Can I start lent early?

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MattEZ

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It might be a silly question, but what I mean is that there’s something I’ve been struggling with for a bit, so have decided to give up a few things and try and say a rosary every day. I’m thinking of doing this for lent, but was wondering if I were to start doing this today, would I need to add anything extra when lent begins?

Appreciate any answers. Thanks 🙂
 
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There is no heavenly scale that weighs out your prayers and offerings and measures them against the time of the year. If what you have intended for Lent is what is on your heart to offer up, you don’t have to add extra just because you feel led to offer them up at an earlier time. Imo.
 
You can do penance or change your prayer practices any time. You don’t have to wait for Lent. You also are not required to do anything specifically for Lent beyond just the fasting and abstinence that your own diocese or sui juris Catholic church might require.

I personally think it’s a great idea to give up things and say a rosary outside of Lent. I dislike the huge fuss made over Lent practices (and Advent too).
 
Isn’t this a rerun of a post from a couple months ago with the exact same title?
 
Well, it can’t have the EXACT same title. Every time I tried to start a thread with an already-existing title, the software wouldn’t allow it.
 
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I sort if started at the weekend. Exodus 90/ Ninevah 90 whatever would be starting around next week and going through till Easter. Why now. A bit of aecetism is good for you 🙂
 
The Lenten practice of “giving things up” is purely a pious personal practice— it is not required nor are there any rules associated with it.

So if you began now, it is up to you what you do when lent arrives— continue on as is or “give up” something additional.
 
You can start Lent any time you like. And when Easter comes around, don’t stop praying the Rosary! It is immensely powerful and it just might change your life.
Edit: Sorry, when I said you can start Lent any time you like, I meant you can start Lenten practices such as fasting any time you like. The liturgical season starts on the date determined by the Church.
 
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Jesuslover said:
You can start Lent any time you like.
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No you can’t. Your intentions are noble. You can practices the triad of Lenten actions which include prayer, fasting, and alms giving, but Lent is a liturgical season, not a set of actions.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I personally think it’s a great idea to give up things and say a rosary outside of Lent. I dislike the huge fuss made over Lent practices (and Advent too).
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I’m in the same boat. If something is spiritually good for you during lent it’s good for you the other 45 weeks of the year. There is no reason to put it off. It’s a bit like looking at yourself in the mirror at Holloween and saying, “I need to lose 30 pounds; only 2 months until new years before I can start my diet.”

I look at it this way. Is there more merit in improving spiritual health out of love for God or something done for 7 weeks just because of where we are in the calendar? Regardless of when we do things it should always start with motivation of love of God.
 
This has probably been said elsewhere in this thread, just phrased differently, but any Lenten penance aside from the required fast and abstinence (which is really pretty minimal) is a private devotion and may be begun or ended any time you wish. Contrary to popular belief, there is no specific requirement to “give up something for Lent”.

We usually do not do any kind of penance on Sundays.
 
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From a conversation about fasting with a friend who is a priest, I was inspired to begin regular devotions and small sacrifices throughout the year. I have much to do to perfect these practices, but I feel it is helpful to incorporate all the time even if I screw up and it takes 11 days to finish a novena because I forgot twice…working on those slip ups, but it was still time spent
In prayer anyway.

I say novenas for special intentions, just joined weekly Bible study at my parish and am looking at finding a way to fast (medical issues…it will require planning). When I need to do something I don’t want to do, I try to offer my struggle to God as a sacrifice, and often then can do it. For example, I am trying to get fit and set a goal to swim 32 lengths of the pool yesterday. I wanted to quit well short of 32 lengths, prayed and offered the effort to God, and finished.

I find the more I am with Him (yet also doing as I must in my piece of the world practically), the more He is with me.
 
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