What are you giving up or doing for Lent?

[CatholicSam]

We’re just a few weeks away from Ash Wednesday and DH and I have started to discuss ideas for Lent this year. We have a Lenten wreath (similar to the idea of an Advent wreath) that I am looking forward to using for the first time this year. I often seem to lose track of where in Lent we are, since it’s on different dates each year. Hopefully this helps!

I’m also planning a no-computer Lent. My computer will spend 6 days a week off and locked up in our computer armoire. We will briefly check e-mails once a week (perhaps Sunday) and set up an auto-response to inform anyone who may be trying to contact us that way to call instead. My computer broke for a few weeks last fall and I loved the simplicity of not even turning it on for that span of time. Instead I will be spending more time in prayer and reading–spiritual books as well as other nonfiction (family, homeschooling, marriage-building, etc.). It’s going to be hard, but I just might make it! This won’t be much of a sacrifice for DH since he works on a computer all day and it’s the last thing he wants to do when he gets home. He’ll have to find something else to do.

We hope to pray the Stations of the Cross weekly and try for weekly Eucharistic Adoration, maybe an extra daily Mass here and there when possible.

What are you planning to do to “celebrate” Lent, and what sacrifices are your families planning to offer up this year? Let’s share ideas!

 

[kage_ar]

SOTC weekly is something we do each year.

This year, we are going to read through Fulton Sheen’s “Life of Christ” as a family.

 

[LovingHim]

My husband is wanting to get in on the Lenten sacrifices this year. This is his first, since he is protestant, but he feels called. So if you could all say a prayer for him, that this truly leads him closer to Jesus and His Catholic Church. Thanks!

As for me, I cannot give up food this year. So, I am considering the computer also, as CatholicSam mentioned. Instead of a day, though, I am considering limiting my time to just one hour per day. Same thing with television, maybe limiting it only to the time when my husband watches it, and not during the day. I also want to focus more on my daily duties as a wife and the task at hand, and my attitude and response to others and life in general. So, like if there are dishes in the sink, to wash them. Laundry that needs washed to wash it. Dried laundry that needs folded to fold it. Floors that are dirty to be vacuumed or washed. A soul that needs prayed for to drop everything and say a prayer for them. If my husband is needing me, then to drop everything and attend to his needs at that very moment. Taking a short walk or doing ten to twenty minutes of exercise, caring for my body when I really would rather not. Eating something healthy, verses a junk food item. Drinking my coffee black one day, or watering it down with lots of milk the next. Not getting a treat out, and making something healthy instead. Thinking positively or being nice when I would rather grump and complain. Not worrying about something, when I would really rather obsess about it. Keeping my mouth shut, when I would rather speak out. Speak out about something, when I would rather remain silent. Too read a book, when I’d rather watch t.v. Little daily mortifications as such, rather than anything as a whole is what I am trying to do for lent. I do welcome any suggestions as how to incorporate it all into a set and semi-formal plan though.

 

[StratusRose]

DH and I are giving up ice cream and going to do something once a week for less fortunate people. We haven’t decided what that will be yet, we’re still working on it. I’m open to ideas!

 

[SilenceISgolden]

We are doing stations each Friday at church. We are also going to be watching Fr. Corapi’s Catechism series thru out Lent. I plan to give up all snacking and just eat 3 meals, it’s hard for me! Shouldn’t be I know… We try to add a mass or two thru the week as they offer evening mass at 5pm.

 

[Teakafrog]

Our parish is having the Divine Mercy chaplet and adoration on Wed evenings as well as SOTC on Fridays, so we are going to try to go to both those each week. I’m not sure what else yet. I usually try to add more daily prayers and spiritual readings, as well as give up something. I’ll have to start thinking about it since it’s only a couple weeks now.

I do, however, have my Fat Tuesday menu planned. Red beans 'n rice, boiled crawdaddies, fried okra, and I’m going to attempt to make a King’s cake. We moved away from our local Cajun joint, so I’ll have to make it myself this year!

