Posted on 02/16/2010 4:03:10 PM PST by NYer
It is important to give things up for Lent. Some pastors rightly warn some congregations about the wrong approach to Lent. It isnt a spiritual bodybuilding contest you arent supposed to do astounding things in Lent so you can look in the mirror and flex your spiritual muscles.
But you are supposed to regain some control over your life. As St. Paul says, for some, their god is their stomach. If you’re in that boat with me, let’s cast away that idol.
The public recently learned that Pope John Paul II went to great lengths to practice mortification in order to leave him freer to love God more. Thats what you and I should do, at our own level. If theres something in your life that you cant imagine possibly being able to give up that may be just the attachment that you need to sever.
But always do it by adding something: More prayer, more Mass, more frequent confession, etc.
And so the list!
Ideas for Adults
Fasting
Fast with one full meal, no snacks one day a week.
Skip meat an extra day (or two) a week .
Give up alcoholic beverages. (Except in social situations; then you get just one!)
Give up coffee (or reduce to one cup a day).
Give up all desserts.
Give up all unnecessary shopping.
Fast from music in the car.
Fast from talk radio.
Prayer
Begin (or begin again) the daily Rosary.
Meditate for 10 minutes a day (get a Magnificat to follow those).
Choose one extra devotion per week during Lent: Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic adoration or a weekday Mass.
Read a book on the Life of Christ. For example:
Alban Goodiers The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Fulton Sheens The Life of Christ
Frank Sheeds To Know Christ Jesus
Romano Guardinis The Lord
Read the Catechism of the Catholic Churchs 74-page section on prayer. (Section four; less than two pages a day!)
Almsgiving/Charity
Visit a nursing home with your children.
Forgive someone and patch things up in a visit, or, if necessary, by phone or letter.
Give up gossip, judging or profanity.
Find one act of forgiveness to make every day: A driver who cuts you off, a co-worker who annoys you, a shopper who cuts in line, a store clerk who is rude or a family member who ignores your needs.
Say a kind word to everyone you meet.
Pay a significant compliment (or more!) to each of your children every day.
Offer to watch the children of a new mother one day a week throughout Lent.
Visit an elderly friend or relative.
Save up a significant amount of money for a deserving charity or apostolate.
For Children and Teens
If none of the adult ideas work for you, try:
Do chores without complaining
Draw pictures of Holy Week events.
Restrict your TV, Internet or music time.
Restrict your phone time.
Send a letter or picture to a grandmother, aunt or Godparent.
Make a new friend outside your crowd.
Be a friend to a shy person.
Give up that bad place, person or thing.
Choose a favorite toy, book or piece of clothing and put it away until Easter.
I am so glad somebody is happy.
parsy, who has had to dodge too many cast iron skillets in his life
Alcohol....wish me luck, I will miss my nightly glass of vino!
These were included in the list.
Forgive someone and patch things up in a visit, or, if necessary, by phone or letter.
Give up gossip, judging or profanity.
Find one act of forgiveness to make every day: A driver who cuts you off, a co-worker who annoys you, a shopper who cuts in line, a store clerk who is rude or a family member who ignores your needs.
Amen sister LOL. And I thought alcohol would be difficult!
Supporting RINOS
I give up Lent for Lent. Every year.
I am sorry. The Bible is so true when it says “It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.”
I know that especially in my younger years that I was contentious and must have made my husband miserable. I still have my days. I have learned alot though. Now my intention is to please him even if I don’t always succeed. He is a blessing to me and such a wonderful godly man! We have been married 17 years next month.
In Titus 2:3 it says “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
I try to do this with the younger women in our church (not that I am old, just 35). I hope I can spare some young men the experience you went through!
Brussels Sprouts
Cheap wine
Single ply toilet tissue
:) I like that! Haven’t seen you around much since GGG stop posting. Nice to run into you in a thread.
I’m OK, now. I have a guitar. It never hits me with a skillet.
parsy, who spent many nights dwelling in the corner
Your posts make me want to play matchmaker.
CHMof3, who loves the way you sign your name to every post with a witty comment!
Well, I could possibly give up liver and onions, and turnips. And eggplant.
The sacrifices some people make....just.....*sniffle*....choke me up.
Laetare Sunday! You get a day off for Laetare Sunday. See you March 22 2010!
I give up FR for lent too. This year I’m adding a Facebook Game that I’ve been addicted to since January.
Then Sugar and Simple carbs.
My girls are giving up sweets, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books (read over and over) and both are pushing mom to do the aerobics DVD we have.
I will also read from the Bible every day.
But the biggest is not cussing NBC for messing up the Olympics coverage. Grrrr
I’m past matchmaking. I have kids. I have reproduced and done my duty to the human race. From hence forward, I will devote myself to my guitar. Maybe in 5 years or so, in New America, when I am a wandering poet and balladeer, I will think of such things. . .
parsy, who is also scared his last ex-wife would kill him if he messes around and let me tell you, death by cast iron skillet is a terrible way to go
LOL, cuss them out on Sundays.
Lol! :)
I might just do that!
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