Sacrifices for Lent

[Christy4Christ]

I have been trying to decide which things I will give up for Lent. The first thing I thought of was certain foods but then my mother brought it to my attention that the things I mentioned would also help me lose a few pounds. She said that if I give up something that will also benefit me it isn't really a sacrifice and so it doesn't really count.

I am really stuck on this. I will be giving up cursing for Lent, that I know but I am stuck on the foods to give up because everything I pick that I like would probably also make me lose a few pounds

For example I have heard many people say "Well I can eat this stuff now because I will be giving it up for Lent anyway" Isn't that sort of the same thing as saying "I will start my diet on Lent"? BUT then again wouldn't God want us to do things that are more healthy for our bodies?

But I can't really use that argument either because I am not obese. I have a few pounds I want to shed but I guess to say I was doing it for health reasons wouldn't be right either. This is all confusing to me!

OK so, what should I give up??

 

[ps139]

Well, I for one am going with the food thing. I do not treat my body like the temple of the Holy Spirit that it is. I eat too much fatty foods, Wendy's. Burger King, you name it. I also drink a lot of soda, and eat lots of chocolate.

So, I want to treat my body like I should, and I have decided to give up the following for Lent:

-all fast food
-all soda
-Entemann's chocolate donuts
-dessert after dinner
-Weaver's popcorn chicken (this will be tough!!)
-be the designated driver more often on weekends

In addition, I am going to:
-drink lots and lots more water
-go to the gym at least 3 times a week, and work out for at least an hour.

It benefits me, but honestly, doesn't any sacrifice for Christ benefit you in some way? Whether it be spiritual or physical. I also hope to have good habits set down by Easter, that I can continue.

Another thing I am doing is I am going to clean out this one area of my room (which looks like a bomb went off in it) and make it a prayer room. I am going to clean it up and put a crucifix on the wall.

I want to go into this room every morning and every night and pray. Also it will be a good Scripture reading room. Sadly, most of my Scripture reading is related to defending certain things on message boards. That is good, I've learned a lot, but I want to do some Scripture reading independently as well.

 

[BAChristian]

I'm giving up my Vodka tonic every morning for breakfast.

I think that'll be a good thing...

Note: C'mon folks, I'm only kidding...

 

[Rosa Mystica]

I'm going to try to give up swearing. For me, this is penance b/c I've got a very filthy mouth. I tried this last year, and only lasted a few hours!

Man, this is going to be tough!

 

[ej]

Internet (except urgent email)

 

[Christy4Christ]

Give up Wendy's ?????


My whole house looks like a bomb went off in it right now!

I will have to clean it before lent.

These kids are going to drive me nuts! Maybe I will suggest to them that they should give up being slobs for lent!

Ok so then I will go with the food thing as well.

I will give up the following.

Bread
Potatoes
Pasta
Chocolate
Soda

It's only for forty days I think I will live!

I will drink lots of water (thanks for that suggestion)

I will break out the roller blades and wipe the cobwebs off them! I will swim laps in my pool (I almost forgot I had a pool)

For the most part I will begin taking better care of myself.

 

[ukok]

i drastically need to reassess the 'my body is a temple' thing.

 

[Christy4Christ]

i drastically need to reassess the 'my body is a temple' thing.

I doubt you are alone in that!

 

[Woodsy]

As someone new to all this, I have to admit that I'm having trouble distinguishing between Lent and New Year's resolutions.
Can someone share with me the purpose in sacrifing these things which are bad for us, or starting things whoich are good for us?
I know that I could go to any of a million websites to look this up, but hearing it in dialogue with my friends here makes it all easier to process. (As with so many of the other questions I ask.)

 

[Christy4Christ]

As someone new to all this, I have to admit that I'm having trouble distinguishing between Lent and New Year's resolutions.
Can someone share with me the purpose in sacrifing these things which are bad for us, or starting things whoich are good for us?
I know that I could go to any of a million websites to look this up, but hearing it in dialogue with my friends here makes it all easier to process. (As with so many of the other questions I ask.)

Thats why I started the thread because I too like hearing it in dialogue with everyone here.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

We just talked about this in my RE class this morning-- the three areas that we should increase during Lent are :
1. Prayer
2.Fasting
3. Almsgiving

By fasting that means freely giving up something to which you have a legitimate right. Translated to mean give up something that you love, that you are free to give up. Fasting is a physical reminder of our need for prayer.

Personally, I think you should tend toward one thing so that it is manageable, and you can continue for the entirety of the season. Also I believe that you should pick one devotion to add during this season- just one so that it'll stick. Also pick some way of giving to the poor.

I don't know if giving up swearing, or overeating, or eating unhealthfully is something you have the freedom to be doing in the first place, (not judging, really- as my lit of vices is really, really long). Not that those aren't admirable goals, nor do I mean to negate the sacrafice involved in those things! But I don't know if they can really be considered fasting...

