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GreyWings
Guest
I’m giving up soda (which I love, like, seriously) and probably alcohol, although I don’t really drink. I’ll also fast, especially on Good Friday.
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Tommy999
Guest
I plan to give up ice cream for Lent. I love all flavors, shapes, and sizes and have never given it up before. I can tell it will be hard, as my my car tends to automatically steer into the local ice cream shop as I pass by as if it were a loyal canine friend who knows my routine.
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HarveyL
Guest
I’m sorry for not getting back to you earlier. I LOVE your idea!! I think I’ll say the Nicene Creed when I’m about to go to sleep since it may linger more in my subconscious if I do that. I also feel that the short one is very useful and, as such, can be said or thought throughout the day.
I intend to only think and feel positively about this with the hope that it sinks in, finally, and helps me gain a newer way of looking at things in general. And, though I don’t think that most of you would agree to this other thing I’m doing, these prayers will be combined with visits to a certified hypnotist (had my first appointment last week) who will be working with me to build a more spiritual, God centered point of view.
I’m also going to Mass at least once a week, with my Catholic girlfriend, as I am also learning about this beautiful ceremony more each day (studying its meaning in several written works).
Thanks, and am looking forward to any other good ideas here.
I intend to only think and feel positively about this with the hope that it sinks in, finally, and helps me gain a newer way of looking at things in general. And, though I don’t think that most of you would agree to this other thing I’m doing, these prayers will be combined with visits to a certified hypnotist (had my first appointment last week) who will be working with me to build a more spiritual, God centered point of view.
I’m also going to Mass at least once a week, with my Catholic girlfriend, as I am also learning about this beautiful ceremony more each day (studying its meaning in several written works).
Thanks, and am looking forward to any other good ideas here.
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cheezey
Guest
Good point,. That being said, if giving up food doesn’t help the hungry, do you suppose just flat out giving bunches to the hungry is a good lenten offering? Isn’t an action of this sort also appropriate. Need it always be a ‘giving up’? Couldn’t it be an ‘adding on’ of social help?
Why? Games are fun. I’d think it would be the other way around. Defending the faith and giving up the fun part. I don’t want anyone to think I am being selfish; losing too many CAFers at this point would be, for me, very bad. Especially since my illustrious return.CAF… too much of a time waster in recent months.
I will play one or two of the game threads one or twice a day (as I started one of them, LOL) but you won’t hear me spouting off anymore.
At least until Easter Monday.
I am in a very serious pickle right now. Very. and you guys help more than you know. It doesn’t need to be too much fun.
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Millie123
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I’m not giving anything up for lent, I’ve been very very lazy lately about making time for adoration. So this lent I’m making time to go to adoration through out lent. I also have spiritual book that I’ve been waiting to read for some time now. I’m going to take time to read that.
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pianistclare
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Very few people listen, read helpful links, etc. Most just want someone to agree with them its a time waster. You have my email. It doesn’t help ourselves spiritually to constantly be rehashing the same things. I have over 300 young people I’m responsible for…I’ve got plenty of people to teach. The one or 2 benign game threads are for a breath of fresh air. We’re not to wear hair shirts and eschew pleasantries.Good point,. That being said, if giving up food doesn’t help the hungry, do you suppose just flat out giving bunches to the hungry is a good lenten offering? Isn’t an action of this sort also appropriate. Need it always be a ‘giving up’? Couldn’t it be an ‘adding on’ of social help?
Why? Games are fun. I’d think it would be the other way around. Defending the faith and giving up the fun part. I don’t want anyone to think I am being selfish; losing too many CAFers at this point would be, for me, very bad. Especially since my illustrious return.
I am in a very serious pickle right now. Very. and you guys help more than you know. It doesn’t need to be too much fun.
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Marie5890
Guest
This is great insight. If it’s not benefitted someone else. I was going to give up Facebook, but I have a friend who is going thru stage iv breast cancer, and it was like " don’t give that up. she needs the support and encouragement".
So what I am fasting from is ‘less idle’ time, and up ticking some apologetic reading to be better prepared to intelligently answers questions
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AnnieHall
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I think I’m going to give up Netflix & donate that money somewhere. I will probably also add in something about exercising regularly and eating healthily. I know people talk about adding on instead of just taking things away, which of course makes sense, but I am not really sure how to spin daily exercises into both a sacrifice and helping others.
