Posted on 02/07/2013 9:58:27 AM PST by Alex Murphy
In the paper this week we asked well-known Catholics what they plan to do for Lent. Frank Cottrell Boyce, writer of the Olympic opening ceremony, is giving up tea and coffee; Bishop Alan Hopes will give up bread; and Stuart Reid will stop reading blogs that make him angry. Ann Widdecombe is abstaining from every kind of drink except water. Sister Wendy Beckett, however, won’t be giving up anything. “During Lent I do nothing extra,” she says. “After all, it is surely a time less for ‘giving up’ and more for ‘looking up’: up to Jesus on the Cross.”
Does she have a point – does giving things up merely distract from what is important? Can it turn into a health drive, or a way of losing weight, rather than helping us prepare for Holy Week and Easter? Would it be better, perhaps, to go to Mass more, or spend time reading great spiritual works?
On the other hand, many saints and Church Fathers attest to the spiritual effectiveness of penance. It keeps our focus on God; it is reparation for our sins and the sins of the world.
So, should Lent be about giving things up? Or is that a distraction?
"...when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
-- Matthew 6:16-18
I’m giving up watching Football. ;)
Since this is an anonymous forum and no one sees our faces, perhaps we should all give up FR for Lent?
“Giving up” now and splurging to make up for it before and after is the silliest superstition. It’s no sacrifice. Just self-worship.
I’m giving up Barack Obama for Lent.
Wonder what they would think of the Shrove Tuesday bacchanals that have become part of the tradition of Lent?
At the risk of gettin gflamed, I just don’t get it. Lent or it’s concept is never mentioned in Scripture.
Then, it stands to reason that I’m not giving up anything for religious purposes that is not in the Bible.
The first 18 years of my life had a lot of Catholic in them, including 10 of my 12 years of primary schooling. I frankly never got the concept.
I try to do something extra (that hopefully sticks as a habit after Easter), usually involves scripture reading/study or prayer. I also try to deny myself something but I try not to tell anyone. Kind of defeats the point of self-denial if I do.
Yeah, there’s nothing about fasting or almsgiving in the Bible. The Trinity’s not mentioned either.
It takes 40 days to break a bad habit, never a bad idea when seeking to follow Christ.
Last year, for Lent, I gave up bad-eyeing/ bad-mouthing bad drivers on the Freeway for Lent. It really clarified for me how often I do this (Los Angeles has many bad drivers) and I was challenged to change my ways.
The year before, the Lord had me select 5 (of the many...) people I really did not like (ok, 5 people I hated) and pray for them. One of them, about 4 months later, came up to me at a church picnic. I said, “I have been praying for you,’ very casually, as a friend. She was profusely grateful and said she’d had a terrible year (which explained why she’d been so rude to me the year before, which was why I put her on my Foe List, haha).
I find these exercises well worth pursuing. Self-control, reining in the passions, setting aside those things that hold me, choosing to do the right thing in every small situation and so to follow the Lord even more closely - this is Lent, to me.
Three of us at our Italian Club gave up drinking for Lent last year. The treasurer’s report for the month reflected a loss of $1,000. Everyone turns around and looks at us.
I’ve never been a quitter.
It takes 40 days to break a bad habit, never a bad idea when seeking to follow Christ.
Last year, for Lent, I gave up bad-eyeing/ bad-mouthing bad drivers on the Freeway for Lent. It really clarified for me how often I do this (Los Angeles has many bad drivers) and I was challenged to change my ways.
The year before, the Lord had me select 5 (of the many...) people I really did not like (ok, 5 people I hated) and pray for them. One of them, about 4 months later, came up to me at a church picnic. I said, “I have been praying for you,’ very casually, as a friend. She was profusely grateful and said she’d had a terrible year (which explained why she’d been so rude to me the year before, which was why I put her on my Foe List, haha).
I find these exercises well worth pursuing. Self-control, reining in the passions, setting aside those things that hold me, choosing to do the right thing in every small situation and so to follow the Lord even more closely - this is Lent, to me.
Maybe to First Worlders it is. But not for much of the rest of the world. Or Muslims - heck, they fast from sun up to sun down during Ramadan.
Fasting on your own is mentioned, but I don’t think corporate fasting is?
Good point. So what do third worlders give up for Lent I wonder?
The concept isn’t in scripture? I respectfully beg to differ: 1-Jesus’ 40 days of self denial in the desert before starting his public ministry. 2- Noah’s 40 days of rain. 3- Elijah’s 40 day trek. 4-Jonah’s 40 day warning to Nineveh. Then there were the Biblical periods where 40 years were significant, such as Israel in the desert. I think there’s plenty scriptural support for 40 day periods of reflection, preparation, etc. Just my two cents ;) Peace be with you.
Me too...oh wait...I already have, since 2008.
Wonder if that counts since its like every day of the year? [I mean if 40 days is a sacrifice...whole entire years must be super good...]
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