How are you observing Lent?

[Melensdad]

Obviously this thread is for Christians. Catholics, Orthodox Christians and many of the Protestant faiths observe some sort of traditions during the Lenten period.

So for those of you who are observing Lent, do you follow any special plans or traditions in your family? Fasting? Prayer? Almsgiving?

 

[Sir Knight]

Fasting on Fridays. Daily mass. Kneeling down rosary (I now say the rosary as I drive). And more time with the family reading scripture and less time on the web.

When does lent start again?

 

[thcri]

Batter Fried Walleye, dang most places that really have the good stuff is only during Lent.

 

[California]

Younger Daughter just went down to New Orleans to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity or something for a couple of weeks and after she got there discovered it was Mardi Gras.

Her friend who works for a Catholic charity arranged for her contacts there. I don't know if it is a Catholic sponsored project.

Does that count?

 

[Melensdad]

When does lent start again?

For Catholics it starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days, but Sundays don't count in that 40 days. For Orthodox Christians it may start a different day because I believe the Orthodox count Sundays in their 40 day count. I believe the Protestants that practice Lent follow the Catholic counting system. Don't ask me who came up with the counting system, or why Sundays don't count because I have no clue!

Batter Fried Walleye, dang most places that really have the good stuff is only during Lent.

Murph, I got to agree with you there. Walleye is my favorite fish. As a Catholic it is traditional to give up meat on Fridays as a symbol sacrifice, but when there is a good fish fry to go to I have to tell that I'm not sacrificing anything by eating fish! I'm also pretty partial to broiled in butter lake perch!

As for me, I plan to give up my daily (sometimes twice a day) Starbucks, no ice-cream either, plan to pray the Rosary, and do a bit more religious reading. No fasting for me, with my arthritis meds I get sick (wife says I get crabby too) if I don't eat on a regular basis.

Younger Daughter. . .

Does that count?

Counts for her!

 

[DaveNay]

Don't ask me who came up with the counting system, or why Sundays don't count because I have no clue!

Probably because the 40 days are supposed to be "above and beyond" normal, and Sundays are already holy days, so don't count towards the additional 40 needed.

 

[Melensdad]

Probably because the 40 days are supposed to be "above and beyond" normal, and Sundays are already holy days, so don't count towards the additional 40 needed.

OK but explain the Orthodox view?

 

[California]

Counts for her!

Well we already knew there was no hope for me.

 

[Ice Queen]

No comment!

 

[alaska120]

I believe that the 40 days were for the 40 days and nights Jesus was in the desert.
Probably not PC now but when I went to school a few moons ago, they served fish on Fridays.
Yes, it was public school.
Can't imagine that is done any more.
'Course the population was predominately Catholic...French Catholic at that.

 

[working woman]

So for those of you who are observing Lent, do you follow any special plans or traditions in your family? Fasting? Prayer? Almsgiving?

yes, visit the forum everyday!

Even though I am not a practicing cath. I have for years done the same thing at the start of every lent, and that is to give up all sugar/ sweets. I found that it starts at turkey day with the deserts and then xmas with the leftovers at New years. So by the time the holidays are over I am now addicted to sugar! So I use lent as a starting point to xnay the sweets.

 

[Melensdad]

I believe that the 40 days were for the 40 days and nights Jesus was in the desert.

Yup but Lent actually last 46 days. For whatever reason, the 6 Sundays during Lent do not count as counting days. I think that is because Sunday is a feast day?

yes, visit the forum everyday!

So is that your form of penance?