[Kolokotronis]

"My late Bro-i-l was Greek Orthodox and the Orthodox Lent is very difficult for me. Good thing I’m Latin!

No dairy!"

For those of you who are interested in trying to fast through Great Lent as the Orthodox do, remember that none of us run a marathon without training. The Greeks say "sega, sega", slowly slowly. Start out just fasting from meat this year, or even just fasting from meat during the weekdays and regularly attend the devotions which are available to you during the weekdays. They are rich in grace and theology and will help you with your fasting. When you feel that your resolve is faltering, pray simply, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner". If you stumble at some point, it's OK. Just get up and try again. God doesn't need your fasting and it's no insult to Him if you fail. Fasting is for us and is among the greatest gifts The Church has given us.

[OpusatFR]

The fast includes fasting from eggs, too? I think I remember that.

*maybe incorrectly!

[wagglebee]

Wonderful post!

[Tax-chick]

My family has a theme for Lent each year, for which we make a poster that goes up in the dining to remind everyone. This year it is Isaiah 58, of which some key words are, "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."(v. 9b-11)

We follow the United States guidelines for fasting and abstinence, even the babies, but our focus, food-wise, will be on the needs of our one son who has a real weight problem. We will exclude foods that he is prone to overeat and purchase those he should eat, even if nobody else likes it. This will, I believe, provide adequate penance for those who need it, along with a positive health outcome.

[Salvation]

**They are rich in grace and theology and will help you with your fasting. When you feel that your resolve is faltering, pray simply, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”. **

A wonderful prayer, especially during Lent — but I use it all the time.

Going to the Stations of the Cross and other devotions during Lent — and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy from Good Friday through Mercy Sunday are so great.

Also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Lent seems to take on a different tone for me since I concentrate more on the sorrowful sufferings of Christ.

We are so blessed in these prayers and devotions.

[conservonator]

God doesn't need your fasting and it's no insult to Him if you fail. Fasting is for us and is among the greatest gifts The Church has given us.

I really have to remember this, thanks Kolo.

[Mad Dawg]

That made my computer screen get all blurry.

TO appeal to the Lord is the beginning and end of penance, and he is the way as well.