I
Isabella2
Guest
Hello,
Many people give up something during Lent. Basically, I’m asking if it is considered similarly penitent to add practices or beneficial activities instead of subtracting them.
Due to my mental and physical health, my daily life already is very plain, empty, isolated. It’s just me, a pet, medications, and a medically prescribed diet I don’t follow. I eat closer to the Lenten fast day everyday than I do to what I need for my health.
That’s just a brief background, but I’m trying to say I have a tough time thinking of any indulgence or comfort to give up.
There are many things that would be beneficial to do that I could add to my day (and most of these I avoid everyday) such as exercising, good personal grooming, applying for and doing volunteer work at a hospice, reading the Bible, attending mass.
->During Lent, is it part of the season to pray more, read the Bible more, attend more mass, confess more, or could those be a way that I experience penitence during Lent?
->How about non-spiritual practices, such as the daily, painful exercise I avoid but am prescribed? Would that not be penitent because it only helps me? (and perhaps my frustrated doctors)
Actually, I just thought of a combination of typical “giving something up” with increase in spiritual practice: turn off the computer for hours a day and spend the time in prayer, at mass, reading Scripture.
I still am curious about what the answers to my questions above are though, because I struggle with this every year.
Thank you
Many people give up something during Lent. Basically, I’m asking if it is considered similarly penitent to add practices or beneficial activities instead of subtracting them.
Due to my mental and physical health, my daily life already is very plain, empty, isolated. It’s just me, a pet, medications, and a medically prescribed diet I don’t follow. I eat closer to the Lenten fast day everyday than I do to what I need for my health.
That’s just a brief background, but I’m trying to say I have a tough time thinking of any indulgence or comfort to give up.
There are many things that would be beneficial to do that I could add to my day (and most of these I avoid everyday) such as exercising, good personal grooming, applying for and doing volunteer work at a hospice, reading the Bible, attending mass.
->During Lent, is it part of the season to pray more, read the Bible more, attend more mass, confess more, or could those be a way that I experience penitence during Lent?
->How about non-spiritual practices, such as the daily, painful exercise I avoid but am prescribed? Would that not be penitent because it only helps me? (and perhaps my frustrated doctors)
Actually, I just thought of a combination of typical “giving something up” with increase in spiritual practice: turn off the computer for hours a day and spend the time in prayer, at mass, reading Scripture.
I still am curious about what the answers to my questions above are though, because I struggle with this every year.
Thank you