After Lent...

[ZooMom]

...why is it that we pick up all the 'bad' things we gave up and let go of all the 'good' things that we took on? Is it not better to hold our Lenten Promises as permanent,a nd use each Lent as another step in our refinement, rather than using it as a cycle of dropping and returning to the same habits year after year? Or of beginning a life of intensive faith, only to drop it after Easter? After all, if you have the time during Lent to attend daily Mass (for instance-not singling anyone out) do you not have the same amount of time after Lent to continue?

How many of us are planning to continue our Lenten promises after Easter? I have aquired a couple of very good habits from holding on to my Lenten promises.

Any thoughts?

Peace be with you!

Sandy

 

[Filia Mariae]

Sandy,

I think you are right that we should try to continue with the "good stuff" we may do during Lent. Sometimes though, something is Lent only thing for a reason. I am doing daily Mass for Lent. Normally, I make it to Mass about 3 times a week. Because of my hectic schedule and inflexible work hours, the only time I can go to daily Mass is 6 am. Getting up at 5 means I truly don't get enough sleep. For Lent, I just bite the bullet and survive on 6 hours a night for a few weeks. Six hours may not sound that bad, especially to our moms here, but you are talking to someone who is exhausted when I don't get enough sleep. Anyway, enough of my digression...the point is, I couldn't perpetually be sleep deprived.

I don't think that if we make a sacrifice of a favorite food or something we need to abstain from that food all year. Maybe on Fridays all year or something like that, but Lent is supposed to be a special time of self-denial and unity with Christ crucified.

 

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

So, I'll have to never watch Simpsons ever again? Nooooooooo

I watch Simpsons almost every night at 10, so now I'm doing a quiet time qith a little book from Thomas A. Kempis during that time.

But....I love Simpsons....



Peace in Christ!

 

[ZooMom]

Of course, Carly, and I don't mean to act like it's Lent all year long, but rather to use Lent to incorporate sacrifice into our daily lives. For instance, giving up a favorite food for Lent. There are some who suffer all Lent and then go on a binge right after. Then make no attempt to moderate themselves for the rest of the year. And that makes me wonder what change that sacrifice wrought in them. What is the purpose of sacrifice and fast if it doesn't change us and bring us closer to God?

 

[krstlros]

You make a good point, Sandy. We should all curtail our bad habits after Lent and keep the good things that we were attempting to do during Lent. It makes perfect sense.

Alas, human nature is weak, and we all tend to do the least possible good in order to get by.

As for me, over the years, I've given up carbonated drinks all together after two years of giving that up during Lent several years ago. Then, it was all canned juices. Now, the only think I drink is water and coffee, and an occasional iced tea. Which incidentally, stopped the incessant bloating I felt.

My thing this year is to continue the prayer life I want to do this Lenten season. Maybe I should pray that my prayer life will still be as strong.

 

[xxRachaelxx]

I definitely will carry on saying a decade of the rosary every day

 

[ukok]

You are making an excellent point Sandy

Personally, I had already begun attending Mass about 3 times a week, but Fr changes the Mass times around quite a bit and though they are going to be regular throughout Lent, after that we may be all up in the air with our Mass times again..i'm hoping that I can continue with this routine after Lent, but it depend's.

As for the other Lenten practices, they definately need to be implemented long term.

God Bless.

 

[bigsierra]

I didn't give up something bad. I gave up something that is ok. If you're giving up something bad, then it would be a good idea to keep it going. Would giving up something sinful even count?

 

[ZooMom]

Of course. Lent is penitential. If you give up something that is 'ok', are you not still repenting of your immoderate desire for it? And if you return to it after Lent, shouldn't you exercise more moderation over it if your sacrifice is to have any meaning?

 

[bigsierra]

Candy, soda, dessert, TV...ect. really have no moral weight unless they are over-indulged. Giving up something good, that you would typically do, that is good or amoral, would seem penitential to me.

 

[ZooMom]

Right. That's what I said. I think. Now I'm not sure what you're asking.

 

[xxRachaelxx]

ive got next week off school, so im aiming to go to mass every day, as there is a beautiful cathedral just a 10 minute train ride away from me

 

[bigsierra]

Right. That's what I said. I think. Now I'm not sure what you're asking.

I reread what you said and I think we're together on the thing of the deal

 

[InnerPhyre]

I wholeheartedly agree. For lent I have chosen to go to daily mass for 40 days in the hopes that the habit will stick for long afterwards

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

We always try to incorporate some devoton during Lent with the specific purpose of continuing it afterwards. This year it is Grace after Meals.

 

[Filia Mariae]

ive got next week off school, so im aiming to go to mass every day, as there is a beautiful cathedral just a 10 minute train ride away from me

Great idea!

 

[TomUK]

You make a great point Zoomom. We are all called to take up our crosses and follow Christ, but how often to we forget to actually take up those crosses?

 

[DJ B.K.]

Well I am starting going to adoration for that, so I obviously should continue that. I am giving up sweets as well. I should try to keep those in moderation but it's not that easy when Lent's over. I should try giving up sweets except on special occasions though because I lost weight last Lent when I gave up sweets. At least that's what others thought. I never weigh myself.