In the past I’ve done no meat, or deciding to exercise 3x a week. I considered giving up makeup, I think that’d be a good one for me personally, but I have a special event for a friend and we’ve already booked a professional makeup artist for it! Maybe next year for that one.
I do like threads like this, helps to give me more ideas instead of doing the same thing year after year!
In the past I’ve done no meat, or deciding to exercise 3x a week. I considered giving up makeup, I think that’d be a good one for me personally, but I have a special event for a friend and we’ve already booked a professional makeup artist for it! Maybe next year for that one.
I do like threads like this, helps to give me more ideas instead of doing the same thing year after year!
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closet_leo
Guest
LOL - I think it’s a great question Mary. We all need a few ideas now and again. Our family meets and decides on the sacrifice or addition we will practice during Lent. In past years we have given up TV or computer. We eat much simpler and no junk during Lent as a stable sacrifice year after year. This year the crew decided all dinners will be at the table regardless of sports/group schedules and we will pray the rosary as a family after. May your Lenten season be blessed!
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CJsmommy
Guest
I’m giving up spicy food.
A friend of mine said that if he saw me curled up in a corner suffering from withdrawal he’d know why. I think I made a good choice.
A friend of mine said that if he saw me curled up in a corner suffering from withdrawal he’d know why. I think I made a good choice.
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Mary_Estelle
Guest
If you are making sacrifices, doing penance or acquiring new or better habits or lifestyles as a family or a group, this is laudable. I admire you for it. However, the world at large really does not need to know what I am doing for Lent…or even not doing. I still find it kind of kididsh that a broad spectrum of Catholics are comparing notes. I am sure that I will get flack on my outlook on the aspects of this, but isn’t “the right hand not to know what the left hand is doing”? Peace.
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cheezey
Guest
good point. thanks
A friend of mine uses facebook. She happened to catch a post about a 2nd cousin, one she hasn’t seen in years; never had too much of a relationship. Her cousin’s 11 year young daughter, it was discovered, has a severe kidney ailment, necessitating a transplant.
My friend contacted the cousin for information. Then a visit. Then some testing, only to discover that my friend was a perfect match. One little girl is doing fabulously well thanks to facebook and a woman I am proud to call “friend.”
My friend is one generous soul!!
Agreed…
I don’t think so unless someone 'boasts" about their offering.
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Graceful_Lamb
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Found this article on Facebook as to what Pooe Francis would like to see others give up for Lent. It is a good read. time.com/3714056/pope-francis-lent-2015-fasting/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook
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ScarletKnight06
Guest
Going to try to give up soda. It plays a huge part in my everyday diet and figured this would be a perfect way to cut it out. I truly hope I can do it, and good luck to others
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Graceful_Lamb
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I am giving up cheese.
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peter26
Guest
My goals for Lent are a Daily Rosary, renewed efforts to avoid certain sins I’ve fallen into, making more time for spiritual reading and devotions in general. For fasting, I’m going to not eat chocolate or sweets on Fridays.
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Shawnq
Guest
I knew someone who gave up there matress, there poor back.
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Potter
Guest
I’m abstaining from entertainment-related purchases (books, DVDs, show/concern tickets, etc), and from playing a particular PC game in which I lose track of time.
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slewi
Guest
Since you’ve asked, I’m giving up porn, which is a daily struggle. As I look through this thread and see folks giving up soda and sweets, I pray for some of their strength. Pray for me.
As far as fasting goes, I look to our Pope Emeritus for guidance:
“He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2)
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving, fasting – to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God’s power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, “dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride” (Paschal Præconium). For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to focus my reflections especially on the value and meaning of fasting. Indeed, Lent recalls the forty days of our Lord’s fasting in the desert, which He undertook before entering into His public ministry. We read in the Gospel: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2). Like Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law (cf. Ex 34,28) and Elijah’s fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (cf. 1 Kings 19,8), Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself for the mission that lay before Him, marked at the start by a serious battle with the tempter.
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As far as fasting goes, I look to our Pope Emeritus for guidance:
“He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2)
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving, fasting – to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God’s power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, “dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride” (Paschal Præconium). For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to focus my reflections especially on the value and meaning of fasting. Indeed, Lent recalls the forty days of our Lord’s fasting in the desert, which He undertook before entering into His public ministry. We read in the Gospel: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2). Like Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law (cf. Ex 34,28) and Elijah’s fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (cf. 1 Kings 19,8), Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself for the mission that lay before Him, marked at the start by a serious battle with the tempter.
More
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