Lent for the Struggling

[Meggie]

I am a college student, and these questions frequently comes up among myself and my peers.

How is one who struggles with things such as eating disorders to sacrifice for lent?

How is one who’s dietary restrictions eg. no corn syrup, no sugary foods, vegetarians work into the churches restrictions of meat and treats?

How is one who struggles with the church and rules to be submissive to God?

Can one who cannot fit extra Mass schedule into work in class excused?

If someone is seriously depressed are they required to participate in self-denial and sacrifice? (in this case the person in question is in councelling)

How can one do more than minor deeds if you’re busy with work and school?

How can one give alms if one has no money? (eg we all eat at the dorm paid for cafeteria, we never order out)

How can one do any reasonable christian study when we’re busy, and our first priority should be as students and workers?

 

[puzzleannie]

I am a college student, and these questions frequently comes up among myself and my peers.

How is one who struggles with things such as eating disorders to sacrifice for lent?

How is one who’s dietary restrictions eg. no corn syrup, no sugary foods, vegetarians work into the churches restrictions of meat and treats?

How is one who struggles with the church and rules to be submissive to God?

Can one who cannot fit extra Mass schedule into work in class excused?

If someone is seriously depressed are they required to participate in self-denial and sacrifice? (in this case the person in question is in councelling)

How can one do more than minor deeds if you’re busy with work and school?

How can one give alms if one has no money? (eg we all eat at the dorm paid for cafeteria, we never order out)

How can one do any reasonable christian study when we’re busy, and our first priority should be as students and workers?

a person with eating disorders “fasts” by following the doctor’s orders about their treatment plan including diet, medication, therapy etc. No one with an illness is ever bound by the fast anyhow (like two days is going to be a big deal)

the church has no restrictions on treats. the rules are no meat on Ash Wed and Fridays of Lent, fast on Ash Wed and Good Friday (two small meals, one large meal) which is not going to hurt vegetarians at all, If they want to do further penance there are plenty of suggested pentiential practices. See the numerous ongoing threads on this topic already posted.

The primary purpose of fast and abstinence is to lessen the hold sensual pleasures have on us especially as they lead to sin, and to increase our obedience, humility, and submission to God’s will, which on earth is communicated through the Catholic Church. If you struggle with these issues, fasting and other penances are your first line of defense.

There is no extra Mass requirement for Lent so where is the problem. If you are currently using work and school as an excuse to miss Mass, check masstimes.com and find a convenient Mass near you.

If someone is depressed or has any other illness that contraindicates any practice, they are not bound, as stated before. Their obligation is to seek medical treatment.

as far as “good deed doing” goes, your first priority is always God and seeking and doing his will. School, work whatever are priorities only as the pertain to that task. If God is not first, you will not succeed at anything else.

 

[BLB_Oregon]

Consider what the Rule of St. Benedict has to say about Lent:
"The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times…In other words, let each deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing.

"Everyone should, however, make known to the abbot what he intends to do, since it ought to be done with his prayer and approval. Whatever is undertaken without the permission of the spiritual father will be reckoned as presumption and vainglory, not deserving a reward. Therefore, everything must be done with the abbot’s approval."

Someone who is depressed would do well to discuss with their counsellor or spiritual director what might be a profitable Lenten goal for them. For instance, this might include a fast on beating up on themselves for failing!

Lent is not just a time of denial for the sake of denial, but a time to return to temperate life that centers on God. A depressed person might “do” instead of giving up: for instance, exercising every day or devoting a certain time every day to helpful inner exercises, either in prayer time or as an addition to prayer. In any case, we should share our intentions with someone who has knowledge of what we are struggling with, with what our strengths and weaknesses are, and preferably with someone who has some spiritual or medical authority to bring to bear on our choices.

By the way, a person might give alms by giving work instead of giving money. This is why it is OK to work on parish fundraisers on Sundays: it is a form of giving alms, which is a suitable activity on the Lord’s Day. You and your friends might look around to see what charitable works you can do, since giving money is not an option.

Do not discount the worth of “minor” deeds, either. You can change a life by being pleasant every day to someone who looks as if they need it. It may seem like only a few minutes to you, but the act can change their lives, and it could become a habit that changes yours. Remember the poor widow and her copper coins that Jesus took pains to point out to his disciples. Her gift counted for more than all the wealth given by those with plenty.