What is expected of Catholics during Lent?

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billcu1

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With lent coming upon us quickly I would like to know what is expected out of you. What are you supposesd to do. In the past I’ve just meditated on the stations. I’ve only been catholic for about 2-3 years now and never really got into lent.

Bill
 
eat fish on fridays. (yay mcdonalds!)

go to stations of the cross.

that is about it for me.
 
What is expected of us is to reflect on our faults and repent and try to do better. That is of course achieved by fasting and prayers. While abstaining on Fridays only is what is “required”, note that it is the minimum. Meaning we can do more and we should do more. Our spiritual lives are at stake here. Why not fast for the whole 40 days?
 
Since returning to the Catholic church, the first year I attended the Stations of the Cross and last year, I attended the Easter Vigil (instead). I also like to give up on something that means a lot to me…last year it was chocolate! It was very hard and I think I had withdrawals, but I enjoyed it, and enjoyed my easter eggs even more on Easter Sunday.😃 I also requested that the whole family give up meat on Fridays, which we all did.

Our parish had this lovely ‘little black book’ which we were able to purchase last year, it was a great little tool to assist me through my first ‘real’ lent. Afterwards there was a ‘little white book’ which had beautiful reflections etc too. Hopefully your parish will offer something similar to assist you.

God Bless.🙂
 
There are usually some good programs during Lent that one can get involved in. Years ago there was Why Catholic, and more recently Awakening Faith. This year our parish is offering one called “Living the Eucharist”. See if there is one being done in your area if you are interested, it’s a way to dedicate yourself more fully to God during lent and grow closer to faith.

Our family also gives up something extra during Lent, a reminder of self sacrifice. My mother in law for instance gives up chocolate, one of her favorite things. Last year I gave up all sweets/junk food(including things like Soda etc, eating only whole foods and unrefined ones), my wife gives up meat every year for the full time. It’s about reminding ourselves that God is first and foremost and that things in life are not as important as he is. Just as Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, so too should we fast for 40 days to help us grow steadfast in our ministries.
 
Lent is typically a time to go to confession for those who don’t go perhaps as often as they should.

-Tim-
 
As a kid, my Mom always made us give up sweets (candy, pop, etc.) for Lent, as a kid that was pure torture :D.

As an adult, I don’t know for sure what i’ll do. As a born again Catholic, the no meat on Friday is going to be hard for me. I try to do it now, but I would often grab a sausage breakfast sandwhich in on a Friday morning and not even think twice about it. Not to mention, I HATE the store bought frozen fish sticks. Only seafood I really like is catfish and walleye.
 
No meat on Fridays and no soda (new for me this year!) It’s going to be a tough lent!😃
 
Lent is one of my favorite times of the year. We Abstain and Fast on all days except Sundays. Fridays we do Stations of the Cross with a soup supper prior to them.

Last year we were able to attend the Triduum with the Seattle FSSP. By the time the Easter Vigil was over I was an emotional “wreck”. But it was magnificent.

Finances are tighter this year so we need to pick only one trip to Seattle. Can’t afford to stay like last year.

We usually double our prayer routine during Lent.
 
You just need to offer up something in abstinence, the 40 days is in relation to Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Masses tend to be run more frequently also, particularly every morning (atleast here) so it’s good to try to go to mass every day if you can. You can offer up something extra each friday, but you must fast on Good Friday.

(Fast as in, one full meal (but smaller than a regular meal) and two collations (a smaller repast, two of which together do not equal one full meal - and no meat.)

Btw, lapsing on a Sunday is for sissies 😉

Also, apparantly the old Friday fast is the main reason why McDonalds brought out the “fillet o’ fish” sandwich.
 
Darran said:
Btw, lapsing on a Sunday is for sissies ;).
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I’m assuming that you are joking here, but for those who don’t know, this is incorrect. I have done the 40 day fast for the past 2 years and plan to do it again this year. But if you fast on Sundays, you are fasting more than 40 days. All Sundays are like a little Easter, just as all Fridays are like a little Lent. Sunday is never a day to fast. There was a time in the church, before Vatican II, when the 40-day fast was required. It never included Sunday.
 
A_Catholic said:
I’m assuming that you are joking here, but for those who don’t know, this is incorrect. I have done the 40 day fast for the past 2 years and plan to do it again this year. But if you fast on Sundays, you are fasting more than 40 days. All Sundays are like a little Easter, just as all Fridays are like a little Lent. Sunday is never a day to fast. There was a time in the church, before Vatican II, when the 40-day fast was required. It never included Sunday.
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You mean proper fasting, I meant the “I can eat chocolate, it’s Sunday” thing 👍

But I didn’t know that, thanks!
 