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

As for me, I cannot give up food this year. So, I am considering the computer also, as CatholicSam mentioned. Instead of a day, though, I am considering limiting my time to just one hour per day. Same thing with television, maybe limiting it only to the time when my husband watches it, and not during the day. I also want to focus more on my daily duties as a wife and the task at hand, and my attitude and response to others and life in general. So, like if there are dishes in the sink, to wash them. Laundry that needs washed to wash it. Dried laundry that needs folded to fold it. Floors that are dirty to be vacuumed or washed. A soul that needs prayed for to drop everything and say a prayer for them. If my husband is needing me, then to drop everything and attend to his needs at that very moment. Taking a short walk or doing ten to twenty minutes of exercise, caring for my body when I really would rather not. Eating something healthy, verses a junk food item. Drinking my coffee black one day, or watering it down with lots of milk the next. Not getting a treat out, and making something healthy instead. Thinking positively or being nice when I would rather grump and complain. Not worrying about something, when I would really rather obsess about it. Keeping my mouth shut, when I would rather speak out. Speak out about something, when I would rather remain silent. Too read a book, when I’d rather watch t.v. Little daily mortifications as such, rather than anything as a whole is what I am trying to do for lent. I do welcome any suggestions as how to incorporate it all into a set and semi-formal plan though.

**I think you need to focus on just ONE (or maybe two) of those to be your absolute non-negotiable sacrifice. After all, you don’t want to set yourself up for failure. But I am thinking of myself and my own personality when I read your list… you may be able to pull it off, but I couldn’t. Certainly attempt all of the others but don’t beat yourself up if you fail.

Malia**

 

[LovingHim]

**I think you need to focus on just ONE (or maybe two) of those to be your absolute non-negotiable sacrifice. After all, you don’t want to set yourself up for failure. But I am thinking of myself and my own personality when I read your list… you may be able to pull it off, but I couldn’t. Certainly attempt all of the others but don’t beat yourself up if you fail.

Malia**

Oh goodness no! There is no way I could do that. I was just giving examples of little mortifications I wished to practice. Each day comes with it’s own set. I’m not trying to give up any one of these it’s entirely (boy do I wish I could), but trying extra hard during this special season to make the effort too. The only thing I could give up all day every day is the t.v. during the day, or limiting the internet to a set number of hours/minutes a day. Everything else is just like daily life, just making a heightened effort of it.

 

[puzzleannie]

we did a parish survey looks like, along with Disciples in Mission which is the main thrust of Lent in this diocese, tranditional stations on Friday, Holy Hour on Thursday evening, rosary nightly (part of 40 days for Life), diocesand youth and young adult rally, Pro-life rosary and Eucharistic procession (both events at the basilica, supported and promoted heavily by this parish), and other 40 days for Life events which include a Souper Supper each Sunday which includes both food and clothing collection for St. Vincent, hot meal for the needy, but also a pro-life video each night after the meal.

between parish life as above and pref for sacraments & RCIA I know where I will be 90% of the time.

 

[CatholicSam]

These are all great ideas, everyone! Keep 'em coming!

My husband is wanting to get in on the Lenten sacrifices this year. This is his first, since he is protestant, but he feels called. So if you could all say a prayer for him, that this truly leads him closer to Jesus and His Catholic Church. Thanks!

As for me, I cannot give up food this year. So, I am considering the computer also, as CatholicSam mentioned. Instead of a day, though, I am considering limiting my time to just one hour per day. Same thing with television, maybe limiting it only to the time when my husband watches it, and not during the day. I also want to focus more on my daily duties as a wife and the task at hand, and my attitude and response to others and life in general. So, like if there are dishes in the sink, to wash them. Laundry that needs washed to wash it. Dried laundry that needs folded to fold it. Floors that are dirty to be vacuumed or washed. A soul that needs prayed for to drop everything and say a prayer for them. If my husband is needing me, then to drop everything and attend to his needs at that very moment. Taking a short walk or doing ten to twenty minutes of exercise, caring for my body when I really would rather not. Eating something healthy, verses a junk food item. Drinking my coffee black one day, or watering it down with lots of milk the next. Not getting a treat out, and making something healthy instead. Thinking positively or being nice when I would rather grump and complain. Not worrying about something, when I would really rather obsess about it. Keeping my mouth shut, when I would rather speak out. Speak out about something, when I would rather remain silent. Too read a book, when I’d rather watch t.v. Little daily mortifications as such, rather than anything as a whole is what I am trying to do for lent. I do welcome any suggestions as how to incorporate it all into a set and semi-formal plan though.

