Lent

[Sayre]

As lent is coming fast I am planning what I am going to do.

I am always tempted towards using food for pleasure. I'm deactivating facebook and while I'm not fasting (I can't) I am going without buying any junk food or take away food, and using no seasoning. So it's just water, fruit and vegetables, meat and plan carbs for me for lent.

 

[MikeK]

Sounds like a great plan, may it bring you closer to Him!

 

[Michie]

What are YOU DOING this Lent?

As Lent approaches, it's an opportunity to consider what we can do to make ourselves and the world around us a better place. It ...

What are YOU DOING this Lent? - Easter / Lent - Catholic Online

 

[AMDG]

As Catholics we USED to practice abstinence on EVERY Friday of the year and before Vatican II relaxed the standards Lent meant no eating between and half-abstinence the whole of Lent (except for the full-abstinence Fridays). With Vatican II the Lenten "fast" has only become the Fridays of abstinence of Lent. Not a problem for healthy folks, but somehow I think there is an exception for folks who AREN'T healthy. Case in point--my husband. His medication plus the surgery last summer has cost him his sense of taste and when that happens, there isn't too much that has any flavor and it becomes a real effort to get him to eat at least 900 calories a day. Under the circumstances, I just can't see myself being "picky" about what he eats WHEN he eats even if it is a day of abstinence and for some rare reason he has decided that he WILL try to eat meat.

So Michie, you seem to know the rules are in these cases, do you happen to know if I'm going to be "out of step" for not being "picky" this Lent? Or is this a time for me to make an appointment with our pastor to discuss where I should be standing on this issue?

 

[Michie]

As Catholics we USED to practice abstinence on EVERY Friday of the year and before Vatican II relaxed the standards Lent meant no eating between and half-abstinence the whole of Lent (except for the full-abstinence Fridays). With Vatican II the Lenten "fast" has only become the Fridays of abstinence of Lent. Not a problem for healthy folks, but somehow I think there is an exception for folks who AREN'T healthy. Case in point--my husband. His medication plus the surgery last summer has cost him his sense of taste and when that happens, there isn't too much that has any flavor and it becomes a real effort to get him to eat at least 900 calories a day. Under the circumstances, I just can't see myself being "picky" about what he eats WHEN he eats even if it is a day of abstinence and for some rare reason he has decided that he WILL try to eat meat.

So Michie, you seem to know the rules are in these cases, do you happen to know if I'm going to be "out of step" for not being "picky" this Lent? Or is this a time for me to make an appointment with our pastor to discuss where I should be standing on this issue?

No, you are in the clear. You & your hubby are excused from this fasting due to age & health. I know the people I saw would not bother with this during Lent & the priest knew this as well & he encouraged them to excuse themselves from it & find other avenues to practice during Lent. Extra Scripture reading, prayer, etc. It does not always have to be about food. God bless you & hubby. *hug*

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Catholics also used to fast Sunday mornings until they took Holy Communion as well, a practice that is MANDATORY in Orthodoxy unless medications and serious health conditions mitigate things.

As Catholics we USED to practice abstinence on EVERY Friday of the year and before Vatican II relaxed the standards Lent meant no eating between and half-abstinence the whole of Lent (except for the full-abstinence Fridays). With Vatican II the Lenten "fast" has only become the Fridays of abstinence of Lent. Not a problem for healthy folks, but somehow I think there is an exception for folks who AREN'T healthy. Case in point--my husband. His medication plus the surgery last summer has cost him his sense of taste and when that happens, there isn't too much that has any flavor and it becomes a real effort to get him to eat at least 900 calories a day. Under the circumstances, I just can't see myself being "picky" about what he eats WHEN he eats even if it is a day of abstinence and for some rare reason he has decided that he WILL try to eat meat.

So Michie, you seem to know the rules are in these cases, do you happen to know if I'm going to be "out of step" for not being "picky" this Lent? Or is this a time for me to make an appointment with our pastor to discuss where I should be standing on this issue?

 

[MikeK]

As Catholics we USED to practice abstinence on EVERY Friday of the year...

We still do as a norm. It is now permitted to substitute another type of penance for the Friday fast outside of Lent though. Of course, if your health does not allow for it you can choose a different penetential act even during Lent.

 

[AMDG]

Catholics also used to fast Sunday mornings until they took Holy Communion as well, a practice that is MANDATORY in Orthodoxy unless medications and serious health conditions mitigate things.

There is still a fast. Only now it's just an hour--down from a three hour fast--which was down from the "from midnight" Eucharist fast. My grandmother still kept the "from midnight" fast, even when Vatican II relaxed the fast.

 

[GoingByzantine]

This is my first "Great Fast" as a Byzantine Catholic, I probably will not oblige all the fasting standards of the Eastern Way but I plan on trying to fast as close to the Eastern Way as Possible. At the very minimum I plan on abstaining from meat in its entirety.

 

[Tigg]

What are YOU DOING this Lent?


What are YOU DOING this Lent? - Easter / Lent - Catholic Online

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[gurneyhalleck1]

We Orthodox don't relax well!

And I must say, keeping the fast from midnight unto Communion has something powerful about it. Sometimes as my stomach growls at 10:45 am or so, I realize the wisdom of the Church making us fast. We yearn for Christ to not just fill our stomach, but our souls. We feel empty. And it's always interesting how when we taste the Body and Blood of Christ on the spoon, the hunger goes away from that tiny spoonful.

