The Hardest Part Of Lent

[Seamus_L]

Ever since I’ve come back to the Church 17 years ago, my biggest problem during Lent has been dealing with people (many of them Catholic) who are totally insensitive to your Lenten Fast, and who offer you foods and even get upset when you refuse them. I’ve actually found non-Catholics to often be more reasonable in respecting your wishes.

 

[tawny]

Ever since I’ve come back to the Church 17 years ago, my biggest problem during Lent has been dealing with people (many of them Catholic) who are totally insensitive to your Lenten Fast, and who offer you foods and even get upset when you refuse them. I’ve actually found non-Catholics to often be more reasonable in respecting your wishes.

Just politely refuse the offer of food, letting the know you are in fasting & abstinence for Lent. Who knows, you may be enlightening someone.

 

[Nelka]

Good Friday fast I guess.

 

[Book_Worm]

Get new friends. I have never eaten desert during Lent, and my friends know this. If we’re eating out during Lent and they order deserts and I pass, they apologize for forgetting and eating it in front of me (which I always tell them is completely unnecessary, of course).

 

[Allegra]

If someone offers me something I can’t have during Lent, I just politely decline and explain that I’m fasting. I don’t expect other people to automatically know I gave something up for Lent, to ammend their own diets, or to be “sensitive”.

 

[POJIUJH]

Ever since I’ve come back to the Church 17 years ago, my biggest problem during Lent has been dealing with people (many of them Catholic) who are totally insensitive to your Lenten Fast, and who offer you foods and even get upset when you refuse them. I’ve actually found non-Catholics to often be more reasonable in respecting your wishes.

It is probably hitting a nerve with their consciences. Not necessarily something to worry much about, it is just an indicator that you are bearing witness.

If possible though, it is good to give people a heads up if someone is making you dinner. Particularly on days of abstinence and/or fasting. There is more chance of them going with you, whereas it would understandably be frustrating to forget about (e.g.) meatless Fridays, get excited about cooking a dish for people and then be reminded about the abstinence when passing a dish to someone that has remembered, and knowing that they should ditch the food too, or eat in guilt.

 

[awsiukiewicz]

“offer up” your angst

 

[Jennifoo]

“offer up” your angst

I agree. It is also possible to set aside your private penance to eat what is offered you, as our Lord instructed the disciples, since private penances are optional and do not bind under pain of sin. I have done that several times during Lent, like today when a co-worker offered me a cupcake to celebrate her birthday. I joined right in, enjoyed the cupcake and wished her well.

Of course, if you are offered meat on a Friday, then that’s always a no since it does bind under pain of sin. Today I brought egg salad for lunch but forgot bread. I was thankful that our cook had extra. She offered me a Jamaican sour dough bread that was fantastic. I thanked her for being so thoughtful.

Hope this helps. God bless you.