How do you plan to observe Lent?

grassette

If we are on MFP, we are obviously engaged in some kind of partial fasting already. So what do you plan to do for Lent?

I've been noticing that our Evangelical brothers and sisters are much keener on fasting than are your average cradle catholics. One of the fasts that they practice is the Daniel fast. This fast is much like a vegan diet in that it avoids all meats, all dairy, all fish, all sugars and sweeteners, and yeast breads. Every Sunday is a break day and an opportunity to load up on protein. The only beverage allowed is water. So I am thinking of trying out this fast for Lent this year.

I am also thinking of doing the Liturgy of the Hours for the full 40 days. There is a great sung version of the Daily Office on the Web: http://divineoffice.org/

While I get these great ideas, I have a problem sticking to them. So maybe, as we share ideas for Lent, we might also think of launching a challenge to keep us accountable to each other for the 40 days.

Ideas, anyone?



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GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST(Foods We May Eat)

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

Foods to Avoid: Meat White RiceFried Foods CaffeineCarbonated BeveragesFoods Containing Preservatives or AdditivesRefined SugarSugar SubstitutesWhite Flour and All Products Using It Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

grassette

Alternatively, the US Bishops have also recommended a solidarity fast: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to “fast” on Friday, February 3, by limiting their food spending to the allotment on the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan--about $18 for a family of four.

The theme of the February First Fridays for Food Security initiative is food insecurity and climate change. “Food insecurity is also a serious problem globally and is often intensified by climate change,” states a USCCB flyer. “According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, climate change will significantly affect the availability of water for growing food and for crop production globally. This will disproportionately affect poor people in rural areas whose livelihoods are closely connected to agriculture and natural resources.”

http://www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/upload/First-Fridays-for-Food-Security-2012-02-03.pdf

Seems to me that this would be a real education in what poverty means for our families. And if the monies saved from the food budget were donated to the poor, this could be a real good way of fasting too.

court182

I tend to go the same route year after year and give up chocolate, which is SUPER HARD for me because it love it so much! This year, however, since I've gotten serious about becoming healthier, part off my sacrifice will be putting the scale away. That may not seem like a lot, but I very much look forward to my weekly weigh ins! Not having them for Lent will force me to rely on my body and not just numbers, so I think it will be good for me!

Also, I'm giving up coffee at work. We have this little machine that makes cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and different flavored coffees and they're all great! I get one every day, so giving this much will allow me to save a little money and a few calories too!!

JuliesJourney

I need to reflect on this, so I'm glad this topic was set up. I'll be interested to see what everyone decides to do.

JamieSK

In 2011 my husband and I started going meatless on Friday's not just during Lent but for the whole year. On occasion if we are traveling or away we will have meat but do this as an opportunity to atone for the sins of society.

Rachelle do you currently do the Liturgy of the Hours? My husband and I do the morning & evening prayers together each day and I have to tell you it has been a blessing. I have realized what my favorite psalms are and it has impassioned me in a new way - in that I feel it's a prayer of worship and that it has allowed me to have an even greater relationship with our creator. Not only that it has been a very intimate way for my husband and I to pray together. There are times of course when we both get tongue tied while praying and sometimes end up saying the wrong things and there have been a few times laughter only because of the realization...did I just say what I thought I said that aside - it's been very personal.

I was telling my husband earlier this week that I thought we should pray the rosary everyday for Lent.

I'd be open to hearing what others are doing to get ideas too. Thanks for posting this!!

grassette

I must admit that I do the Liturgy of the Hours in fits and starts. My focus at present is to meditate the daily Mass readings every morning as soon as I get up. I find that waking up with the Lord really gives a focus to my days, and I find in scripture the guidance that I need for daily life. I journal my daily readings, and find that this is a useful tool for dialogue with the Lord.

I use Lectio Divina, in that I read until my heart is struck by a particular phrase, and I remain there, thinking it out, and listening to its resonance in my life. I try to end with a resolution that I will try to keep for that day. My focus right now is being faithful to that practice.

But this Lent, I want to pull out the Divine Office so as to make that prayer time more intense over those 40 days.

jerber160

i found the divine office phone app during advent... and i love it. i don't pray the whole liturgy of hours but usually get one or two sessions in each day. it's pretty amazing how calming it is... and i've found some great music

JamieSK

I must admit that I do the Liturgy of the Hours in fits and starts. My focus at present is to meditate the daily Mass readings every morning as soon as I get up. I find that waking up with the Lord really gives a focus to my days, and I find in scripture the guidance that I need for daily life. I journal my daily readings, and find that this is a useful tool for dialogue with the Lord.

I use Lectio Divina, in that I read until my heart is struck by a particular phrase, and I remain there, thinking it out, and listening to its resonance in my life. I try to end with a resolution that I will try to keep for that day. My focus right now is being faithful to that practice.

