped from other activities. To add new habits, old ones have to be dropped or reduced.

28

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy’s First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one, and only, truth.

Yeah I watch too much anime.

29

[quote]Loose Tool wrote:
WS4JB wrote:
At my catholic high school, they kind of suggested that we do something different. They said we should try adding something positive to our lives instead of trying to drop something like drinking soda or eating candy, because forming a positve new habit would greater benefit our lives. Im gonna try to start going back to mass more often.

–JB

That “not giving something up” idea seems contrary to the idea of penance, denial and abstinence. I didn’t realize that individual schools had the latitude to ignore canonical law. We’re all going to hell in a hand basket now.

[/quote]

I’m assuming that you were being a smartass and don’t really care, but for those who do, his school has a good point, and it is entirely in keeping with church law.

“The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).” Catholic Catechism para. 1438

You will get a lot more out of lent if you devote some time each day towards improving yourself spiritually rather than just giving up something like pop.

30

[quote]Alex630 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
WS4JB wrote:
At my catholic high school, they kind of suggested that we do something different. They said we should try adding something positive to our lives instead of trying to drop something like drinking soda or eating candy, because forming a positve new habit would greater benefit our lives. Im gonna try to start going back to mass more often.

–JB

That “not giving something up” idea seems contrary to the idea of penance, denial and abstinence. I didn’t realize that individual schools had the latitude to ignore canonical law. We’re all going to hell in a hand basket now.

I’m assuming that you were being a smartass and don’t really care, but for those who do, his school has a good point, and it is entirely in keeping with church law.

“The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).” Catholic Catechism para. 1438

You will get a lot more out of lent if you devote some time each day towards improving yourself spiritually rather than just giving up something like pop.

[/quote]

I was being a smart ass because I don’t think the world is going to hell in a handbasket if catholic schools think for themselves. On the otherhand, Canonical law requires penance during Lent. Adding something positive is not penance. Catholic schools ignoring church law is heresy.

31

[quote]Loose Tool wrote:
Alex630 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
WS4JB wrote:
At my catholic high school, they kind of suggested that we do something different. They said we should try adding something positive to our lives instead of trying to drop something like drinking soda or eating candy, because forming a positve new habit would greater benefit our lives. Im gonna try to start going back to mass more often.

–JB

That “not giving something up” idea seems contrary to the idea of penance, denial and abstinence. I didn’t realize that individual schools had the latitude to ignore canonical law. We’re all going to hell in a hand basket now.

I’m assuming that you were being a smartass and don’t really care, but for those who do, his school has a good point, and it is entirely in keeping with church law.

“The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).” Catholic Catechism para. 1438

You will get a lot more out of lent if you devote some time each day towards improving yourself spiritually rather than just giving up something like pop.

I was being a smart ass because I don’t think the world is going to hell in a handbasket if catholic schools think for themselves. On the otherhand, Canonical law requires penance during Lent. Adding something positive is not penance. Catholic schools ignoring church law is heresy.[/quote]

Combine the two. In my familly its always been tradition to give something up (sweets or beer for example) and give the money we would have spent to the poor, thereby giving something up and doing something extra at the same time.

32

I’m giving up meat entirely. Going to treat every day like its Friday. This one is going to be rough…

33

[quote]Ashes wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
Alex630 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
WS4JB wrote:
At my catholic high school, they kind of suggested that we do something different. They said we should try adding something positive to our lives instead of trying to drop something like drinking soda or eating candy, because forming a positve new habit would greater benefit our lives. Im gonna try to start going back to mass more often.

–JB

That “not giving something up” idea seems contrary to the idea of penance, denial and abstinence. I didn’t realize that individual schools had the latitude to ignore canonical law. We’re all going to hell in a hand basket now.

I’m assuming that you were being a smartass and don’t really care, but for those who do, his school has a good point, and it is entirely in keeping with church law.

“The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).” Catholic Catechism para. 1438

You will get a lot more out of lent if you devote some time each day towards improving yourself spiritually rather than just giving up something like pop.

I was being a smart ass because I don’t think the world is going to hell in a handbasket if catholic schools think for themselves. On the otherhand, Canonical law requires penance during Lent. Adding something positive is not penance. Catholic schools ignoring church law is heresy.

