Disappointing Lent?

[acadian]

Last year, I had an awesome Lent. I felt like God really went above and beyond the call of duty in what He blessed me with.

So I had great expectations for this year. I would do x, y, and z, and I wanted God to do A, B, and C if He so willed. God must have had other plans, and I know His plans are infinitely better than mine, but I feel somewhat short-changed. I don’t see anything in my life that has changed.

On the one hand, I wonder if I could have done more. Even though I gave up some of the same things as last year, they didn’t seem to be very much “dying to self” this year. But on the other hand, I know that God does not depend on my efforts. It’s not like a vending machine where I put in x and get out B.

I brought it up in confession last week - more for the spiritual direction - not because it was sinful, and Father told me not to write off this Lent; that it might be a “late bloom”, and also that we do not always see or understand what the Lord is doing in our lives (and we don’t have to).

And to be fair - a couple of very good things did happen in my family during Lent. My husband who hadn’t been to confession in years, went during Holy Week. My teenage sons both visited the Adoration Chapel with me. And my 14 year old told me that he was praying a “Hail Mary” for each of his classmates and an “Our Father” for each of his teachers - which was good on several levels (1) That he would tell me (2) That he would pray for these people in his life (3) That he listened to the prompting from the Holy Spirit that planted the idea.

So just wondering - did anyone else have a Lent that was disappointing on some level?

Kind of bummed me out today when Father mentioned in his homily what a great Lent it had been for him…

 

[Bailey2]

And to be fair - a couple of very good things did happen in my family during Lent. My husband who hadn’t been to confession in years, went during Holy Week. My teenage sons both visited the Adoration Chapel with me. And my 14 year old told me that he was praying a “Hail Mary” for each of his classmates and an “Our Father” for each of his teachers - which was good on several levels (1) That he would tell me (2) That he would pray for these people in his life (3) That he listened to the prompting from the Holy Spirit that planted the idea.
.

You may not have felt like you had a good Lent, but seems it was fruitful.

 

[baltobetsy]

acadian, you did so much better than I did. You, at least, put in something. I totally failed at Lent, but I read something by one of the saints saying that God welcomes us even at the 11th hour. This Lent and Easter will be totally about His mercy and nothing about me.

Betsy

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I felt it was a fruitful Lent for me. Although it is the first one I’ve done in quite some time…Let me tell you–most people don’t know sacrifice until they have had to eat my grandmothers smelt EVERY Friday

Blessings–well–we wrecked our car on Good Friday so I’m not sure about the blessings. I’m praying they can just fix it and not total it out!

But I have been closer to God then I have in a long time! I have returned to the Catholic church…my husband wants to belong to the Catholic church…and I have a thirst for God in a way that I never have before…and I’m starting to get some healing on hurts from my childhood…after a VERY long time!

I’m sure next Lent won’t be quite as big–but still as important.

 

[Abrooks]

What, precisely, was disappointing about it??

Sounds like it was a very good Lent for your family!!

You’re very blessed to have a spouse and kids who actually believe as you do.

 

[acadian]

You may not have felt like you had a good Lent, but seems it was fruitful.

True. And feelings aren’t always an accurate picture of reality. Thanks!

 

[acadian]

acadian, you did so much better than I did. You, at least, put in something. I totally failed at Lent, but I read something by one of the saints saying that God welcomes us even at the 11th hour. This Lent and Easter will be totally about His mercy and nothing about me.

Betsy

Prayers, Betsy. Yes, God welcomes us whenever we get there!

 

[presidentjlh]

I experienced a revolution in my thinking this past Lent. The thing I gave up wasn’t much (Buying food at a snack shop), but I believe that my re-dedication to the faith more than made up for that. I began attending confession weekly (Saturdays worked best for me), along with going to Mass on Sundays. I began fighting harder against sin, particularly of the flesh (Being a teenager, my priest did mention that hormones are very hard to control at my age during my confession, which probably indicates a reduced degree of culpability, but I’m not sure to what extent. I also need to talk to my priest about my anxiety issues that I suffer, sometimes I feel as though I am being scrupulous)

I’m not bragging at all, but I can say quite confidently that I have not committed a mortal sin since last Wednesday, and I am trying to go another week doing such, although the temptations are increasing in intensity.

 

[acadian]

I felt it was a fruitful Lent for me. Although it is the first one I’ve done in quite some time…Let me tell you–most people don’t know sacrifice until they have had to eat my grandmothers smelt EVERY Friday

Blessings–well–we wrecked our car on Good Friday so I’m not sure about the blessings. I’m praying they can just fix it and not total it out!

But I have been closer to God then I have in a long time! I have returned to the Catholic church…my husband wants to belong to the Catholic church…and I have a thirst for God in a way that I never have before…and I’m starting to get some healing on hurts from my childhood…after a VERY long time!

I’m sure next Lent won’t be quite as big–but still as important.

