How do I decide what to give up for Lent?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mkipp
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mkipp

Guest
I am new to the idea of Lent and Penance as I am in RCIA at this time. How do I choose what to give up for my Lent Penance?
 
mkipp said:
I am new to the idea of Lent and Penance as I am in RCIA at this time. How do I choose what to give up for my Lent Penance?
Click to expand...
Give up something that you like but could do without. Like chocolate, wine, beer, coffee, TV programs, cell phone, ipod, etc… There’s lots of things - use your imagination.

Or do something proactive and give up time for other people, helping in the church or volunteer activities.

Or you can set time out to pray and contemplate God more.

There’s lots of ways to observe Lent.
 
I’m planning to do a daily rosary and hopefully stick with it even past Easter! 👍
 
A balanced Lenten program would include one form of self denial and one form of positive service.

It is common to put the money you save by fasting into an envelope and give it to a food bank after Easter. You might do a couple of hours of volunteer work . . . with the hope that you will continue it after Easter . . .

How about Mass on Wednesdays and Fridays?
 
This year I have been looking at my needs and my wants.

I think I will be going along with that.

I need to use my computer for school work. I want to use it for much more.

I will be cutting out all wants for the use of my computer expect for once a week for an hour or so.

This is going to be a big struggle.
 
I’m gonna cut out junk food which will be hard b/c I love sugar.

The benefit will be a trimmer waistline 👍
 
ByzCath said:
I need to use my computer for school work. I want to use it for much more.

I will be cutting out all wants for the use of my computer expect for once a week for an hour or so.
Click to expand...
Does CAF count as a need or a want? 😉
 
I also like the suggestion to add a new dimension to your prayer / spiritual life.

A daily rosary, an extra mass a week or something that adds to your spiritual journey.
 
Last year I decided that after my evening prayers, I would list 10 things about the day to be thankful for - however small. Even after the worst days, I surprised myself by always finding 10 things for my list. I found it so helpful - I carried on after Lent!

Another thing I did one year was try to give up air miles on food to help save the planet!!! That was a real challenge.
 
Rose71 said:
Last year I decided that after my evening prayers, I would list 10 things about the day to be thankful for - however small. Even after the worst days, I surprised myself by always finding 10 things for my list. I found it so helpful - I carried on after Lent!

Another thing I did one year was try to give up air miles on food to help save the planet!!! That was a real challenge.
Click to expand...
The best lenten disciplines are the ones you just keep on doing afterward . . .
 
Rose71 said:
Last year I decided that after my evening prayers, I would list 10 things about the day to be thankful for - however small. Even after the worst days, I surprised myself by always finding 10 things for my list. I found it so helpful - I carried on after Lent!

Another thing I did one year was try to give up air miles on food to help save the planet!!! That was a real challenge.
Click to expand...
That’s a great idea about the 10 things. I think I will try that too. I think I’ll do a rosary a day too.

What do you mean by air miles? How far away the food was shipped from?
 
Caesar517 said:
Hmm, that’s interesting. The forums here help me to grow spiritually and I think it wouldn’t be a good thing for me to give it up for that reason.
🤷
Click to expand...
For me they are a huge distraction and a temptation. My solution would not be good for you, but I NEED to get outta here for a few weeks!
 
As my former priest would say: Give till it hurts!

This year I think I will try to fast one day a week. One year, I gave up snoozing my alarm clock. That was a big deal for me, but very beneficial spiritually: the first thing I did each day was to offer a sacrifice for Christ!

-mike
 
i am planning to say a daily rosary or divine mercy chaplet.
am also giving up fast food =]
 
I try to pray more and give more. Give more of my time at Church or make even more of an effort to give to the food pantry, things like that.
I gave up chocolate the one year, it wasn’t pretty. I don’t think I could do it again:blush: I’m not proud of that, it’s just the way I’m wired, I have to have chocolate.

My mother in law gave up candy the one year and took a bag of peanut butter eggs with her in the car Easter Sunday to eat on the way to her parents house…
 
Caesar517 said:
Does CAF count as a need or a want? 😉
Click to expand...
Funny you should ask this as this is one of the things I have been thinking about and will be bringing up at my next meeting with my spiritual director.

I think it is both.

The need part is my participation in the vocations forum, issues that deal with the Carmelites, and other places where I feel I provide a balance.

What I mean by providing a balance is threads where people are stating their opinions as fact or are distorting what the Church actually teaches.

So I will most likely limit myself to the vocations and spirituality forums.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top