what are you giving up for Lent?

[MTD]

Above all joys and pleasures, I love you O Lord
Above the pleasure of X, I love you O Lord

Very similar to a prayer I often say: Jesus, You are my only love.

The initial post was in response to the idea that what some people give up for Lent may seem stupid or trivial to others. But as long as it is a meaningful sacrifice to you, it should not matter. In such a case, only God will know its value, and you will benefit too.

You bring up a very good point. It is not the size of the sacrifice but the greatness of the love you put into it that counts. I am reminded of some sayings of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Therese of Lisiuex:

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do.” --Mother Teresa

“We can do no great things; only small things with great love.” --Mother Teresa

“Without love all works are nothing, even the most dazzling.” --St. Therese

Of course, that isn’t to say we don’t need to sacrifice difficult things. Mother Teresa also said, “Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”

Maria

 

[Fergal]

Sweets, chips, biscuits and sugar in my tea. I try not to snack between meals.

I am also trying to imporve my prayer life giving myself some devotional goal posts throughout the day from morning to night.

That is harder than the sweets, chips and biscuits and the lack of sugar.

 

[Zirconia]

You bring up a very good point. It is not the size of the sacrifice but the greatness of the love you put into it that counts. I am reminded of some sayings of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Therese of Lisiuex:

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do.” --Mother Teresa

“We can do no great things; only small things with great love.” --Mother Teresa

“Without love all works are nothing, even the most dazzling.” --St. Therese

Of course, that isn’t to say we don’t need to sacrifice difficult things. Mother Teresa also said, “Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”

Maria

Great quotes! They remind me of 1 Corinthians 13 :yup:

Another thing I find comforting now that I am thinking of it is the two stories of sacrifice recorded for us in the New Testament. One of them was the perfume (ointment?) worth two year’s wages. And the other one was the widow’s mite. Both appear to have been offered in love and devotion, and probably represented an outlay of similar significance to the women making them. And despite their vast difference in worldly value, both were honored by God.

And so it would seem that love perfects offerings both great and small.

Zirconia

 

[distracted]

Hello everyone, I was just curious as to what everyone has decided to give up this year. I am actually struggling with coming up with something for some reason.

One of things I’m doing is devoting a more indepth study on the Saints durning lent. There life and struggles. I feel I am weak in this area and want to improve. Does anyone have a good book they can recommend that’s fairly easy to read?

Is anyone else doing anything special as far as devotions or anything?

I always give up more than one thing (maybe i am overly- scrupulous?). this year, i gave up negativity (yeah, right) and not getting up very well in the monring (i used to lay in bed 4 a long time b4 getting up, thought i was being lazy… even though i pray a lot when i wake up in the morning, so again, maybe i am being scrupulous???). I also gave up having long conversations wtih men i had no intention of ever marrying… This last one has been a problem with me for years… Men get wrong ideas about such things… Anyway, God bless…

 

[maryelizabeth1]

I haven’t completely given anything up for Lent. One of the priests at my church said during his homily that although giving up pop or smoking is a great thing it’s not the most important thing for Lent.
I have given up eating meat not only on Friday’s but also on Wednesdays. I also have bought a daily prayer book which is nice to read, and am going to daily mass at least twice a week.
I hope that this season of Lent will be able to bring me closer to God, Jesus his son, and Mary the Blessed Mother.

May God bless you in the season of Lent!!

Maryelizabeth

 

[anamchara]

Sweets, chips, biscuits and sugar in my tea. I try not to snack between meals.

I am also trying to imporve my prayer life giving myself some devotional goal posts throughout the day from morning to night.

That is harder than the sweets, chips and biscuits and the lack of sugar.

Now are “biscuits” what I think they are over here anyway? I know they are cookies in other parts of the world. just curious.

 

[anamchara]

I haven’t completely given anything up for Lent. One of the priests at my church said during his homily that although giving up pop or smoking is a great thing it’s not the most important thing for Lent.
I have given up eating meat not only on Friday’s but also on Wednesdays. I also have bought a daily prayer book which is nice to read, and am going to daily mass at least twice a week.
I hope that this season of Lent will be able to bring me closer to God, Jesus his son, and Mary the Blessed Mother.

May God bless you in the season of Lent!!

Maryelizabeth

I’m with you Mary, I gave up a few things but my main focus is really working on my prayer life and my Catholic faith in general. I had become very lazy.