Combine the two. In my familly its always been tradition to give something up (sweets or beer for example) and give the money we would have spent to the poor, thereby giving something up and doing something extra at the same time.[/quote]

Good family tradition.

34

[quote]Loose Tool wrote:
Adding something positive is not penance. [/quote]

I’m not sure why you are saying this. The sacrament of reconciliation is comprised of confessing your sins and performing penance. The penance is prescribed by the confessor (the priest hearing the confession). Usually, the priest will prescribe a list of prayers for penance. But it isn’t uncommon for priests to prescribe donation of time or money to charity as part of penance.

If someone decides to do the stations of the cross once a week to make up for a lack of piety during the year, why is this not considered penance?

In past years I have given up the trinity of alcohol, chocolate and swearing, which makes for a very difficult period. This year, I am giving up swearing and chocolate only.

DB

35

[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
Adding something positive is not penance.

I’m not sure why you are saying this. The sacrament of reconciliation is comprised of confessing your sins and performing penance. The penance is prescribed by the confessor (the priest hearing the confession). Usually, the priest will prescribe a list of prayers for penance. But it isn’t uncommon for priests to prescribe donation of time or money to charity as part of penance.

If someone decides to do the stations of the cross once a week to make up for a lack of piety during the year, why is this not considered penance?

In past years I have given up the trinity of alcohol, chocolate and swearing, which makes for a very difficult period. This year, I am giving up swearing and chocolate only.

DB[/quote]

I’m saying it because reading Canon 1249, 1250 and 1251 in its entirety, penance requires more than just piety and charity, it requires abstinence.

36

[quote]Avoids Roids wrote:
Lent is observed by all Western Christian religions and most Eastern as well.[/quote]

My group (non-denominational Pentecostal) doesn’t observe Lent. I’d actually forgotten about it until I saw this thread.

37

I gave up lentils…

38

I’m Eastern Orthodox, for the first time in my life i will do the strict Holy Lent fast. No meat, fish, dairy, or oil. On select days I can have fish and or oil. I did it once without eating meat and got sick of salmon for the rest of the year. My spiritual father allows me to maintain my protein shakes even though they are milk derived. Also to note, certain seafood like octopus, squid, shrimp, lobster, is always allowed. So enjoy. I’m lucky that i live in an environment that allows me access to these foods readily. Fasting should be under the guidance of your spiritual father who guides you through. There is no strict canon that says that all people have to follow the same fasting protocol. laters pk

39

[quote]Loose Tool wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
Adding something positive is not penance.

I’m not sure why you are saying this. The sacrament of reconciliation is comprised of confessing your sins and performing penance. The penance is prescribed by the confessor (the priest hearing the confession). Usually, the priest will prescribe a list of prayers for penance. But it isn’t uncommon for priests to prescribe donation of time or money to charity as part of penance.

If someone decides to do the stations of the cross once a week to make up for a lack of piety during the year, why is this not considered penance?

In past years I have given up the trinity of alcohol, chocolate and swearing, which makes for a very difficult period. This year, I am giving up swearing and chocolate only.

DB

I’m saying it because reading Canon 1249, 1250 and 1251 in its entirety, penance requires more than just piety and charity, it requires abstinence.[/quote]

Well, since you’re quoting Canon law, read 1245:

“Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in ⇒ can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.”

You see, these can be tailored by any clergy down to the level of pastor. By “granting a commutation of the obligation into other pious works”, people can undertake other positive activities in lieu of abstinence.

Like any legal document, the Canon Law contains lots of “out” clauses. While I don’t profess to know much about the Canon Laws, I trust that the members of the priesthood who advise me do know something about it. About every other year, the concept of adding something positive in the place of abstinence is advised in the Ash Wednesday sermon.

DB

See also, Can. 1253-The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

40

[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
Any practicing or lapse catholics giving up anything for lent this year? I’m giving up soda, and hopefully I’ll just stay off it for good.[/quote]

I use to be addicted to diet coke and drank way too much. If you can make it to two weeks, you’ll notice that it doesn’t taste that great and you’ll want to drink it less. I’m actually giving up belgian chocolate, since I usually allow myself one block on my free day. It’s really going to suck, but at least I can stick to my program and it will help since I have a competition to train for. Do you just crave the carbnonation of soda? If so, you could try seltzer water to offset the craving.

good luck!