All About Lent

EWTN ^ | 1996 | James Akin

[Salvation]

** I'll be sharing it with my family.**

God bless you for doing this!

The domestic church -- the first church our children encounter.

[Salvation]

40 days of Lent Question from John on 02-18-2003:

Are Sundays included as part of Lent. When "giving something up or doing something" for Lent I have been told that Sundays don't count. For example if I give up eating sweets I can "cheat" or have sweets on Sundays because it is not part of Lent. Is this true?

Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 02-24-2003:

Yes, the Sundays are not counted. But it would be contrary to the spirit of penitence to "pig out" on Sundays. Content yourself with a small measure, or even forego it altogether, which you are free to do as a greater penance.

COPYRIGHT 2003

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[Salvation]

Content yourself with a small measure, or even forego it altogether, which you are free to do as a greater penance.

[ponyespresso]

Q: When does Lent begin?

A: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the day on which they faithful have their foreheads signed with ashes in the form of a Cross (see piece on Ash Wednesday). It is also a day of fast and abstinence.

Did you also post something on here about Ash Wednesday or are you talking about something included in this article?

[WriteOn]

Thanks!

[Salvation]

**Did you also post something on here about Ash Wednesday or are you talking about something included in this article?**

I was talking about it, but did not find it when I went back to search for the Lent (this) one. I will look further tomorrow.

I have a Bible-study (really it's a faith-sharing) group to lead tonight so I don't think I will have time to search for it unless it is later tonight.

Bye for now.

[Salvation]

Ash Wednesday

[Salvation]

Lent and Fasting

[Salvation]

Here are some other links about Lent:

The Holy Season of Lent -- Fast and Abstinence

The Holy Season of Lent -- The Stations of the Cross

Lent and Fasting

Ash Wednesday

All About Lent

Kids and Holiness: Making Lent Meaningful to Children

[Salvation]

What the Church Teaches About Lent

1. General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar "Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. For the Lenten liturgy disposes both catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery: catechumens, through several stages of Christian initiation; the faithful, through reminders of their own baptism and through penitential practices." (#27) 2. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Documents of Vatican II) 109. The season of Lent has a twofold character; primarily by recalling or preparing for Baptism and by Penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the Word of God and devote themselves to prayer, to celebrate the paschal mystery. This twofold character is to be brought into greater prominence both in the liturgy and by liturgical catechesis. Hence: a) More use is to be made of the baptismal features proper to the Lenten liturgy; some of them, which used to flourish in bygone days, are to be restored as may seem good. b) The same is to apply to the penitential elements. As regards instruction it is important to impress on the minds of the faithful not only the social consequences of sin but also that essence of the virtue of penance which leads to the detestation of sin as an offense against God; the role of the Church in penitential practices is not to be passed over, and the people must be exhorted to pray for sinners. 110. During Lent penance should not be only internal and individual, but also external and social. The practice of penance should be fostered in ways that are possible in our own times and in different regions and according to the circumstances of the faithful& Nevertheless, let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and where possible prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind.

[Salvation]

BTTT in preparation for Lent 2005!

[Salvation]

This seems like a good place to post this:

Examination of Conscience

Here is a helpful examination of conscience, based on the Ten Commandments. Perform a brief examination every night, but go through a more thorough examination before confessing your sins to the priest.

DIRECTIONS

The Commandments of God

1. Have I doubted in matters of faith? murmured against God because of adversity? despaired of His mercy? Have I believed in or consulted fortune tellers? Have I taken part in non-Catholic worship?

   Have I recommended myself regularly to God? Neglected my morning or evening prayers? Omitted my religious obligations because of human respect? Presumed upon God's mercy in committing sin?

   Have I read books or papers opposed to the Church and her teachings? Did I make use of superstitious practices; such as believing in dreams, and charms, and the like? Have I spoken irreverently of persons (priests or religious), places (e.g, the Church), or things (the sacred vessels) which especially represent God?
   