Annabelle, I’m glad your Lent was fruitful. I hope things work out for the car and for your husband’s journey into the Church. That sounds like a very exciting turn of events (the husband, not the car!)

It sounds like you have a good deal to be thankful for!

 

[jazzbaby1]

I know where you’re coming from. I didn’t even go to confession till Saturday morning. This was a painful and distracted Lent for me but I learned more than I ever wanted to know about my own sinfulness. I’m not triumphant; I’m broken. Maybe that’s the way it should be.

 

[acadian]

What, precisely, was disappointing about it??

Sounds like it was a very good Lent for your family!!

You’re very blessed to have a spouse and kids who actually believe as you do.

What was disappointing was the things that I envisioned happening and changing, did not happen or change.

Thank you for pointing out what I have to be thankful for! You are right about how fortunate I am to have a spouse and kids who are at least in the same book (if not the same page) when it comes to faith.

 

[acadian]

I experienced a revolution in my thinking this past Lent. The thing I gave up wasn’t much (Buying food at a snack shop), but I believe that my re-dedication to the faith more than made up for that. I began attending confession weekly (Saturdays worked best for me), along with going to Mass on Sundays. I began fighting harder against sin, particularly of the flesh (Being a teenager, my priest did mention that hormones are very hard to control at my age during my confession, which probably indicates a reduced degree of culpability, but I’m not sure to what extent. I also need to talk to my priest about my anxiety issues that I suffer, sometimes I feel as though I am being scrupulous)

I’m not bragging at all, but I can say quite confidently that I have not committed a mortal sin since last Wednesday, and I am trying to go another week doing such, although the temptations are increasing in intensity.

Keep the faith, Pres, and fight those temptations! You sound like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders!

 

[presidentjlh]

I know where you’re coming from. I didn’t even go to confession till Saturday morning. This was a painful and distracted Lent for me but I learned more than I ever wanted to know about my own sinfulness. I’m not triumphant; I’m broken. Maybe that’s the way it should be.

But you were redeemed Saturday. It is very difficult to cope with when one learns of one’s sins. As someone with anxiety that sometimes just hits me like a ton of bricks, as well as ADHD and being a teenager in college, it has been extremely difficult. I try hard, and try to stay true to the faith, but I do fall sometimes.

But that’s okay!

We are all going to fall occasionally. We are not Christ. That’s why God sent us Jesus, to give us the chance to redeem ourselves, something you did Saturday. If you fall in the future, do not be discouraged. The Lord is with you always. Confession has made me stronger, it works wonders!

This upcoming Sunday, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Jesus said to St. Faustina in a vision that attending Mass and receiving the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist on this day results in complete, full remission of sins, and the Catholic Church has approved of this appearance to St. Faustina as being acceptable belief, which means that this is a most healing mass to celebrate. Pope John Paul II said he always felt spiritually close to St. Faustina, having not only canonized her, but also making Divine Mercy Sunday a part of the General Roman Calender. Even more interesting, Pope JP II was reunited with the Lord on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.

Christ said to St. Faustina about His Mercy: “Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.”

Remember, the Catholic Church is not about fear, punishment, and Hell. It is about love, mercy, and Christ!

 

[acadian]

I know where you’re coming from. I didn’t even go to confession till Saturday morning. This was a painful and distracted Lent for me but I learned more than I ever wanted to know about my own sinfulness. I’m not triumphant; I’m broken. Maybe that’s the way it should be.

You were lucky to find confession on Saturday morning! It is good when we see ourselves for what we are, though it isn’t much fun. I had that experience early on in Lent. I think we can give our broken-ness to Jesus and let Him do something beautiful with it. He knows how to bring triumph from death!

Prayers!

 

[jazzbaby1]

Thanks, guys. Sorry I hijacked the thread there. I fly so high sometimes but I’m collapsed by fear of the call to holiness. His Mercies are truly beyond anything I can comprehend. I wouldn’t be nearly as patient with me as He is. I’ll be praying for all who have had difficult Lents this year.

 

[Barzillai]

Silence helped me during this Lent as did a mild fast – my first.

 

[Abrooks]

What was disappointing was the things that I envisioned happening and changing, did not happen or change.

Thank you for pointing out what I have to be thankful for! You are right about how fortunate I am to have a spouse and kids who are at least in the same book (if not the same page) when it comes to faith.

And praise be to our God for His not measuring success\failure, progress/the lack thereof in the way we do.
Don’t worry, mate! Something in your life changed for the better this Lent; you just don’t know what it is yet:thumbsup:

 

[Abrooks]

What was disappointing was the things that I envisioned happening and changing, did not happen or change.

Thank you for pointing out what I have to be thankful for! You are right about how fortunate I am to have a spouse and kids who are at least in the same book (if not the same page) when it comes to faith.

Hear, hear.
Have got an unbelieving, quasi-Buddhist, situationally-moral wife. I love her in spite of this.
She will be converted. Oh, yes. Oh, yes.