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MarkoB0726
Guest
How is all the additional prayer, fasting and almsgiving supposed to help us or enrich us? Do we get rewarded for it? Does it make us happier?
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Wesrock
Guest
It’s a reminder and practice for refocusing on spiritual things and detaching from worldly things.
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Beryllos
Guest
These Lenten disciplines, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, tend to free us from our inward focus, self-absorption, and attachment (slavery) to worldly things. They are not simply ritual or symbolic. With the right attitude, and God’s gift of grace, they bring real benefits and make us happier, beginning right now in this life.
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii
Guest
It’s a way of drawing closer to God and strengthening our relationship with Him, by repentance (which means giving up our sinful habits).
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ziapueblo
Guest
As far as fasting and abstinence, we are detaching ourselves from things of this world: meat, fish, dairy, etc. Fasting and abstinence is a spiritual exercise that is very beneficial.
ZP
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Thom18
Guest
This Lent has been extremely successful for me, so I can attest to its “benefits”. By adding spiritual reading and other Catholic media into my prayer life and giving up something that consumed a lot of my time (in addition to receiving the sacraments regularly), I’ve managed to rid from my life (for the past few weeks, anyways) one sin that I thought I’d never shake off. Grace abounds during Lent if you’ll respond to it.
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Vico
Guest
For those that are in a state of grace there is an increase of merit. We help those we pray for and for those that receive charities we contribute to. For those that are not in a state of grace it can be preparation for attaining a state of grace. If also is helpful to learn temperance. Finally it is a witness to the Catholic faith who see one participating.
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Saint_Prince_Caspian
Guest
Humility, Penance, and Salvation.
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0Scarlett_nidiyilii
Guest
Actually, a lot of religions designate a time set apart where its practitioners can reflect on their lives and think about how to do better in the future.
Lent can be summed up in our response to the Lenten command , "Repent and believe the Gospel."
If during Lent our repentance has been a true continuation of our life-long call to conversion , and has increased our belief in the Good News , we should be happier people .
Nothing makes us happier in a true sense than accepting the Good News and casting aside sin . It makes us free by the grace of God , and it’s great to be free , believing the Good News , and at Easter we can shout out Alleluia!!!
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Saint_Prince_Caspian
Guest
[First]
Lent is the specific time focused on Penance. Though as a sinner, you are supposed to place focus on this year round. And, also, Lent is focused on the Sorrowful Mysteries. The Passion of Christ. Death is nigh. This is also how Lamentations see’s. Sorrow. This world is passing. Death is nigh to everyone. The soul, in order to make flight to his or her refuge in Heaven. Whence that souls passes away. Must be dispossessed of this world, and all that is in it. Not out of hatred for the world, but out of hatred of sin. To let nothing get in the way between you and God Himself. Christ paves the way to do that.
But, the benefit of Lent is Penance. To be aware the sins we carry. Even the one’s we don’t expect.
People also during Lent tend to be busy, as Saint Martha. About many things. Lent is for the soul to stop, and sit at the feet of Christ. And listen.
I suppose this is one thing that will ride upon my observation at this point:
First, during the Wedding Feast at Cana. The servants ran into a problem. There was no more wine. They were stuck and did not know what to do about it. There, Our Lady, spoken Advocate. Enlists Her Son’s help. Turning to Christ. She appeals, that they have no more wine. Here Christ considers for one moment, that His Marriage feast. That He says to Mary, His Mother, it is not His time yet. Then, something shapes and forms between them. She tells the servants to do what Her Son tells them. They are instructed to take the water for the “washing of the feet.” Which was turned into wine. The best!
Second, the lady who see’s Christ visiting the Pharisee. She wept bitterly upon “Christ’s feet.” And wiped His feet with her tears. Tears, you know, water. Christ even said that was what the Pharisee was supposed to have done. The tradition. Might also wonder, why the woman was at the Pharisee’s home, no? Because, he asked Jesus if He knew what sort of woman she was. Guilty!
Third, at Martha’s home. Christ sat. Also the Apostle’s, the Disciple’s, and even those who followed Him. Hence, that is why Martha was extremely busy. This is a 3D world we live in. Mary sat at His feet, listening. Martha appealed to Christ. To ask her sister to help her. Interesting, Christ can see the stress and anxiety, and fear. And the burden. However, He is not condemning Martha with this response. She is worried about many things. He is God’s only Son. He see’s right through into her heart, her soul. Thus, He tells her that Mary has chosen the better part. And it cannot be taken away from her. Resting from labors. The life of the Lord, God’s Son. Thus, how did Mary help Martha? By resting from her own set of labors, and following Christ. Me thinks, Martha no longer worried, sat down, and enjoyed the grace of God there. Consider the way the Dwarves in the Hobbit. Remember Bilbo? He was worried about many things. And yet, the Dwarves helped clean up his home, and to his food! The people there, I believe, though it doesn’t say it. Helped Martha with her home. And what was needed.
Lent is the specific time focused on Penance. Though as a sinner, you are supposed to place focus on this year round. And, also, Lent is focused on the Sorrowful Mysteries. The Passion of Christ. Death is nigh. This is also how Lamentations see’s. Sorrow. This world is passing. Death is nigh to everyone. The soul, in order to make flight to his or her refuge in Heaven. Whence that souls passes away. Must be dispossessed of this world, and all that is in it. Not out of hatred for the world, but out of hatred of sin. To let nothing get in the way between you and God Himself. Christ paves the way to do that.
But, the benefit of Lent is Penance. To be aware the sins we carry. Even the one’s we don’t expect.
