Lent

Ah, it's tomorrow it starts! My mom was asking (I don't celebrate so I couldn't remember when), so thanks for posting about this Have a good Lent and Happy Easter!

I think that's the first time I've ever seen "Have a good Lent"

I thought it was "lent" vs "loaned"

I'm giving up promo work.

No. Seriously. No more promoing for me.

Okay. I lied. I'll give up lying instead. Maybe I'll even pop into church so my priest can have the pleasure of lightning in the cathedral. He'll love it, I know.

I'm actually Melkite Greek Catholic. Lent started yesterday, for us.
My birthday always falls during Lent. It is sad.
But I'm fine.

Ahhh.. you but you could give up aging!

You gotta think outside the box.

Have a happy Easter! I'm Catholic too, but because my mom's a little different than normal Catholics she doesn't really observe Lent except for the no meat on Fridays. I've decided to help out more around the house.

Jersey Chick said:

I think that's the first time I've ever seen "Have a good Lent"

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I didn't know what else to say I haven't celebrated Lent in years.

I'm giving up cigarettes. But I started Monday thinking that lent started then.

Obviously I'm not Catholic (used to be when I was kid).

I used to do Lent. Now after years as a kid giving up every thing I liked the best in life, like lollies and chocolate and dessert, I pig out and have fun. Lent taught me to question self denial.

When I was seventeen I gave up going to church for lent. I've never been back. 47 years of sticking to a lentern promise. Is that a record?

It's the same for we Episcopalians. Several years ago I gave up Lent for Lent.

I don't really practice the religiocity of Lent, but it's a good excuse to cut right back on things that are bad for you.

So I shall cut out... umm.... Wine.

M.R.J. Le Blanc said:

I didn't know what else to say I haven't celebrated Lent in years.

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Lent's not celebratory, it's a reflective time. It's not about necessarily giving things up, imo, if that helps. Unless of course, that's your spiritual aim.

Yes, the no meat on Fridays still holds.

Yes, I'm Catholic.

Easter is celebratory

For us Lent was always about giving something up - to symbolize the religious sacrifice. I stopped doing it when I decided I was agnostic instead of Catholic (and my recovery's coming along nicely, thank you very much ).

Now my husband's from a very Catholic family and since it's important to him, my daughter's now in CCD (or whatever they call it because I know it isn't CCD anymore, but that's how I suffered through it) and since it's Lent... well... we do the no meat on Fridays thing, and she will give something up... I haven't decided if I'm going to, though.

That's why I'm suggesting it be more of reflective in lieu of giving up. That's how our priest explains it, and it makes much more sense to me...that's what Jesus would want anyhow, instead of a bunch of grumblers who more than likely are going to go right back to whatever they gave up! whereas, being reflective, for me, may bring about more lasting change, which might be the point. I probably need coffee, right

Catholic here, I have chosen to give up something I do a lot of times but won't mention here out of shame just to teach myself self-control and because I feel I need to give something back, haven't gone to a church in a while (about a year, I think) so this is some sort of retribution.

Jean Marie said:

That's why I'm suggesting it be more of reflective in lieu of giving up. That's how our priest explains it, and it makes much more sense to me...that's what Jesus would want anyhow, instead of a bunch of grumblers who more than likely are going to go right back to whatever they gave up! whereas, being reflective, for me, may bring about more lasting change, which might be the point. I probably need coffee, right

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You're quite an example, Jean Marie

maxmordon said:

Catholic here, I have chosen to give up something I do a lot of times but won't mention here out of shame just to teach myself self-control and because I feel I need to give something back, haven't gone to a church in a while (about a year, I think) so this is some sort of retribution.

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which fits into the change thing I'm talking about, Max. you're talking about a lasting effect type of thing. not something that you're only going to do for a month, like say, sugar. that's what I'm trying to explain.

maxmordon said:

You're quite an example, Jean Marie

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not really, Max, but thanks. I do the best I can to work on things that I don't like and I don't think work.

You're probably right - I would grumble about whatever I HAD to give up and go right back on Easter. Now, I figure it's payback if I make my daughter do it (I had to do it and now, you have to, neener neener neener!)

I don't think God would want me to put something down that would distract me from the whole thing. If something is "bad" for you, you should try to eliminate it from your life rather than torture yourself with it once a year. If it's a reflective time then TV is a good thing to give up. It's hard to reflect on things with the devil in your ear.

Jean Marie said:

Lent's not celebratory, it's a reflective time. It's not about necessarily giving things up, imo, if that helps. Unless of course, that's your spiritual aim.

Yes, the no meat on Fridays still holds.

Yes, I'm Catholic.

Easter is celebratory

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See what I mean? hehe Personally I designate my own reflective time, but I'm also big on anything that helps someone spiritually. So if Lent helps, all the power to it.

Either way, I'll be celebrating Ostara.

What's Ostara?