But this Lent, I want to pull out the Divine Office so as to make that prayer time more intense over those 40 days.

I like how you journal and meditate on what speaks to you as your daily focus. I will have to try that and see if I am successful. Thanks!

beth40n2

Right now I am trying to stay under 100 net carbs per day, and one or two days a week down to 60 net carbs, so I will not be adding any grains or rice.

I have been drinking too much caffeine because of my sleep apnea. So I may give up caffiene or limit it to one a day. I now have an android phone so I may start listening to the Divine Office each day now that I have the resources.

I will attend a Bible study at my parish also.

grassette

Sounds like a good plan, Beth.

I was able to cut out coffee altogether this December by cutting my portions in half over a month and substituting hot water instead. The result was no coffee withdrawal symptoms, and it is surprising how the hot water fills that craving for something in the morning. It's both hot and re-hydrating. Try this out if you want to cut out without headaches and lethargic mornings.

grassette

One way of combining gratitude with fasting this Lent might be to borrow the practice of mindful eating from the Buddhists: The New York Times just printed an article on eating slowly and mindfully that is quite interesting. Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/dining/mindful-eating-as-food-for-thought.html?_r=1&hp

Dadof8

Thanks for the reminder, in the past I've usually given up drinking Coke but since starting this weight loss/health journey I’ve only had one in the last three months. I’m going to have to think of something new. I usually take a monastic Lenten retreat to the Abby of Gethsemani in Kentucky (http://www.monks.org). A number of men from our parish go down each year for a long weekend in lent, our wives go down on a different weekend. It takes some planning to get your reservation but it’s at very peaceful time with brothers and the Lord.

macpatti

Alternatively, the US Bishops have also recommended a solidarity fast: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to “fast” on Friday, February 3, by limiting their food spending to the allotment on the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan--about $18 for a family of four.

The theme of the February First Fridays for Food Security initiative is food insecurity and climate change. “Food insecurity is also a serious problem globally and is often intensified by climate change,” states a USCCB flyer. “According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, climate change will significantly affect the availability of water for growing food and for crop production globally. This will disproportionately affect poor people in rural areas whose livelihoods are closely connected to agriculture and natural resources.”

http://www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/upload/First-Fridays-for-Food-Security-2012-02-03.pdf

Seems to me that this would be a real education in what poverty means for our families. And if the monies saved from the food budget were donated to the poor, this could be a real good way of fasting too.

Thanks for this! We are still discerning our plans for Lent. One of our sacrifices will be not going out to eat during Lent. This will be huge for us because we go out to eat often. We're going to attend mass every morning where we work, and add saying the rosary this year, too.

jerber160

In 2011 my husband and I started going meatless on Friday's not just during Lent but for the whole year. On occasion if we are traveling or away we will have meat but do this as an opportunity to atone for the sins of society.

Rachelle do you currently do the Liturgy of the Hours? My husband and I do the morning & evening prayers together each day and I have to tell you it has been a blessing. I have realized what my favorite psalms are and it has impassioned me in a new way - in that I feel it's a prayer of worship and that it has allowed me to have an even greater relationship with our creator. Not only that it has been a very intimate way for my husband and I to pray together. There are times of course when we both get tongue tied while praying and sometimes end up saying the wrong things and there have been a few times laughter only because of the realization...did I just say what I thought I said that aside - it's been very personal.

I was telling my husband earlier this week that I thought we should pray the rosary everyday for Lent.

I'd be open to hearing what others are doing to get ideas too. Thanks for posting this!!

[I did meatless fridays for the longest time and gave it up when I accepted the fact it wasn't making me a better person/quote]

grassette

In 2011 my husband and I started going meatless on Friday's not just during Lent but for the whole year. On occasion if we are traveling or away we will have meat but do this as an opportunity to atone for the sins of society.

Rachelle do you currently do the Liturgy of the Hours? My husband and I do the morning & evening prayers together each day and I have to tell you it has been a blessing. I have realized what my favorite psalms are and it has impassioned me in a new way - in that I feel it's a prayer of worship and that it has allowed me to have an even greater relationship with our creator. Not only that it has been a very intimate way for my husband and I to pray together. There are times of course when we both get tongue tied while praying and sometimes end up saying the wrong things and there have been a few times laughter only because of the realization...did I just say what I thought I said that aside - it's been very personal.

I was telling my husband earlier this week that I thought we should pray the rosary everyday for Lent.

I'd be open to hearing what others are doing to get ideas too. Thanks for posting this!!

[I did meatless fridays for the longest time and gave it up when I accepted the fact it wasn't making me a better person/quote]

I do pray the Liturgy of the Hours but not consistenty. I do make a special effort for Advent and Lent. I agree with you about praying the Psalms. I do pray the psalms regularly during my weekly hour of Adoration.

beth40n2

I think I need to concentrate on doing the Liturgy of the Hours more consistantly also.

grassette

O Lord and Master of my life!

