Really dont know where to post this

  • Thread starter Thread starter Friday_child
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Friday_child

Guest
Hi

Im sorry but im not sure where to put this question. I had difficulty thinking of something to “give up” for lent. So I decided I would take up something positive instead and decided on praying for a different cause each day. Is this acceptable or do I have to give something up?

Thanks for any advice you can give me xxx
 
We are called to do three things during Lent:

Prayer
Sacrifice
Alms Giving

So - given what you have chosen for your Lenten penance, how does your choice fulfill all three of these? If it doesn’t, then you may wish to re-think your choice.

It is not up to us to make this decision for you - it is up to you to decide what will result in spiritual growth and bring you closer to Christ, and become a more holy person in the end.

Just something to think about. 🙂

EDIT: This may be helpful too: wdtprs.com/blog/2012/02/tips-for-lent-from-a-bishop/

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
We are called to do three things during Lent:

Prayer
Sacrifice
Alms Giving

So - given what you have chosen for your Lenten penance, how does your choice fulfill all three of these? If it doesn’t, then you may wish to re-think your choice.

It is not up to us to make this decision for you - it is up to you to decide what will result in spiritual growth and bring you closer to Christ, and become a more holy person in the end.

Just something to think about. 🙂

EDIT: This may be helpful too: wdtprs.com/blog/2012/02/tips-for-lent-from-a-bishop/

~Liza
Click to expand...
Thank you for that information it was very helpful. Thankfully I am actually doing those three things and already follow the blogger you mentioned on twitter, I have to read his blogs more often 😊

Thanks again x
 
How does a poor college student go about “Alms giving”. It’s hard enough to tithe as it is anyways.
 
Semper_Zelare said:
How does a poor college student go about “Alms giving”. It’s hard enough to tithe as it is anyways.
Click to expand...
Obvioulsy, you don’t give what you don’t have. But, for example, say you don’t buy coffee for a couple of days. You could give that money to someone in need. Coffee money is not much but you are still giving something. But if you can’t afford to give anything at all I don’t think it is a problem. I’m in the same situation so not spending on little luxuries during lent will contribute to my own household, because we certainly need to be very careful about money.
 
Being an overweight person, I don’t give up anything for Lent, because I know it would be something that would help with weight loss, so I do more devotional reading and praying.
 
Semper_Zelare said:
How does a poor college student go about “Alms giving”. It’s hard enough to tithe as it is anyways.
Click to expand...
There’s always something we can give even if it’s just the widow’s cent (Mk 12:42-44). Paradoxically if we look at the experiences of many pilgrimes - they usually get more material help in poor vilages then in neat and wealthy cities.

In catholic tradition there was a custom to spend money saved on fasting on the poor - so you can combine fasting with almsgiving . 🙂
 
Being poor, though I know we are lucky in England but there still is an unhealthy poor dvided.
I have a children society box and can put in as little as whatever and it all gets added up with the others. I have got out of the habit of putting coins in so thankyou college boy for raising that. I can start that up again, though already got more in than last year as had put it somewhere difffernt and simply forgot. I can put that bit extra in throughout Lent. Even if its only a dime you put in. That dime or cent is worth far more to God than the dollars the next person put in because you have given your heart too because you have struggled to put it in. It wasn’t an easy matter for you. If it feels better find a plain brown envelope and put your money in there an when it comes to the end of Lent, simply hand in the envelope on your church collection plate or post it in the little box at the back of church. Our church has one and this is something I ought to be doing as church has helped me this winter for free. and I know I’ve greatly benefited and if went to formal counselling it be £20 per hour minimum.

To the person who is not giving up food because of overweight… well done on taking up reading. You don’t have to give up any food. Just swap something throughout Lent. If you don’t normally have wholemeal bread, then try it instead of white. That way you have given up white bread and still having bread but aiming for a healthy balance but joining in with the spirit of Lent too. There are all different kind of food choices there you could make where you/we can simply swap for the healthier option so giving up something.
 
CatholicCajun said:
Being an overweight person, I don’t give up anything for Lent, because I know it would be something that would help with weight loss, so I do more devotional reading and praying.
Click to expand...
Please consider discussing this with your priest. I’m not sure you are approaching the penance of sacrifice in an appropriate way.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
Please consider discussing this with your priest. I’m not sure you are approaching the penance of sacrifice in an appropriate way.

~Liza
Click to expand...
I understand the penance of sacrifice, but no matter what food I would give up weight loss would always be in the back of my mind. I do almsgiving and increase my prayers. I do not listen to my favorite music and do other sacrifices that does not involve food.
 
CatholicCajun said:
I understand the penance of sacrifice, but no matter what food I would give up weight loss would always be in the back of my mind. I do almsgiving and increase my prayers. I do not listen to my favorite music and do other sacrifices that does not involve food.
Click to expand...
I believe that weight loss is something that a lot of people have at the back of their mind during Lent because of the changes to their diet during this time. That is not a bad thing. It seems to me that you fear that having a side effect of something good come from your penance is a bad or undesirable thing. When in actuality, that is EXACTLY what the act of penance is supposed to do – ultimately result in us being better people. If a little weight is lost along the way, that is only a side effect of depriving yourself of something you like and enjoy. You are not doing it for the sole purpose of weight loss, you are doing it to deprive your body, which helps us to control our human urges and focus our prayer and other sacrificial actions.

The reason we give up food during Lent is because it is so fundamental to our survival, that it has an impact on every other aspect of our lives. For those of us who live in a Western culture where food is always readily available, it often seems trivial and silly, such as “I’m giving up chocolate” - I’m not sure I see any REAL sacrifice there. But for someone to give up something that is a primary part of their diet, or to just overall limit their diet to simple meals, that is an impacting sacrifice that is felt and noticed in our everyday lives, and reminds us throughout the day that we are truly in a penitential time. This draws us closer to Christ, and allows us to focus ourselves on truly transforming ourselves during this period of Lent. Giving up music does not do this - it is a material comfort that we can live without. We cannot live without food.

I hope this helps.

~Liza
 
I decided to pray more frequently, to try and bring more of my family back into the church, to assist a young family member in making her holy communion, and eating more healthily in general so that I may always be prepared to do anything god may want me to. For example if I am fortunate and God hears my prayers for a new job I will be healthy enough to work to my best. Also I am marrying this year and want to start a family soon after. I want my body to be at its best for my unborn child.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top