Sunday "Pause" During Lent?

[Boulder257]

Someone recently suggested to me that their priest informed them that on Sunday we pause from the penitential feeling of Lent and are “allowed” to partake in whatever we decided to give up for the season? Is this correct? What is the custom for Sunday’s during Lent?

 

[RazzsMom]

Every Sunday is considered a small “Easter”. Therefore, one is allowed to indulge and not stick to the Lenten “sacrifice” on Sundays during Lent.

 

[indijanka]

As far as I know, we have no reason to fast on Sunday, because it’s the day of the Lord.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Right. Sundays are NEVER a day of penance.

We were always allowed (if we CHOSE) to have a bit of what we gave up (usually when I was quite young it was chocolate/sweets or dessert). So on a Sunday after the usual “Sunday dinner” we might get a Hershey Kiss, or be allowed to have a dish of rice pudding for dessert. Of course, we could elect to not have the treat but we didn’t get scolded if we decided to ‘indulge’ or get extra ‘praise’ if we gave it up. It was just understood that if we DID elect not to indulge in the treat that it wasn’t because we were trying to ‘keep up the penance’ but (say in my older sister’s case) that she didn’t want the chocolate because she thought it made her acne worse, or that my brother didn’t usually eat rice pudding ANYWAY. --I guess you can see I ALWAYS went for the treat. I don’t think there is a dessert that exists that I don’t like–unless it’s something with bananas, yuck, and my mom NEVER made me eat bananas!

 

[DanteAlighieri]

I believe the AAA forum has dealt with this question a number of times. As I recall, the answer is that the Lenten sacrifice is entirely optional, so one may perform it as one sees fit.

Bear in mind, of course, that we are called upon to perform additional penance during Lent, so the traditional “giving something up” is a good way to do that.

Peace,
Dante

 

[Boulder257]

LOL at Tantum. I appreciate your response, especially the insight into your personal lenten practices.

Dante, they have dealt with this topic, but I didn’t want the “apologetic” answer, more an answer from the laymen and how they practiced. I probably could have worded my question differently to make this more apparent.

Thanks for the answers all, that certainly helps me to determine how I will participate this year!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I believe the AAA forum has dealt with this question a number of times. As I recall, the answer is that the Lenten sacrifice is entirely optional, so one may perform it as one sees fit.

Bear in mind, of course, that we are called upon to perform additional penance during Lent, so the traditional “giving something up” is a good way to do that.

Peace,
Dante

What most people forget is that Fridays even outside of Lent are penitential days and that they should abstain from meat on all Fridays or perform some other penence of their choosing.