A_Catholic said:
I’m assuming that you are joking here, but for those who don’t know, this is incorrect. I have done the 40 day fast for the past 2 years and plan to do it again this year. But if you fast on Sundays, you are fasting more than 40 days. All Sundays are like a little Easter, just as all Fridays are like a little Lent. Sunday is never a day to fast. There was a time in the church, before Vatican II, when the 40-day fast was required. It never included Sunday.
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Great answer 👍
 
billcu1 said:
With lent coming upon us quickly I would like to know what is expected out of you. What are you supposesd to do. In the past I’ve just meditated on the stations. I’ve only been catholic for about 2-3 years now and never really got into lent.

Bill
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During a Lenten homily last year our priest said something that resonated with me. He said that Lent shouldn’t be about giving things up (chocolate, television, CAF ;)); rather, he said that it should be about doing more, serving more, finding ways to contribute more.

So, my 2012 Lenten challenge for myself is going to be just that - figuring out how I can go above and beyond and do more for somebody else.

Luna
 
billcu1 said:
With lent coming upon us quickly I would like to know what is expected out of you. What are you supposesd to do. In the past I’ve just meditated on the stations. I’ve only been catholic for about 2-3 years now and never really got into lent.

Bill
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My suggestion would be to take the time to get closer to God by focusing on his life and passion. Follow the rules of lent that the Church has put before us (fasting on Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday, and abstaining from meat on all Fridays and Ash Wednesday). Take up some “light” spiritual reading (like say read a bit on a different Saint each day) and truly take time to reflect and put yourself on a personal retreat for the time. You will be a better person because of it.
My prayers are with you as you begin (continue) the deepening of your understanding of our Faith!
 
Luna_Lovecraft said:
During a Lenten homily last year our priest said something that resonated with me. He said that Lent shouldn’t be about giving things up (chocolate, television, CAF ;)); rather, he said that it should be about doing more, serving more, finding ways to contribute more.

So, my 2012 Lenten challenge for myself is going to be just that - figuring out how I can go above and beyond and do more for somebody else.

Luna
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I’ve heard this suggestion before, and I can understand where it is coming from. But I would respectfully disagree with the priest who gave this homily. I think this would only obscure the reason for Lent. Lent is about abstinence and self denial. It is about going into the desert and getting rid of anything that comes between you and God. We are mirroring the time when Christ went into the desert for 40 days. Christ gave up all physical comforts when he went into the desert - his home, family, friends, even food and water. We don’t have to go that far, although I’ve heard of people who sleep on the floor during Lent as a mortification. Turning off the TV and other worldly pursuits is certainly an important part of going to the desert, although of course all of this is completely voluntary. The Church leaves it up to each of us to make our own personal decision regarding Lenten mortification.

By “doing more”, we are not working on cleaning the debris and garbage out of our lives. But once we have gone into the desert and trimmed down spiritually, then it is time to do more, serve more, etc. just as Christ did when he came out of the desert.
 
TimothyH said:
Lent is typically a time to go to confession for those who don’t go perhaps as often as they should.

-Tim-
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I myself especially lately have been going to pennance more lately. I feel a strong communication of sorts after confession. Sometimes not immediately but later. I am trying how to figure out how to communicate with the holy spirit which I know is what it is. Without the sin block.

B
 
I am always looking forward to Lent! For me it is very much a period to draw closer to God, and I am always acutely aware of the approaching glorious Easter that lies at the end of it. Last year I was pregnant so fasting was a bit iffy, and this year I will be nursing, so fasting is again a bit iffy.
I will be giving up complaining. I know that sounds kind of silly, but I catch myself so often complaining about things like the weather, the fact that the guy in the car in front of me doesn’t seem to understand what a turn signal is for, the high prices of necessities like milk and bread (and for me, coffee 😉 ) and whatnot. It’s become an ugly habit, and one I would like to get rid of. Hopefully after 40 days of going without, that will be my new normal. Hey… one can hope, right?!
As to giving up something that I really like a lot, I will be giving up chocolate as well. That’s going to be almost as tough as giving up complaining. 😃
 
Luna_Lovecraft said:
During a Lenten homily last year our priest said something that resonated with me. He said that Lent shouldn’t be about giving things up (chocolate, television, CAF ;)); rather, he said that it should be about doing more, serving more, finding ways to contribute more.
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That’s very nice guidance! In Eastern Christian tradition (Catholic and Orthodox), we would say it is not solely about “giving things up”, although fasting and self-denial are integral to Lenten observance. We would also emphasize prayer and acts of charity, which together with fasting are the three Lenten disciplines.
 
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