BTW- if your house is outta control with clutter check out Flylady.net-- she changed my life!! And my home (even with three little kids) is tidy and clean all of the time, I don't eat out because I always have meals planned, and I exercise regularly because I only do it for 15 minutes at a time, so I can stick with it... All of that is because of the gift of Flylady! I think it's all so in step with Catholic living- the theme for the year is "Less is more"!!

I hope I didn't offend- I'm ill and might not be coming across the way I'm really meaning to....

 

[ps139]

As someone new to all this, I have to admit that I'm having trouble distinguishing between Lent and New Year's resolutions.

The reason why I can keep my Lenten sacrifices are because its between me and God. I do not want to break a promise to God.

If I make a new years resolution, I am only disappointing myself, I do not take it as seriously. Thats why my new Years resolution for next year is to never make any more New Years resolutions .

 

[faerieevaH]

For me, mostly, fasting is about denying myself some things. In the period of Lent it has become a tradition for me to abstain from certain things. Mostly things that I like: chocolate, crisps, cookies, soft drinks, and alcohol (though I rarely drink that any way).

Why do I do it? For me... as a little reminder. Every time I want to reach for some chocolate and 'have' to say no to myself, I remind myself of my faith and the strength it gives me in things that are big and in things that are so small as stopping myself from taking a piece of chocolate. I also remind myself of those who have less then I have. And what I can do to help them, instead of just indulging myself. I thank God then, for his strength, and for what he already has given me. I offer the fasting up to God so to speak, so it is not just a moral lesson or a matter of conscience, but also a matter of faith and gratitude.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

For me, mostly, fasting is about denying myself some things. In the period of Lent it has become a tradition for me to abstain from certain things. Mostly things that I like: chocolate, crisps, cookies, soft drinks, and alcohol (though I rarely drink that any way).

Why do I do it? For me... as a little reminder. Every time I want to reach for some chocolate and 'have' to say no to myself, I remind myself of my faith and the strength it gives me in things that are big and in things that are so small as stopping myself from taking a piece of chocolate. I also remind myself of those who have less then I have. And what I can do to help them, instead of just indulging myself. I thank God then, for his strength, and for what he already has given me. I offer the fasting up to God so to speak, so it is not just a moral lesson or a matter of conscience, but also a matter of faith and gratitude.

Well said.

Its not about what you do but what it reminds you. If your not reminded of our Lords suffering and are not drawn closer to our Lord your going about it for the wrong reasons

 

[ej]

And thats why fasting ties in so well with both prayer and charity

 

[Rosa Mystica]

Shannon, here is how I look at giving up swearing. No, it is not a form of fasting. But it is a hard habit to break. I figure if I start with this as a Lenten sacrifice, then by the time Lent is over, I may feel disinclined to swear, period. Isn't the time of Lent supposed to be about making sacrifices so that we may become more like Christ? Of course it is. I believe that giving up swearing is a sacrifice: it's part of dying to one's human nature, which is what the Catholic Faith is all about. By resisting the human urge to cuss, it could help bring me closer to God.

Do you see what I'm getting at?

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Oh I think certainly it is sacrafice, and certainly Lent is a great time to make that sacrafice- and certainly that will bring you closer to Christ- and it is a huge thing- to alter one's vices like that!! I totally agree (through the grace of God and total submission to His will in those areas of my life - I have quit swearing and smoking!- both of which I did profusely!)

My point was just that it is an area that one isn't really free to be doing that in the first place, we're not really free to use bad language, and so in a sense that is not a fast- sacrafice, yes! as we must do great violence to ourselves to overcome our will sometimes (or like all the time for me!)- meritorious, yes! it's awesome! The Church tells us when and how we must fast during Lent (Ash Wed. Fridays (abstinence) and Good Friday- encouraged to fast on weekdays of Lent as well)- every other fast or sacrafice is left up to the individual-

Does that make any sense at all? My nose is so stuffy, I fear I'm not being as coherent as I'd like

 

[LongingForLight]

Okay, here's what I'm dong:

Giving up buying espresso drinks - they're too expensive, and are nothing more than a luxery. There are better things for me to do with my money. So there's a self-improvement resolution.

Also, I'd like to get myself into the habit of praying the rosary twice a week. So there's another one.

A small sacrifice, and a small increase in prayer. Not much, but hopefully at least the prayer will last beyond Lent, and I'll quit being so eager to waste money on espresso drinks with creamy foam and nice, warm milk . . . [_]D~

Oh, drat, what am I going to get from Riley's Pub now?

 

[Christy4Christ]

Okay, here's what I'm dong:

Giving up buying espresso drinks - they're too expensive, and are nothing more than a luxery. There are better things for me to do with my money. So there's a self-improvement resolution.

Also, I'd like to get myself into the habit of praying the rosary twice a week. So there's another one.

A small sacrifice, and a small increase in prayer. Not much, but hopefully at least the prayer will last beyond Lent, and I'll quit being so eager to waste money on espresso drinks with creamy foam and nice, warm milk . . . [_]D~

Oh, drat, what am I going to get from Riley's Pub now?

You can get a nice shot of Scotch and that will make you forget about the espresso!

 

[Stormy]

One question...

Why?