OT:Lent & Ash Wednesday Question

[bethyg]

With the season upon us, I have been researching the holiday with my oldest son. We are going to try to participate in Lent for the first time. In my review, I see it is for 40 days, counted backward from Easter, but these days do not include Sundays. My question is: Whatever you're "giving up" for Lent, do you continue to abstain/give up on these Sundays?

What are ideas of things to give up for Lent? DS was thinking sodas, maybe sweets. What are non-food/alcohol/tobacco things that can be given up for Lent?

Please forgive the OT post.

 

[Hedy]

TV is fairly popular. Video games? Swearing? Taking the Lord's name in vain?

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

With the season upon us, I have been researching the holiday with my oldest son. We are going to try to participate in Lent for the first time. In my review, I see it is for 40 days, counted backward from Easter, but these days do not include Sundays. My question is: Whatever you're "giving up" for Lent, do you continue to abstain/give up on these Sundays?

What are ideas of things to give up for Lent? DS was thinking sodas, maybe sweets. What are non-food/alcohol/tobacco things that can be given up for Lent?

Please forgive the OT post.

Here are a few things that we do every year as a family. First off we will have a huge meal tomorrow. The my DH and I fast on Ash Wednesday. My kids do not fast but they do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday. We do not eat or prepare meat on any Friday during lent. When it comes time to give up something for the entire 40 days, I find that, for kids and sometimes adults, it is easiest to give up food related items. I tell my kids the story of lent every year...why the 40 days are important and what happened during those days. Then I let them decide what they will give up. My 3 year old does not participate much, as he doesn't understand. As far as non food related items I have given up on frivilous shopping. I don't think it matters what exactly you are giving up as long as it is something that you are giving up out of good faith.

 

[vsimeone]

I have been raised Catholic. Certainly when we were kids, we believed we could eat what we gave up on Sundays (we always gave up candy or gum!) As an adult, I stick to my Lenten vow - whether it is to DO something or NOT do something - even on Sundays. In recent years, I have tried to DO something every day - like give someone a compliment or donate to a charity - instead of giving something up. Seems more proactive and although it is not a "sacrifice" as such, it makes me consciously think about Jesus' sacrifice for us each time I'm doing something for someone else.

I hope that makes sense! If you have any questions, please feel free to post or PM me!

 

[DVC'96]

In the past we were always told to give up something we enjoy, for example chocolate, candy, dessert(you see that mine have a theme ), but for the past couple of years we have been encouraged to DO something instead-read a bible passage, spend some time helping others, say the rosary daily. I don't know if this is just our church or diosces(sp?), so I am interested to hear what others say.

 

[lorilori]

We will go to church Wednesday night for Ash Wednesday and we do not eat meat on Fridays. Also, "The forty days of fasting and penitence during Lent do not include Sundays. Christians always celebrate Sunday as the day Jesus rose from the dead, so it is never a day of fasting" (quoted from our Sunday school lesson page). I will again give up chocolate.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

In the past we were always told to give up something we enjoy, for example chocolate, candy, dessert(you see that mine have a theme ), but for the past couple of years we have been encouraged to DO something instead-read a bible passage, spend some time helping others, say the rosary daily. I don't know if this is just our church or diosces(sp?), so I am interested to hear what others say.

I like this one. Having been raised Roman Catholic and attended Catholic school for 13 years I have found that some churches do change the rules a bit. Growing up our parish priest said that kids under 14 could eat meat. I still don't know if this is a rule of thumb or just a way to make sure the Friday hotdog fundraiser still went on.

 

[DawnM]

I have never heard that you could have what you gave up on Sundays. My understanding was the entire period. I also never understood the reason to give up meat on Fridays and only eat fish. Guess I will look it up again.

Dawn

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

In the Episcopal church that I grew up in, the tradition was to give up a pleasure (sweet, soda, video games, etc.) and take on a faith obligation (attend an extra service in the week, provide service to the poor, engage in additional spiritual study, etc.). All families were given tithe boxes and calendars for the Easter offering, and some families chose to follow the calendar to make additional offerings as their faith obligation.

Some families in our church gave up meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays in Lent. Others didn't. It was an individual decision.

Technically, Sundays are IN Lent, not OF Lent. Sundays are feast days. Therefore, many feel that on Sundays you can enjoy what you gave up. Whether that is correct or improper is, IMHO, between you and God.

Lent is a special season in the church and a great opportunity to remember those less fortunate.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have never heard that you could have what you gave up on Sundays. My understanding was the entire period. I also never understood the reason to give up meat on Fridays and only eat fish. Guess I will look it up again.

Dawn

I was taught that whatever you gave up, you gave up for the entire period. We were never, as kids, allowed to have them on Sunday. Since my and my DSis and DBro usually gave up candy the Easter bunny always gave us tons of it. I was raised Roman Catholic and the 'rules' may be different for the different types. Also not until Pope John Paul became Pope, could Catholics eat meat on any Friday (not just during Lent)

 

[beattyfamily]

I never heard about Sundays not being included till about 5 years ago. It may be true but our family includes Sundays and abstain on Sundays as well.

We usually give up something we love and also try to do something good as well.