Father always reminds us that Christ is THE ONLY BREAKFAST we Orthodox should be eating. I think the mindset is a good one for me.

There is still a fast. Only now it's just an hour--down from a three hour fast--which was down from the "from midnight" Eucharist fast. My grandmother still kept the "from midnight" fast, even when Vatican II relaxed the fast.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Open your mind to the Eastern way, GoingB. Eastern Catholicism has some awesome disciplines. Oblige them all and see if it bears spiritual fruit!

This is my first "Great Fast" as a Byzantine Catholic, I probably will not oblige all the fasting standards of the Eastern Way but I plan on trying to fast as close to the Eastern Way as Possible. At the very minimum I plan on abstaining from meat in its entirety.

 

[GoingByzantine]

Open your mind to the Eastern way, GoingB. Eastern Catholicism has some awesome disciplines. Oblige them all and see if it bears spiritual fruit!

Honestly my friend, I am sort of nervous to do the fast in its entirety, I really need to talk to my parish priest about my first fast as an Eastern Catholic...but he is 3 hours away! During the school year I try to get home as often as possible, but my next available chance won't be until after the fast starts. Note there are no nearby Byzantine Parishes, so I will also miss Clean Monday and other important dates. :'(

 

[Rhamiel]

I have not really thought about what to give up for Lent yet

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Well, DEFINITELY talk to your priest about this! You're right! Starting the fast, this is new territory for you. My priest told me right off the bat (and others) that it's better to keep to a fast halfway done in earnest, done with an open heart full of love, and then screw up and get back on track than to keep to a super uber duper strict hardcore fast the ENTIRE time done legalistically and without the proper heart. He suggested to me that we take things slowly and remember that in the East we are not legalists. It is a spiritual walk, an opened heart, and that failing isn't going to burn you to blazes. Just jump back on. So have no fear.

Now I can't speak for your priest, after all I'm Orthodox, not Eastern Catholic.

Honestly my friend, I am sort of nervous to do the fast in its entirety, I really need to talk to my parish priest about my first fast as an Eastern Catholic...but he is 3 hours away! During the school year I try to get home as often as possible, but my next available chance won't be until after the fast starts. Note there are no nearby Byzantine Parishes, so I will also miss Clean Monday and other important dates. :'(

 

[GoingByzantine]

Well, DEFINITELY talk to your priest about this! You're right! Starting the fast, this is new territory for you. My priest told me right off the bat (and others) that it's better to keep to a fast halfway done in earnest, done with an open heart full of love, and then screw up and get back on track than to keep to a super uber duper strict hardcore fast the ENTIRE time done legalistically and without the proper heart. He suggested to me that we take things slowly and remember that in the East we are not legalists. It is a spiritual walk, an opened heart, and that failing isn't going to burn you to blazes. Just jump back on. So have no fear.

Now I can't speak for your priest, after all I'm Orthodox, not Eastern Catholic.

I know the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has like you said, set very open standards to how to conduct ones Great Fast. At minimum it would appear we should abstain from meat on Wednesday and Friday just like during most of the year, but I want to do more than this. Perhaps I should consult Anhelyna as well

 

[Anhelyna]

Hmmmmm

My recommendation - as Gurney says - you need to talk with your priest.

It's your first Fast - you can't throw yourself into it and say " I'm going to do it properly " The Church tells us what is the ideal that we should aim for - but then tells us that we are to do our best and if we are unable to reach the ideal so-be-it. I have a priest friend who has various medical problems - and there's no way he can get anywhere near the ideal - he knows it , I know it and when I'm with him I do as he does . For me the sin would be far greater if I said to him ' I can't eat that - it's the Fast ! ' If I'm away from home I eat what's put in front of me - if it makes me break the Fast --- so-be-it - there's still the other legs of the Fast !

Even the Church eases us into it every year - this week those of us who may [ note the word 'may' ] lose meat , from next Sunday we go into the strict fast period . Believe me you do need help at the beginning.

I've been made to promise [ and I am checked up on by more than one person too ] that I will have one portion of dairy a day - and I obey.

But the Church also holds us to this strict fast for 5 days/week and at weekends it is mitigated slightly - we may have wine and oil ! After all Sundays are the day of Resurrection and so we rejoice .

It's something that, in a way, you get used to and we do it joyfully because we know why we are fasting.

However as others have said - fasting is only one leg of our preparation - there are others too - prayer , almsgiving , reading, and these anyone can do.

@ Going Byzantine - email your priest - ask his advice and then follow it

Remember there's more than one Fast each year

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Yep! I think I counted 60% of the year is fasting in Orthodoxy!

Remember there's more than one Fast each year

 

[Sayre]

Well... wait... what?

I had no idea lent meant fasting from FOOD. I knew about the meat on Friday thing.

This time last year I was an atheist so help me out here - when can I not eat at all, when can I not eat meat, and what are you abstaining from? Please tell me it's from washing dishes?

 

[Anhelyna]

Sorry Sayre - Gurney and I didn't mean to frighten you to death Honest we didn't.

Gurney and I are Eastern folk - he's Orthodox and I'm Catholic and in the East our praxis is often different from the West [ i.e. Latin aka Roman Catholic ]

Going Byzantine asked a question relating to the Eastern Fasting practice and we gave him some information specific to Eastern practice - please disregard what we have said as it has no bearing on your situation - though it may well be of interest.

For you the rules/guidelines are very much simpler - and one of the RC Members can help you out - though our suggestion of 'asking your priest' still holds.