LENT Thread. March 6 to April 18, 2019.

Crosswalk.com ^ | Liz Kanoy

[nikos1121]

When Does Lent Start and End This Year?

For the Catholic faith Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6, 2019; if you are following the 40 days tradition, Lent ends on Holy Saturday, April 20, 2019.

Note: For the Orthodox Christian, (my faith) Lent begins on March 11 and ends on April 28, but I'm going to start on March 6 and end it on Greek Easter.

The Lenten Timeline

The beginning of Lent is marked by many with ashes hence the name Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, and Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter Sunday, which is Sunday, April 21 this year.

The observance of Lent spans 40 days, ending on the Saturday before Easter. You may be wondering how Lent can be 40 days if Ash Wednesday is 46 days before Easter? That is because the Lenten fast does not include Sundays, which are considered feast days (a celebration of the resurrection)—so the six Sundays before Easter are omitted from the 40-day observance of fasting.

The last week of Lent is called Holy Week and includes Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday (technically not a fasting day), Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Friday, and Holy Saturday or Black Saturday.

Lent is observed in a more solemn way from Advent, preparing for and reflecting on Jesus’ sacrificial death. But at the end of Lent is Easter Sunday, and that is the most joyous celebration because our Savior Jesus Christ was resurrected and lives on. Because of his death and resurrection, we are offered new life to live as covenant children in the kingdom of God forever

[nikos1121]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC OR GREEK ORTHODOX TO OBSERVE LENT. IN FACT, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY IT, AS EACH DAY IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

The article gives a nice description of Lent. Sadly, 76% of American Christians say they do NOT observe Lent.

I thought, among the Lent observers, that it might be fun to share our experiences together during this joyous time.

Yes, we should do this during Christmas too, a National Holiday that commemorates the "birth" of Jesus Christ, but we don't.

Christmas has become so downright commercial, along to the point that now it's a time to acknowledge "all" faiths, including the birth of Mohammed and the made up Kwansai.

I'm sure many children don't know that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, a great person, who actually lived, same way we commemorate the birth of Martin Luther King, Columbus and Lincoln and Washington.

Therefore, we have Lent to praise Him.

Speaking personally, it's a great time for me to each day read from the scriptures, meditate and give thanks for how God has blessed us all, especially when you think of what is going on in the world these days.

This year, more than ever, it's a time for me to in particular give thanks for our president, and to pray for him. I BELIEVE AND UNABASHEDLY SAY THAT HE IS HEAVEN SENT TO US.

Some of us will "fast" by giving up something, even though Lent is NOT supposed to be for the purpose of losing weight, fighting an addiction, or to make God happy.

Still, I love to give up something.

This year, I'm refraining from alcohol, all desserts and red meat.

Along with the bible readings, (I like to start with the gospels), I also read from one of the many Lent Daily Readings for 2019. Some are free and can be loaded to your kindle.

As the days go by, let's use this forum to communicate and share what we've read and learned, along with the experience of observing Lent, until we can all celebrate together, that HE HAS TRULY RISEN!

[nikos1121]

Looks like the Moderator yanked this Lent Thread from it’s posting in the Front Page News Column. I mean, usually something is left up there for awhile before it gets the hook for one reason or another.

These days, I see a bunch of articles that have no business being posted on this forum. Many are downright nasty commentary on our president. This one, on Lent, got the boot within a few minutes. lol

So, I’m posting our Lent Thread to our Original Trump Rally Ping list that we had during the Trump Campaign along with some other new friends. Remember how fun that was?

[joma89]

We are going to get pizza and a great Italian restaurant and enjoy our last night of over indulging!

JoMa

[nikos1121]

That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I have an open bottle of a Columbia Valley Cab that needs to be finished.

[siamesecats]

We had iced cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning...something we almost never eat anymore, just for today.
I read the Magnificat, morning prayer and evening prayer.

[nikos1121]

5 Reasons Not to Observe Lent:

• To slim your waistline
• To make God happy
• To cure an addiction
• To showcase your spirituality or virtue
• Because it’s the cool trend

(Please see: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/5-reasons-not-to-observe-lent.html )

[lysie]

Pączki

Pizza

[DCBryan1]

I try to always give up alcohol and exercise (reflect while walking/jogging) during Lent. You'll be amazed not only how hard it is, but how fulfilling it is 46 days later. We are Methodist and our pastor jokes to me and says, "can't fast on Sundays its a little sin...have a glass of wine.....your wife and God will thank you for it!"

Ok.....maybe it isn't that bad.

[Tennessee Conservative]

I agree. The Trump hate posts stay while others get booted. Something is wrong with FR.

[Salvation]

Pray to end abortion.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3732283/posts

Peaceful and prayerful vigils, fasting, community outreach

[PrincessB]

Great observations. I try and give up something that I feel is damaging my soul (I gave up internet celebrity gossip sites one year). This year I am putting my Ipad in a drawer for the duration. I have a regular TV and a computer that can manage any function I truly need. I will also stop eating at restaurants and eating sweets.

I know I picked correctly when there is a known challenge (Anna Nicole Smith died on Shrove Tuesday) or some positive physical/material change at Easter or soon after. I look at the lost five pounds as a by-product, not the goal.

[trisham]

I do! :)

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[RitaOK]

THANK YOU! 👏 What a good thing you’ve done getting this posted to us! It’s always helpful to have dear ones make this journey with us, in Remembering the People of God wondering in the desert for 40 Years and then commemorative of our Lord in the desert, so to speak, 40 days being tempted and stripped of comforts and feasting. LENT. 😘 Rita

[SolidRedState]

My wife has for years served fish on Friday through Lent. Old school Catholic family.

I do not know how old I was before I figured out it was LENT(en) not LINT. !!!!!!!!

[SomeCallMeTim]

I Give up alcohol only once every 10 years. Last time was 2011, so... I still have a couple of years. :-)

I’m leaning toward Ice Cream this year... and, ALL forms of gossip.

But, I haven’t fully decided. I might give up on the video games on my phone... that is a more present, constant thing I do several times a day. I think it would help keep my mind on Jesus.

[Biggirl]

One final take out at Wendy’s.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

[hoosiermama]

Thank you for posting!

[Biggirl]

Or a local eatery.