Take from me the spirit of sloth,
faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors
and not to judge my brother,
for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Great Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian.

freder1ck

I would add: from friends who have posted the prayer: the Great Lenten Prayer is prayed with 3 prostrations, one following each request.

jerber160

maybe now is the time to keep my house very clean for lent!!!!!

macpatti

I hope everyone had a nice Ash Wednesday and a good beginning to our Lenten journey. If you're interested, Ignatian Spirituality is offering 3 minute retreats during Lent. Check it out on their website of FB page.

Patti

grassette

http://www.frederica.com/writings/forgiveness-vespers2.html

An interesting piece on how the Orthodox start celebrating Lent.

grassette

www.sacredspace.ie

The Irish Jesuits take you through a guided meditation.

maxmariesfo

I work in a small office. I'm giving up gossip for Lent. It's crazy difficult.

I also use the Liturgy of the Hours. The book "Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers" has an excellent few pages on setting up and blessing a special place for prayer during the Lenten season. If you don't own the book, you can find it on Google Books and flip right on down to the pages on Lent.

Fr. Jim gave a homily last Sunday about Lent being the time we use to get rid of the bad habits and bring in the good. In order to become the Christians we are meant to be.

It was really good for me to hear. I realized I need to get back on track with my spiritual life as much as with my physical.

grassette

http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2012/02/24/lent-is-not-over-until-it-is-over-heres-some-humorous-help-for-latecomer-resolutions

Help for Latecomers chart. Enjoy!

macpatti

It was really good for me to hear. I realized I need to get back on track with my spiritual life as much as with my physical.

Love this!

jerber160

the concept of 'giving up' lost its appeal years ago... I never thought abstaining made me a better person. It kept me aware of the spiritual realm but I'm always kinda there. a true change for me would be, as I said before, a conscious effort to do something different, i.e. cleaning my house

Dadof8

the concept of 'giving up' lost its appeal years ago... I never thought abstaining made me a better person. It kept me aware of the spiritual realm but I'm always kinda there. a true change for me would be, as I said before, a conscious effort to do something different, i.e. cleaning my house

I believe that a big part of the graces we obtained through abstention are not for ourselves but for the “Mystical body of Christ”. If you don’t need the graces then you are the very person that can to the most good for the body. The graces you obtain through your abstention can and will be used to help another member of the Body of Christ thus improving the health of the whole.

maxmariesfo

Indeed, true! While a lot of modern Catholics don't believe in things that go bump in the night, it doesn't stop the number of spontaneous deliverances that occur during this season in the Liturgical Calendar - especially during Holy Week - due to the collective prayer and sacrifices being made by a billion plus Catholics world wide.

baloney17

For Lent this year I'm obstaining from two things:

1. Frivolous spending - I don't need to buy things just because I have a little extra money. My fiancè and I are planning our wedding and the extra $20 here or $10 there can add up fast.

2. Smartphone overuse - I bought my first Smartphone in December and I ALWAYS on in (well except while teaching). It's gotten so when Chris and I are home at night after both of us have had long days of teaching and then rehearsals, we'll sit down and it's like he's competing for my attention against the phone. Now, the phone is around, but I won't pick it up at night unless someone calls (I don't have a land line), or if something in a conversation triggers an email I was suppose to send or a message I should check. But at that point I will actually ask him if it's ok. If not, I will wait until he's upstairs documenting his food on MFP and then do my work.

I've also added something:

I've created a prayer journal that I started writing in last night. I find that Chris is always good at saying a prayer to God outloud, but sometimes I struggle for "the right words". I pray in silence and since I can get more thoughts out when I write, I felt this was the best way to go. I thoroughly enjoyed it last night and in asking for some guidance on a decision that I was having a major inner struggle with, I felt peace about what the right choice is. God listens, he is good!

The journal isn't necessarily just for me, I've offered the idea to Chris and I think he would like to give it a try as well. We'll see how it works throughout Lent. Perhaps we will have added something to strengthen our faith that we'll do year round.

jerber160

[ If you don’t need the graces then you are the very person that can to the most good for the body. ]
.

i don't think I said I didn't need grace, I said abstaining from certain foods wasn't helping me be closer to God.

JamieSK

[ If you don’t need the graces then you are the very person that can to the most good for the body. ]
.

i don't think I said I didn't need grace, I said abstaining from certain foods wasn't helping me be closer to God.

I read something recently that went into the why we do the things we do not just at lent but in our spiritual/religious life. It mentioned something along the likes that it loses its meaning if we aren't doing it out of love for God and to have a deeper more meaningful relationship with God...could this be what's missing? Most often I find that when I abstain or add prayer or whatever it may be I am even happier and more joyful because I do it out of love which of course makes it more meaningful to me. Maybe you haven't found the right things that add that meaning for you.