Lent question

[Pilgrimzero]

This is my first Lent and I wanted it to be “special”, so I choose 2 things to do. No red meat and drink only water. The red meat thing is rough but not intolerable but drinking only water is a constant uphill battle.

Did I err in choose 2? Can I drop one while staying committed to the other? Heck I’ll drop all meat if needs be but this only water thing is just super hard. I would love some tea, milk, and juice and coffee. Maybe just loosen that to carbonated drinks?

I need some advice. Thanks.

 

[GEddie]

This is my first Lent and I wanted it to be “special”, so I choose 2 things to do. No red meat and drink only water. The red meat thing is rough but not intolerable but drinking only water is a constant uphill battle.

Did I err in choose 2? Can I drop one while staying committed to the other? Heck I’ll drop all meat if needs be but this only water thing is just super hard. I would love some tea, milk, and juice and coffee. Maybe just loosen that to carbonated drinks?

I need some advice. Thanks.

Nothing about Lent, other than the fasting and abstaining days, is required under sin.

A priestly friend of mine has said, in fact, better to do a smaller penance that you can maintain, than to try too much and drop it.

However, I am not a priest just a sinner.

ICXC NIKA

 

[ChibiViolet]

By all means feel free to change what you gave up if it’s that hard for you. No one is obliagated to give up anything more during Lent than what Churh law obligates: giving up meat on Fridays and such.

 

[ethereality]

Wait, are we (in the USA) still required to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent?! …

Yeah, what’s been said already: God wants you to grow closer to Him, so do that and don’t worry.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

In the Rule of St. Benedict, monks are advised to bring their Lenten plans to the abbot for his approval:

Let each one, however, suggest to his Abbot
what it is that he wants to offer,
and let it be done with his blessing and approval.
For anything done without the permission of the spiritual father
will be imputed to presumption and vainglory
and will merit no reward.
Therefore let everything be done with the Abbot’s approval.

I think this has a very practical effect. The abbot (or spiritual director or confessor or pastor) can help us see when we’re being overly enthusiastic (or, for some people, not enthusiastic enough) with our Lenten plans.

In my opinion, it would be better to have a smaller penance that can be done rather than a larger penance that is impossible to keep.