OT:Lent & Ash Wednesday Question

[NeedaVacation03]

We also try to do something positive rather than "give up" something. A positive remark where it would be so easy to be sarcastic, going out of our way to help when we might not other wise. I am a Catholic youth minister and try to get the kids to think beyond giving things up that do not really mean anything to them. Giving up a butterfingers when you only eat Reese cups is really no big effort. Most of the youth I deal with are committed to their faith, its the ones who never go to church that I would love to touch. That is part of my lenten commitment.

It is wonderful to see so many faiths working towards the same goal. We all are part of the same long journey. I have had a difficult time with the Lenten season since my daughter passed away during this time 10 years ago. I pray daily for guidance because I just dread the season. One day at a time and wait for Easter Sunday.

 

[beattyfamily]

More questions about fasting: Do you completely fast (nothing to eat including solid foods and liquids....much like instructions before surgery) or are liquids allowed (water, tea and coffee, vegetable broth or tomato soup since they are not made of meat). This question might seem very specific and literal, but to someone unfamiliar with fasting, it helps understand the process better.

Is fasting just on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and no meat on Fridays during Lent?

Also, Why no meat on Fridays? I know this used to be fairly common for every Friday through the year many years ago with all Catholic churches, and as I understand has been relaxed a few years back. Just curious the history behind no meat on Fridays.

I'll give it a try.

Catholics are to eat 2 small meals with no snacks, no meat and can have water...on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Then we are to have no meat on Fridays during Lent.

The no meat used to be all Fridays throughout the year, but is now just Fridays throughout Lent. One belief of why meat was chosen is because most people felt that giving up meat (beef and chicken) is an inconvenience. Another belief is that in many poorer countries, beef is a specialty. For us to give it up, helps us to remember about people who are less fortunate than we are.

 

[TENIA66]

well this year i'm giving up cursing..............unfortunately i can't make it through the day without it.....................

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I have never heard that you could have what you gave up on Sundays. My understanding was the entire period.

Me either- and I am a Roman Catholic Catechist in 2 churches. Of course my parents growing up couldn't eat meat on Fridays whether it was Lent or not. So they definately change the rules from time to time.

 

[klineyqueen]

I am giving up all candy and anything that tastes like coffee. I don't like coffee but I love cappachino (sp.) I know that you do not need to fast or observe Lent on a Sunday, but I do anyway.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I am Baptist - just got home from our pancake supper at church =)

I am still undecided on what I will be giving up. I have so many bad habits that I need to live without that would also be a big sacrifice to make. I also try to be a little more mindful of my fellow man during Lent - you know, going that extra step to make someone else's day better when I might normally not. I should *always* take those extra steps so I hope that my mindset will stick around long after Lent ends.

I do not give myself Sunday as a break from my sacrifice, no. Mostly because I know myself - if I have even a taste of the forbidden fruit, I will struggle with getting back on track! Might as well give it a full go and abstain the entire Lent season. I also think of Sundays as part of the Lent season, too. Though you can likely make a case either way.

Our church provides Lent materials to our congregants for anyone that wants them - I provide a family devotional calendar with family activities to do each day of Lent and also a children's countdown calendar. Youth and adults are both offered devotional books to use alongside their usual devotional (or in place of).

I do not abstain from meat at anypoint, though I have considered doing it. I don't think many at my church do that but that doesn't mean anything really. Everyone is free to choose how they want to prepare for Lent on their own (in my denomination).

Great to see so many experiencing the same journey as me for the next 40+ days! It's the most important season in our church tradition, IMO, and my favorite to experience (though obviously the most emotional).

OP: other thoughts for children that want to give up something -
video games
candy
dessert after dinner
going to the movies
videos in the car (read a book instead)
fast food
favorite snack
favorite toy
shopping
a favorite TV program
talking on the phone
gum

Good deeds they could do instead:
volunteer at an animal shelter one Saturday afternoon
serve a homeless meal at a local shelter
help sort clothing or toys at a food bank type place
write cards to several elderly in your life
make a fruit basket and deliver it to a homebound
bake and bring cookies to the nurses at a local nursing home
go through their toys and donate any they no longer play with
help clean up the playground at the local park
invite a child from school that doesn't have any friends
take over the chores of a younger sibling

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Here is a very good site with some good ideas.
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=23114

I too was raised Roman Catholic and we always gave up something for the entire period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, until one day a good friend of my father's commented how I would not have cake on one Sunday during Lent. He told me to count the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday and sure enough there were more than 40. He than explained that Sunday is such a holy day in our religion, that no sacrifice should be done on this day. It mad a lot of sense, but most times I will still abstain.
BTW, I give up ALL sweets, candy, cakes, and all in-between eating.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I am Lutheran, we have an extra service on Wednesday evenings during Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday. These services are to focus on Jesus' journey leading up to Easter, and are a time of preparation. There is not a tradition of "giving up" something, but we are encouraged to do faith based learning/giving/etc.

I do try to do something to better myself, usually health related. Kind of like a new year's resolution. This year it is to be better about tracking blood sugars. I hate testing and am not good about remembering to do so.

I had a roommate in college who was Catholic, and remember going out for pizza one Friday night during lent. Shrimp pizza anyone? still sounds odd. It was good, but not something I will ever order on my own.

 

[LetsgoDisney!]

When I was growing up, I never heard of being able to do or eat what you gave up for Lent and I think it made our Easter all the more special. I found out in the last few years that that is acceptable due to Sunday being a feast day- this subject sparked such a major controversy in our office with some even accusing the ones who ate etc on Sunday cheaters! . As others have mentioned, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation and that sparked another debate in our office- My coworker and I just came back from getting our Ashes in the Chapel here at work- she was saying how guilty she felt about missing church since her Monsignor told everyone to be a Mass today because it was a Holy Day of Obligation- I showed her on-line where it's not... She laughed and said she was gonna send it to him.
This season I'm giving up all sweets- and I love them...
Blessings for whatever you decide to do-
Donna

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Fasting depends on the individual, I think. I decided, for myself, that the Muslim and Bahai traditions of no food from sun up to sun down during fasting periods made sense. Therefore, breakfast before sunrise, family dinner after sunset. I drink water during the day.