People also during Lent tend to be busy, as Saint Martha. About many things. Lent is for the soul to stop, and sit at the feet of Christ. And listen.
I suppose this is one thing that will ride upon my observation at this point:
First, during the Wedding Feast at Cana. The servants ran into a problem. There was no more wine. They were stuck and did not know what to do about it. There, Our Lady, spoken Advocate. Enlists Her Son’s help. Turning to Christ. She appeals, that they have no more wine. Here Christ considers for one moment, that His Marriage feast. That He says to Mary, His Mother, it is not His time yet. Then, something shapes and forms between them. She tells the servants to do what Her Son tells them. They are instructed to take the water for the “washing of the feet.” Which was turned into wine. The best!
Second, the lady who see’s Christ visiting the Pharisee. She wept bitterly upon “Christ’s feet.” And wiped His feet with her tears. Tears, you know, water. Christ even said that was what the Pharisee was supposed to have done. The tradition. Might also wonder, why the woman was at the Pharisee’s home, no? Because, he asked Jesus if He knew what sort of woman she was. Guilty!
Third, at Martha’s home. Christ sat. Also the Apostle’s, the Disciple’s, and even those who followed Him. Hence, that is why Martha was extremely busy. This is a 3D world we live in. Mary sat at His feet, listening. Martha appealed to Christ. To ask her sister to help her. Interesting, Christ can see the stress and anxiety, and fear. And the burden. However, He is not condemning Martha with this response. She is worried about many things. He is God’s only Son. He see’s right through into her heart, her soul. Thus, He tells her that Mary has chosen the better part. And it cannot be taken away from her. Resting from labors. The life of the Lord, God’s Son. Thus, how did Mary help Martha? By resting from her own set of labors, and following Christ. Me thinks, Martha no longer worried, sat down, and enjoyed the grace of God there. Consider the way the Dwarves in the Hobbit. Remember Bilbo? He was worried about many things. And yet, the Dwarves helped clean up his home, and to his food! The people there, I believe, though it doesn’t say it. Helped Martha with her home. And what was needed.
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Saint_Prince_Caspian
Guest
[Second]
Fourth, at the foot of the Cross, wherefore Christ is Crucified. was Mary His Mother, Our Lady. And, Mary Magdalene. Of course Saint John the Apostle, and the other Mary.
Fifth, once upon the Resurrection, wherefore Christ stood. Mary fell at His feet, holding onto them.
What is the benefit of Lent? It is that. The humility one suffers. That’s the beauty of Lent. Not the sorta of cowardly humility. Nor a servitude humility. But a great humiliation. One which like the Seraphim and Cherubum bow before Christ. Recognizing God’s Son, Who comes to save souls from their sins.
Lent is trusting in Christ. Abandoning one’s self as the driver. That is Lent. He is going to take down the serpent and death. He is going to do battle with the Cross. He is going to tackle Hell, Satan, and Sin. He is going to lay victory.
Lent is a time of joy. Like children we are behind Him Who is going to counter the bully Goliath of Satan, Sin, and Hell. He is our Lord and Victory. He is going to take on that giant of evil Himself.
Lent is a time for Joy!
Fourth, at the foot of the Cross, wherefore Christ is Crucified. was Mary His Mother, Our Lady. And, Mary Magdalene. Of course Saint John the Apostle, and the other Mary.
Fifth, once upon the Resurrection, wherefore Christ stood. Mary fell at His feet, holding onto them.
What is the benefit of Lent? It is that. The humility one suffers. That’s the beauty of Lent. Not the sorta of cowardly humility. Nor a servitude humility. But a great humiliation. One which like the Seraphim and Cherubum bow before Christ. Recognizing God’s Son, Who comes to save souls from their sins.
Lent is trusting in Christ. Abandoning one’s self as the driver. That is Lent. He is going to take down the serpent and death. He is going to do battle with the Cross. He is going to tackle Hell, Satan, and Sin. He is going to lay victory.
Lent is a time of joy. Like children we are behind Him Who is going to counter the bully Goliath of Satan, Sin, and Hell. He is our Lord and Victory. He is going to take on that giant of evil Himself.
Lent is a time for Joy!
A
Annie
Guest
Each year, Lent comes, and then it goes. While it is gone, I relax a little more each week or month, until the approach of the next Lent, at which point I see how spiritually out of shape I have become 
Fasting is very different from praying or from almsgiving. It does different things to me, probably because I have a tendency to really spoil myself. Fasting causes me to say no to myself and has nothing really enjoyable about it. If there is a period of time I am supposed to not-eat, I suddenly become horribly hungry. If I am supposed to avoid a certain thing, I suddenly have an incredible craving for that thing. I have to say no to myself, and I see how my self is very unhappy!
But saying no to ourselves is very important in the spiritual life.
And taking our spiritual lives more seriously than we do our health or our figure or whatever we take seriously in our lives is really the main point of our being Catholic.
Fasting is very different from praying or from almsgiving. It does different things to me, probably because I have a tendency to really spoil myself. Fasting causes me to say no to myself and has nothing really enjoyable about it. If there is a period of time I am supposed to not-eat, I suddenly become horribly hungry. If I am supposed to avoid a certain thing, I suddenly have an incredible craving for that thing. I have to say no to myself, and I see how my self is very unhappy!
But saying no to ourselves is very important in the spiritual life.
And taking our spiritual lives more seriously than we do our health or our figure or whatever we take seriously in our lives is really the main point of our being Catholic.
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