What are some possible penances for Lent?

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MrsATurner

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Okay so I know that for Lent we are supposed to give something up but what if we promised to do more of something instead or in addition to giving something up? An example of what I am talking about is maybe reading the bible or praying the rosary every day?
 
The way I understand it is that it is simply a traditional time of penance. And, of course, doing penance, or sacrifice, doesn’t necessarily mean giving up something. Of course, if your are using more of your time to add something spiritual, I would think that, by definition, you would be giving up time for something else. So, bottom line, is that I think that would be perfectly acceptable.
 
MrsATurner said:
Okay so I know that for Lent we are supposed to give something up but what if we promised to do more of something instead or in addition to giving something up? An example of what I am talking about is maybe reading the bible or praying the rosary every day?
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The idea of Lent is to make a sacrifice. A lot of folks take that to mean giving something up, and we wind up with things like “I’m not eating candy during Lent.” This is a negative sacrifice - you are depriving yourself of something with the idea that it is bringing you a better understanding of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Your suggestion, on the other hand, is an excellent example of a positive sacrifice. Instead of giving up a material thing, you instead sacrifice your time in prayer to glorify God. Contemplating the mysteries of the Rosary is an excellent way to reflect on the life of Christ and his sacrifice. I personally feel this is the more meaningful sacrifice, but to each their own.
 
In the Eastern Christian traditions, fasting, prayer and acts of charity are all emphasized in the Lenten journey. We use these disciplines to help bring us closer to God, and so that at the conclusion of the Great Fast we may more joyously celebrate the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

While fasting and self-denial are emphasized in Western traditions, certainly an increased regimen of prayer is worthwhile and can only be beneficial to the soul.
 
I’m glad this question came up. I’m planning on praying the Stations of the Cross at least twice per week & saying the Prayer Before a Crucifix everyday. I also have some devotional reading planned.
 
MrsATurner said:
Okay so I know that for Lent we are supposed to give something up but what if we promised to do more of something instead or in addition to giving something up? An example of what I am talking about is maybe reading the bible or praying the rosary every day?
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An excellent idea - I have run out of things to give up (don’t smoke, drink, eat sweets etc) and taking on a new devotion or doing more of something is a positive thing to do. I was thinking of an extra hour a day before the Blessed Sacrament.
 
I view it as a time to put in extra effort that will bring you closer to God. The idea of adding a rosary daily is great for that. Devotional reading is good. I look for my attachments to worldly things and push them out of my life for Lent and also add prayer and/or devotionals that will help.
 
MrsATurner said:
Okay so I know that for Lent we are supposed to give something up but what if we promised to do more of something instead or in addition to giving something up? An example of what I am talking about is maybe reading the bible or praying the rosary every day?
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This would be good since we should be doing these things everyday. I think a lot of people miss the point that Lent is a time where we view our habits and take note of things we need to change so we can grow in our relationship with Christ by creating new habits. It’s not about giving something up for 40 days and then going back to the way things where but rather giving something up for 40 days and changing your life, replacing vice with virtue; putting on the new man if you will. “And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth”–Ephesians 4:24
 
LiseTravis said:
I’m glad this question came up. I’m planning on praying the Stations of the Cross at least twice per week & saying the Prayer Before a Crucifix everyday. I also have some devotional reading planned.
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Sounds kind of like me. I plan on praying the Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays and Fridays. I’m also going to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy instead of the Rosary, since I feel like it goes better with Lent.
 
I normally try to give something up as well as take something up that will help draw me closer to God. I haven’t really made it set in stone what I am going to do for this year’s Lent, but am thinking of giving up M&M’s or perhaps chocolate in general since that is something I often turn to throughout the day and know I should limit myself to them anyway. Am also thinking of doing a book study that my church is doing or at least read the book as well as restart reading a verse or a chapter of the New Testament before going to bed.
 
My suggestion is two fold.
  1. Pray more than you do now.
  2. Give up your main vice…if you have more than one…pick any one of them.
Lent is a yearly gift to draw closer to the one who saved and the one who created and the one who keeps us centered on the truth!.
 
You could make an extra effort during Lent to be pleasant to someone you dislike, and to find something good to admire about that person.

Or, a popular extra to do in addition to giving something up is to take the money that you would have spent on coffee, candy or whatever you are giving up, and give it to some worthy cause.

Praying the Stations of the Cross as Lise suggested seems particularly suitable for Lent. Many Catholic churches have the stations on their wall. If your church’s doors are unlocked so that you can visit outside of Mass, you may find that a visit there to pray the stations feels like sort of a mini-pilgrimage.
 
Last year part of my lenten devotion was to say the rosary every day. I found it so rewarding that I kept it up and continue to pray it every day. Also, last year, I gave up rock music in the car and listened to only Gregorian Chant station on Pandora or Audio Sancto homilies. Again, I found it so rewarding that I kept the practice up and have made great progress in maintaining interior silence.

This year I’m considering living the discipline of the life of a 1962 Discalced Carmelite Tertiary, with all the fasts and the full Divine Office every day. I talk the talk, but I think I’m ready to walk the walk when it comes to lenten mortification and the sacrifices it takes to be a true Carmelite. I’m still in the discerning stages, but I’m hoping that I can find a stronger sense of detachment with the fasting and the discipline it will take to maintain this lifestyle for the period of Lent.
 
My suggestion is don’t try to overstretch yourself. You know where you are, spiritually. I know it sounds noble to go the extra mile for God, but you don’t go an extra mile if you have enough trouble going one mile in the first place.
 
I will have to make some more time to attend adoration, go to Confession at least one time, perhaps go to a daily Mass on a day off work, and of course give up some of my vices (chocolate, junk foods).
 
m134e5 said:
My suggestion is don’t try to overstretch yourself. You know where you are, spiritually. I know it sounds noble to go the extra mile for God, but you don’t go an extra mile if you have enough trouble going one mile in the first place.
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This is very good advice: I have made the mistake in the past of having too ambitious plans for Lent, and then feeling rotten because I ended up doing less than I would normally do!
 
MrsATurner said:
Okay so I know that for Lent we are supposed to give something up but what if we promised to do more of something instead or in addition to giving something up? An example of what I am talking about is maybe reading the bible or praying the rosary every day?
Click to expand...
Well actually, in a way you would still be giving something up because you be giving up time on whatever it is you would be doing to more reading etc.

But instead of general reading or prayer why not be specific about what you are reading or praying for/with? then you will know if you have achieved/learned something. Its nice to have measureable targets to help you stay on track and stay with God.
 
Thank you for the link to the OCS 1962 Carmelite practices.

I started my year long aspirancy in Jan, 2012 so I look forward to reading that.
 
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