   

2. Have I used the name of God or the saints with irreverence? Have I sworn (which means calling upon God to witness the truth of what I say) without a good reason, or falsely? Have I cursed (the calling down of some evil on a person, place, or thing)? Blasphemed (used insulting language to express contempt for God), the saints, or holy things?

3. Did I miss Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation? Have I done unnecessary servile work or been responsible for others doing it on these days?

4. Have I been obedient to my parents and lawful superiors? Have I shown disrespect toward their God-given authority? Have I deceived them? Have I been a good citizen by voting? Have I shown respect toward aged parents?

   Have I used my authority over inferiors properly? As a parent, by good example in the home and by sending the children to a Catholic school? As a person in public office, by promoting the common welfare? As an employer, by being considerate of the employees?

5. Have I been the occasion of another's sin through my bad example in word or deed? Have I been guilty of fighting, anger, hatred, revenge, or drunkenness? Did I refuse to speak to others? to forgive them? Did I use provoking language?

6. and 9. Did I take pleasure in impure thoughts or desires? Say impure things? Listen to impure conversations? Did I touch others or let others touch me in an impure manner? Commit an impure act alone or with others? Want to look at impure things or pictures? Go to bad places? movies that were bad? Read bad books? Go with impure companions? Teach others to commit sins of impurity?

7. and 10. Have I stolen anything? If so, of what value, and did I return the stolen goods? Have I been unjust in buying or selling? Have I damaged the property of others? accepted or kept stolen goods? paid my just debts as soon as possible? Has my daily work merited its pay check? Have I desired to steal anything or to damage my neighbor's property?

8. Did I tell lies? Have I been guilty of rash judgment (believing something harmful to another's character without sufficient reason)? detraction (without a good reason, making known the hidden faults of another)? calumny (by lying, injuring the good name of another)?

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The Precepts of the Church

• Have I confessed my sins once a year? If not, how long is it since my last worthy confession? Have I received Holy Communion during Easter time?
  
  
• Have I fasted according to my ability when obliged to do so by the Church?

• Have I abstained from flesh-meat on the appointed days?

• Have I contributed as well as I can to the support of the Church?

• Have I attempted to contract marriage without the presence of a priest?

• If there anything else of which my conscience feels guilty?

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Sins Against the Holy Spirit

1. Presuming to gain salvation without meriting it.

2. Despair of salvation.

3. Resisting truths which have been made known to us.

4. Envy of another's spiritual good.

5. Stubbornness in sin.

6. Final obstinacy in one's sins.

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Seven Deadly Sins

1. Pride: An unrestrained appreciation of our own worth.

2. Avarice or Greed: An immoderate desire for earthly goods.

3. Lust: A hankering after impure pleasures.

4. Anger: An inordinate desire for revenge.

5. Gluttony: An unrestrained use of food and drink.

6. Envy: Sorrow over the good fortune of our neighbor.

7. Sloth: Laziness to do right, or carelessness to do right and to practice virtue because of the trouble attached to it.

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Sins Crying to Heaven for Vengeance

• Wilful murder
  
• Sodomy
  
• Oppression of the poor
  
• Cheating laborers of their just wages

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Nine Ways of Aiding Another in Sin

1. Counseling or advising another to sin.

2. Commanding another to sin.

3. Provoking another to sin.

4. Consenting to another's sin.

5. Showing another how to sin.

6. Praising another's sin.

7. Concealing, remaining silent about, doing nothing to prevent another's sin.

8. Taking part in, or enjoying the results of another's sin.

9. Defending another's sin.

Activity Source: Our Christian Home by Rev. Joseph A. Fischer, Seraphic Press, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1954

[Ciexyz]

Lenten ping. We're in the countdown to the blessed day of Christ's Resurrection.

[Ciexyz]

"Pretzel recipe" ping.

[Salvation]

BTTT for Lent, 2006!

[narses]

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[Salvation]

Thanks for the bump. Good thread with lots of questions and answers.