In the past, I've given up Soap Operas, chocolate, coffee and last year, soda. DH usually gives up red meat, TV, sweets or coffee.

TV, video games, sweets, and maybe soda are good ones for kids.

My DD do not have to participate but they eat what we eat so no meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays. My older DD, age 10, tries every year to give something up but sometimes at school, she'll forget and buy what she's given up. At least she tries though.

 

[NancyIL]

If you're Catholic - you've got it easy! We are Eastern Orthodox, and Great Lent started last night. The fast lasts throughout Lent - not just on Fridays, and it excludes meat and dairy. (I can do without meat just fine, but not eating cheese or drinking milk is hard - so we usually have milk in the house.) The purpose of fasting is to overcome the passions - not just to deprive yourself of something you like. It is also supposed to be a time of increased prayer and almsgiving.

 

[DawnM]

Oh, well, that I do all the time anyway.....I am a Vegan! I don't ever eat any animal products.

dawn

If you're Catholic - you've got it easy! We are Eastern Orthodox, and Great Lent started last night. The fast lasts throughout Lent - not just on Fridays, and it excludes meat and dairy. (I can do without meat just fine, but not eating cheese or drinking milk is hard - so we usually have milk in the house.) The purpose of fasting is to overcome the passions - not just to deprive yourself of something you like. It is also supposed to be a time of increased prayer and almsgiving.

 

[DawnM]

For me, the most difficult thing right now would be to give up TV. I am a fairly new SAHM and the TV is on sometimes just for noise. I also watch it while walking on the treadmill.

Now, when I was working and much more busy, TV wasn't on much at all. But now.....well.....

dawn

 

[NancyIL]

Oh, well, that I do all the time anyway.....I am a Vegan! I don't ever eat any animal products.

dawn

I would find that very difficult. It's hard for me to eat that way for only 7 weeks, and we eat seafood.

I was going to try to stay off the computer today....made it until early afternoon!

 

[runwad]

In the past we were always told to give up something we enjoy, for example chocolate, candy, dessert(you see that mine have a theme ), but for the past couple of years we have been encouraged to DO something instead-read a bible passage, spend some time helping others, say the rosary daily. I don't know if this is just our church or diosces(sp?), so I am interested to hear what others say.

This is what our church has been advising the past 5 - 7 years, say a prayer everyday or the rosary or do something nice for others instead of depriving yourself of "something". My family always gave something up, usually food & sweets but we were allowed to have it on Sundays, my DH's family gives it up the whole 40 days. I say a prayer everyday anyway and with the new year have tried to say the rosary every night at bedtime, I will continue doing that and try to give up sweets and walk on my treadmill for 20 minutes everyday.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Our family never considered giving up meat on Fridays to be much of a sacrifice....fresh fish has always been considered more of a luxury in our family, especially as it is usually more expensive. So the whole concept seemed kind of archaic to us. Eating vegetarian is perhaps more true to the principal of Lent, but even then there are some pretty tasty vegetarian options out there...especially in our land of plenty...

I think if you're going to make some sort of sacrifice for Lent, it should be something of meaning to you. I think maintaining the intent is more important than an ancient custom. I think giving up free time to help others would be a good thing to do - or cleaning house and giving away older things to the less fortunate. The kids could participate by giving away toys they've outgrown to the less fortunate.

 

[mickeyfan2]

With the season upon us, I have been researching the holiday with my oldest son. We are going to try to participate in Lent for the first time. In my review, I see it is for 40 days, counted backward from Easter, but these days do not include Sundays. My question is: Whatever you're "giving up" for Lent, do you continue to abstain/give up on these Sundays?

What are ideas of things to give up for Lent? DS was thinking sodas, maybe sweets. What are non-food/alcohol/tobacco things that can be given up for Lent?

Please forgive the OT post.

I will give you the Catholic perspective. One can give up something - candy, sweets, swearing etc. or do something - volunteer each week at a homeless shelter, take meals to a person you know is shut in, shovel the neightbors driveway or mow the lawn (depending where you live) etc. Sunday is a feast day and one does not fast on a feast day. So you only do your lent "thing" on M-Sat. If St. Patrick's day falls on a Friday then you can eat meat, since it too is a feast day.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have never heard that you could have what you gave up on Sundays. My understanding was the entire period. I also never understood the reason to give up meat on Fridays and only eat fish. Guess I will look it up again.

Dawn

Count the number of days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. You will find that it is more than 40 days. Lent is only 40 days, so Sundays are not part of the 40 days. BTW I did ask this of a Priest and he told me about the feast day rule that I stated above.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I will give you the Catholic perspective. One can give up something - candy, sweets, swearing etc. or do something - volunteer each week at a homeless shelter, take meals to a person you know is shut in, shovel the neightbors driveway or mow the lawn (depending where you live) etc. Sunday is a feast day and one does not fast on a feast day. So you only do your lent "thing" on M-Sat. If St. Patrick's day falls on a Friday then you can eat meat, since it too is a feast day.

I was raised Catholic as well. Our entire Diocese (I am only talking about the one that I am familiar with not all) could not feast on Sunday. I have never even heard of that until today. What I am understanding is that there are different ways each person has learned. Our church also said if St. Patty's falls on a Friday that is ok. But I tried to follow what the Pope allows.