Fasting Penance and Sacrifice, what do you do?

[tektonik]

Personally? I don’t eat meat. I know in the Bible it says to avoid bad meats like pork and it’s okay to eat some meats, but I just don’t want to. Yes, I watched Earthlings, and I never touched meat again. I’m an animal lover I also do fasts throughout the year. I found nothing brings me closer to myself and to God than a fast. When I feel like I’m losing my path in life, or I don’t feel happy with myself and prayer alone isn’t cutting it, I do a fast and pray. There’s that one quote in the Bible about Jesus saying “when you fast” not “if you fast” implying we all should fast. I mean, he fasted in the desert for like 40 days was it before starting his ministry. It really fine tunes you. It fine tunes me at least.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I might have asked you this before, but do you attend an FSSP parish? I find FSSP priests tend to stress that we are to aim for heaven! I’ve heard some say it live and I’ve heard some say it on audiosancto.com.

The way I see it is you aim for heaven, you might end up in heaven, you might end up in purgatory. You aim for purgatory, you might end up in that bad place.

No and yes. No, I don’t attend an FSSP parish, but I do attend a parish with the FSSP there. Kinda like a quasi-FSSP parish, yet we’re still actual members of the parish.

I’m surprised we haven’t been reminded lately that we know not the day nor the hour of when we’ll die. We used to get reminded every Sunday.

 

[thistle]

True, but we are to aim for heaven, not purgatory.

My aim is to be saved. I would never be so arrogant to think I would ever go straight to Heaven. Heaven will come after our time in Purgatory. Trying to play around with indulgences and think you’ve done enough for direct entry to Heaven is a fool’s game. Focus on living according to Christ’s teachings instead of trying to stack up a pile of indulgences.
I would argue that very few people who are saved go straight to Heaven and that the vast majority will spend time in Purgatory first and I have no problem with that. If I require purifying then so be it.

 

[domandcarols]

Smile when you don’t feel lke it.
Park a little father away and offer the extra work up for atonement or some other intention, perhaps an apostolic one.
Take the smallest portion if it can be done without notice.
Work a little longer, work a little better.
Wake up a bit more cheerful than you want to.
Wake up with a spark.
Do the most unpleasant task you have first.

I love this!

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

My aim is to be saved. I would never be so arrogant to think I would ever go straight to Heaven. Heaven will come after our time in Purgatory. Trying to play around with indulgences and think you’ve done enough for direct entry to Heaven is a fool’s game. Focus on living according to Christ’s teachings instead of trying to stack up a pile of indulgences.
I would argue that very few people who are saved go straight to Heaven and that the vast majority will spend time in Purgatory first and I have no problem with that. If I require purifying then so be it.

This has nothing to do with indulgences. This has to do with interior perfection and union with God. If you read the writings of the saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius, etc they explain that rooting out all sins and purifying our senses is the start of the spiritual life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone saying they’re aiming for sainthood (as in go straight to heaven, not necessarily being canonized) and want to avoid purgatory.

 

[thistle]

This has nothing to do with indulgences. This has to do with interior perfection and union with God. If you read the writings of the saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Ignatius, etc they explain that rooting out all sins and purifying our senses is the start of the spiritual life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone saying they’re aiming for sainthood (as in go straight to heaven, not necessarily being canonized) and want to avoid purgatory.

I’m not saying its not good to aim to go direct to Heaven. My aim to be saved even if it means Purgatory first. I contend that very few people will go direct to Heaven.

 

[JRKH]

My aim is to be saved. I would never be so arrogant to think I would ever go straight to Heaven. Heaven will come after our time in Purgatory. Trying to play around with indulgences and think you’ve done enough for direct entry to Heaven is a fool’s game. Focus on living according to Christ’s teachings instead of trying to stack up a pile of indulgences.
I would argue that very few people who are saved go straight to Heaven and that the vast majority will spend time in Purgatory first and I have no problem with that. If I require purifying then so be it.

I like this.
Indeed there are few who will go Straight to heaven without some sort of purgation. This just stands to reason.
That said, we need to aim for Heaven and expect Purgatory and do so with a happy heart.

There are two Bible verses that are not connected in Scripture and yet fit together wonderfully well in how we should live and what we hope for.
We should live humbly and with this attitude:
So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’" (Luke 17:10)
But with the hope that we will hear upon our death:
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…come enter into the joy of your master.’ (Mt 25:21)
I find much encouragement in this.
May the Holy Spirit keep us humble on our Journey toward that perfection to which we are called (Mt 5:48) so that, as imperfect as we remain, Our Master will greet us with “Well done, good and faithful servant”…

Peace
James

 

[mangy_dog]

Even though Fasting penance and sacrifice have been relegated to the realms of the almost non existent these days they are still very much expected of us Catholics.

What do you do and if you don’t you had better start because what you do or don’t do can…no not can WILL change the world for the better or worse depending on what you do or don’t do.

So what do you do?

Fasting, penance and sacrifice- yes, yes and yes on all counts.

I do all of them not just during Lent but throughout the year. Each Lent I add a little something new to my life of prayer and life of the spirit…and this-nurtured by the Sacraments of Confession and Communion.

There are no “wasted prayers”. Every prayer goes to God and God uses our prayers and sacrafices with those most in need of His mercy and grace.

Pray the Rosary everyday…in hoc signo vinces.

 

[Petersmate]

Fasting, penance and sacrifice- yes, yes and yes on all counts.

I do all of them not just during Lent but throughout the year. Each Lent I add a little something new to my life of prayer and life of the spirit…and this-nurtured by the Sacraments of Confession and Communion.

There are no “wasted prayers”. Every prayer goes to God and God uses our prayers and sacrafices with those most in need of His mercy and grace.

Pray the Rosary everyday…in hoc signo vinces.

Love praying the Rosary with others but struggle on my own.

 

[mangy_dog]

Love praying the Rosary with others but struggle on my own.

Suggestion:

Make it a goal this Lent Season. Drink coffee, eat chocolate but, make the Rosary you daily prayer.

I find it harder to have others join me in the Rosary and because of an intention many Lent seasons ago-I now pray it everyday without fail with or without company…my angel always joins me in praying the Rosary and the souls in Purgatory expect it of me.

Rosarium memento mori- in hoc signo vinces

 

[Petersmate]

Suggestion:

Make it a goal this Lent Season. Drink coffee, eat chocolate but, make the Rosary you daily prayer.

I find it harder to have others join me in the Rosary and because of an intention many Lent seasons ago-I now pray it everyday without fail with or without company…my angel always joins me in praying the Rosary and the souls in Purgatory expect it of me.

Rosarium memento mori- in hoc signo vinces

Thank you, great idea I’ll ease up on the fasting and do my penance better.

The souls of purgatory how I so often forget about them!
Grant eternal rest unto them, Oh Lord, may they rest in peace.