Lent is a mere 6 days away! I wanted to ask everyone who reads this blog what they plan on doing for Lent. I haven't decided yet, and I wanted to see what you all are doing.
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Well, my dear, if you must know: Mostly I'll be praying for you with all the stuff you have going on. I'm not going to "give up" anything, but perhaps I'll add something. I need to decide soon, don't I?
I'm scouting for good ideas, too. I like to do a 'give up' and a 'do'. Still thinking about it.
I saw your blog name on another blog so I had to come see yours because I often call on St.Dymphna when I'm having troubles. I'm wearing her medal right now.
I got it. I know what I'm doing. Check this out: "But in addition to giving up something, Lent is also a time of taking on a spiritual discipline. The fourth century Rule of Saint Benedict counsels, “During this time of Lent each one is to receive a book from the library, and is to read the whole of it straight through” (chapter 48). Many take on spiritual reading." This is from the web site: http://www.pcusa.org/ideas/05spring/fastingasprayer.htm I have so many "spiritual" books that I keep meaning to get to and things just keep getting in the way. So, I will set up a schedule,perhaps 15 minutes before bed OR one hour on Fridays, to catch up on my reading.
Your post reminds via the "virtual" path that next Wednesday is close. Last year, I drank only water (or tea) during all Lent. That was hard. A little beer is so common in Belgium... Not a clue for this year. I have to pray on it.
I'm still working on refing my regimen for this Lent. Typically, I give up meat for the duration, from midnight Ash Wednesday until midnight Easter Sunday. I also give up alcohol and tobacco (both the pipe and the cigars). I sometimes give up all caffeinated beverages. No coffee, tea, cocoa, or cola. I often give up all cake-like products (cake, cupcakes, pastries, scones, muffins). On Wednesdays and Fridays, I give up chocolate and ice cream (especially chocolate ice cream).
But more important than what you give up is what you do. I try to do a holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament every day. But during Lent, I have a special regimen of prayers that puts more emphasis on penitence, and more devotions related to the Passion. I try for weekly confession, and Stations on Friday (at St. Clement's Eucharistic Shrine). Then there is lectio. I try to read several books every lent, including Father Rengers' The Seven Last Words of Christ From the Cross, and Bl. Anna Catherine Emmerich's Dolorous Passion.
Another form of lectio for modern society is viewing. I try to watch all The Passion of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Ben Hur, the Ten Commandments, as a minimum every year.
Then there are the other seasonal reminders. The crown of thorns on the coffee table. All crucifixes and religious art veiled with purple cloths.
Hi, Renaud. Just drinking water for Lent would be very hard! But, it would probably be a healthy thing to do.
Thomas, you certainly have a full Lent! I would love to get to adoration once a week during Lent if I can. And I do want to view The Passion of the Christ. I do try to make purple the focus of my decorating during Lent, but I don't know if I could bear covering up all my religious art!
I'm giving up sweets like candies, pies, and cakes. I plan on also reading several spiritual resources this Lent including "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", which is available online.
"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark
9 comments:
Well, my dear, if you must know: Mostly I'll be praying for you with all the stuff you have going on. I'm not going to "give up" anything, but perhaps I'll add something. I need to decide soon, don't I?
Adding something is always a good idea!
I'm scouting for good ideas, too. I like to do a 'give up' and a 'do'. Still thinking about it.
I saw your blog name on another blog so I had to come see yours because I often call on St.Dymphna when I'm having troubles. I'm wearing her medal right now.
I got it. I know what I'm doing. Check this out: "But in addition to giving up something, Lent is also a time of taking on a spiritual discipline. The fourth century Rule of Saint Benedict counsels, “During this time of Lent each one is to receive a book from the library, and is to read the whole of it straight through” (chapter 48). Many take on spiritual reading." This is from the web site: http://www.pcusa.org/ideas/05spring/fastingasprayer.htm
I have so many "spiritual" books that I keep meaning to get to and things just keep getting in the way. So, I will set up a schedule,perhaps 15 minutes before bed OR one hour on Fridays, to catch up on my reading.
That's a great idea!! Reading a spiritual book is a great way to keep a good Lent!
Your post reminds via the "virtual" path that next Wednesday is close.
Last year, I drank only water (or tea) during all Lent. That was hard. A little beer is so common in Belgium...
Not a clue for this year. I have to pray on it.
I'm still working on refing my regimen for this Lent. Typically, I give up meat for the duration, from midnight Ash Wednesday until midnight Easter Sunday. I also give up alcohol and tobacco (both the pipe and the cigars). I sometimes give up all caffeinated beverages. No coffee, tea, cocoa, or cola. I often give up all cake-like products (cake, cupcakes, pastries, scones, muffins). On Wednesdays and Fridays, I give up chocolate and ice cream (especially chocolate ice cream).
But more important than what you give up is what you do. I try to do a holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament every day. But during Lent, I have a special regimen of prayers that puts more emphasis on penitence, and more devotions related to the Passion. I try for weekly confession, and Stations on Friday (at St. Clement's Eucharistic Shrine). Then there is lectio. I try to read several books every lent, including Father Rengers' The Seven Last Words of Christ From the Cross, and Bl. Anna Catherine Emmerich's Dolorous Passion.
Another form of lectio for modern society is viewing. I try to watch all The Passion of the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Ben Hur, the Ten Commandments, as a minimum every year.
Then there are the other seasonal reminders. The crown of thorns on the coffee table. All crucifixes and religious art veiled with purple cloths.
And that is pretty much the basis of my Lent.
Hi, Renaud. Just drinking water for Lent would be very hard! But, it would probably be a healthy thing to do.
Thomas, you certainly have a full Lent! I would love to get to adoration once a week during Lent if I can. And I do want to view The Passion of the Christ. I do try to make purple the focus of my decorating during Lent, but I don't know if I could bear covering up all my religious art!
I'm giving up sweets like candies, pies, and cakes. I plan on also reading several spiritual resources this Lent including "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", which is available online.
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