Prayers for your hubby, LovingHim! It sounds like he truly is trying to do the right thing and what God would want of him. This will lead to the Catholic Church in time

To me, what you’ve described is the true essence of what Lent should be. In all of your daily activities to be constantly aware of the fact that you’re doing it all for God, even in the little stuff. My suggestion to help you keep up with it would be to perhaps offer each day in the morning with a Morning Offering (if you don’t already) and offer it for a specific person in your family or for a specific intention each day. Then when something goes wrong or you make a sacrifice you can say, “Lord, this is for Uncle Bob, please heal him!” or “In thanksgiving for my husband and our marriage, Lord!” or whatever. Another thing would be to get in the habit of praying short little prayers throughout the day such as “Jesus I trust in You” or something like that.

Hmmm, just read Malia’s reply and I think she is onto something. You should pick just a few “non-negotiable” sacrifices as she suggests and then try your hardest on the others. But if you’re tired, let’s say, and you just don’t have the beans to go for a 20 minute exercise walk, then you won’t feel like you’ve failed if you spend that time eating a nutritious snack while doing some spiritual reading instead. I think it’s important to set yourself up for success!

How about sitting down and thinking of the unhealthy stuff you eat and writing down, “Instead of reaching for a candy bar, I will eat a piece of fruit during Lent.”

Our parish is having the Divine Mercy chaplet and adoration on Wed evenings as well as SOTC on Fridays, so we are going to try to go to both those each week. I’m not sure what else yet. I usually try to add more daily prayers and spiritual readings, as well as give up something. I’ll have to start thinking about it since it’s only a couple weeks now.

I do, however, have my Fat Tuesday menu planned. Red beans 'n rice, boiled crawdaddies, fried okra, and I’m going to attempt to make a King’s cake. We moved away from our local Cajun joint, so I’ll have to make it myself this year!

I just have to ask, what is a King’s cake? I’m not at all familiar with Cajun things but you’ve got my curiosity going!

 

[LovingHim]

These are all great ideas, everyone! Keep 'em coming!

Prayers for your hubby, LovingHim! It sounds like he truly is trying to do the right thing and what God would want of him. This will lead to the Catholic Church in time

To me, what you’ve described is the true essence of what Lent should be. In all of your daily activities to be constantly aware of the fact that you’re doing it all for God, even in the little stuff. My suggestion to help you keep up with it would be to perhaps offer each day in the morning with a Morning Offering (if you don’t already) and offer it for a specific person in your family or for a specific intention each day. Then when something goes wrong or you make a sacrifice you can say, “Lord, this is for Uncle Bob, please heal him!” or “In thanksgiving for my husband and our marriage, Lord!” or whatever. Another thing would be to get in the habit of praying short little prayers throughout the day such as “Jesus I trust in You” or something like that.

Hmmm, just read Malia’s reply and I think she is onto something. You should pick just a few “non-negotiable” sacrifices as she suggests and then try your hardest on the others. But if you’re tired, let’s say, and you just don’t have the beans to go for a 20 minute exercise walk, then you won’t feel like you’ve failed if you spend that time eating a nutritious snack while doing some spiritual reading instead. I think it’s important to set yourself up for success!

How about sitting down and thinking of the unhealthy stuff you eat and writing down, “Instead of reaching for a candy bar, I will eat a piece of fruit during Lent.”

I just have to ask, what is a King’s cake? I’m not at all familiar with Cajun things but you’ve got my curiosity going!

See that’s the thing. I’m much more likely to have “success” in giving up little things each day (and not set little things) than in giving up one great big thing. Again, if I could give up all these things as a whole, I wouldn’t need to cause I’d be a canonized saint.

 

[BeeSweet]

A king cake is a circular cake that in my opinion is similar to a cinnamon roll. The filling inside is an almond paste if I’m not mistaken. King cakes have a season, from Epiphany to Shrove Tuesday. Usually a small plastic baby is hidden inside the cake, and whoever finds the baby in their piece has to bring the cake to the next party. I brought one to my CCD class (I teach kindergarteners), and I explained the tradition to the children, so now we’ve had a king cake every week since!

http://www.mardigrasday.com/nws-common/mardigras/images/kingcake05.jpg

It’s not necessarily a cajun tradition though, in Mexico, Epiphany is celebrated as we do Christmas, with a Rosca de Reyes, which is similar to the king cake but decorated with dried fruits to mimic jewels in the king’s crown.

http://www.dfinitivo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/rosca-de-reyes.jpg

Epiphany marks the Carnival season which is when the parades start in New Orleans and Brazil culminating the weekend before Ash Wednesday.

It’s a wonderful tradition. When I was explaining the carnival season to the children, it gave me an opportunity to mention Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday and where the ashes come from, all while I was cutting the king cake. It’s so nice when I can get them really interested!

I have not made up my mind what sort of penance I will perform for Lent this year. That’s why I’m here lurking. I’m already cutting down on red meat and eggs. I do need to pray more. For a while I was saying the Stations @ 3 PM, I might start doing that again. I need to find something I can be consistent doing the entire Lent season. I often start with a bang, and then fizzle out before Easter.

 

[CatholicSam]

BeeSweet! Thanks for the great response! And complete with pictures, wow!

 

[BeeSweet]

I forgot to mention the baby symbolizes the baby Jesus, whom the three kings found on Epiphany. That’s the basic symbolism behind the cake. It’s so much fun, the kids (especially the boys) are all looking for the baby Jesus as soon as they see the cake enter the room. And all you hear is, “I’m going to find the baby Jesus”, or “I see the baby Jesus!” or “Where’s the baby Jesus???” It’s such an awesome tradition, and really lengthens the Christmas season all the way thru till Lent. I love that, since the secular tradition is to forget all about Jesus till it’s time to paint Easter eggs.

 

[Teakafrog]

BeeSweet! Thanks for the great response! And complete with pictures, wow!

Yeah, she beat me to it. We’re not Cajun, but our adopted daughter is from south Mississippi, so we try to put a little creole into our lives since we got her. That, and we LOVE Cajun and creole food. Like I said, we would go to a Cajun restaurant every year for Fat Tuesday, but have to make do this year. I have quite the collection of Mardi Gras beads too. I love learning about how different cultures celebrate our beautiful faith.

 

[LovingHim]

Here’s something I’ve always wondered. What was mardi gras originally, and why is it the way it is now (pretty much pagan)? Can someone give me an unbiased explanation? Thanks! As for me, personally, I still have yet to take down my Christmas tree. It’s just too pretty.

 

[BeeSweet]

Here’s something I’ve always wondered. What was mardi gras originally, and why is it the way it is now (pretty much pagan)? Can someone give me an unbiased explanation? Thanks! As for me, personally, I still have yet to take down my Christmas tree. It’s just too pretty.

It probably is pagan, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Christianity is a religion of converts, it only makes sense that converts would bring their traditions with them. Even bobbing for apples is a pagan tradition, the Christmas tree is a pagan tradition, lots and lots of things we do are pagan traditions that we have Christened. Pagans like to say there are sinister motives in Christians doing such a thing, but it was pagan converts themselves who did it really.

You notice the mask in the pic of the king cake above? I read long ago a lot of the masquerade aspect of Mardi Gras was so you could go out and be as bad as you wanna be, but no one knows who you are, so they won’t see you as a hypocrite when you’re @ mass on Ash Wednesday!

But really, it’s our last time to indulge ourselves before our time of penance. I’ve never heard of a pagan tradition of penance though, I wonder if there is one. In the spirit of the subject of this thread, I wonder what the penance traditions of other cultures are.

 

[CatholicSam]

Here’s something I’ve always wondered. What was mardi gras originally, and why is it the way it is now (pretty much pagan)? Can someone give me an unbiased explanation? Thanks! As for me, personally, I still have yet to take down my Christmas tree. It’s just too pretty.

I’ve heard that the feasting pre-Lent was to use up all the yummy special ingredients the family was to give up for Lent. Back in the old days if you didn’t use it up before Lent, it would probably be bad by Easter, so this was in a way to prevent wasting the food without breaking one’s Lenten fasting. Don’t know how accurate that is, but it makes sense and I wouldn’t be surprised if that were in fact true.

 

[Teakafrog]

The actual origins of Fat Tuesday itself are very logical. In the old days, and even now in the Orthodox faith (so I’ve been told), the Lenten fast was MUCH stricter. They could not eat any meat, oil, or dairy for ALL of Lent. So the day before Lent began, they made pancakes to use up all the oil and dairy to get it out of the house and so it wouldn’t go bad. So pancakes are also a tradition that day. In fact, some places have pancake races.

 

[LovingHim]

The actual origins of Fat Tuesday itself are very logical. In the old days, and even now in the Orthodox faith (so I’ve been told), the Lenten fast was MUCH stricter. They could not eat any meat, oil, or dairy for ALL of Lent. So the day before Lent began, they made pancakes to use up all the oil and dairy to get it out of the house and so it wouldn’t go bad. So pancakes are also a tradition that day. In fact, some places have pancake races.

I would so not have made it back then. Thank God for the relaxing of harsher penances.