What are all you Catholics giving up for Lent? Of course, I will probably be one of about three people posting here... -potato chips -soft drinks -fast food crap (ie, I can still eat Subway, but can't go on one of my renowned White Castle binges)
I did that a couple of years ago. It wasn't that bad for me. Soft drinks was the hardest one I've had to do, and I'm going back for more.
I always try to turn Lent into a diet as I always need to lose weight. In other words, I'm abusing the system. As it is, I'm not a very good Catholic anyway. I stopped drinking (which I really enjoy....it's like a carrot to help me lose weight) back in September, so I could say I'm giving up alcohol, but even that wouldn't be true as I'm probably going to break down the weekend before Easter. One of my better friends is getting married, and we're having a Vegas bachelor party. Who am I kidding; of course I'll break down. I guess I'm not really going to give up anything.
I don't think I'll be giving anything up. I don't really participant in any of the rituals of my inherited religion. But, I still think they kick butt, so keeley, Hoop-T and everyone: good luck.
not just a catholic thing...i used to give up stuff for Lent all the time while growing up Protestant. one of my business partners and fellow church members is giving up meats and sweets!! wow!!! i haven't decided yet...
now see, I never knew if it was or not but in high school I asked a friend who I knew wasn't Catholic and she said that protestants didn't do lent or give stuff up (and she was fairly into her religion, I think Baptist) so do Protestants officially do the lent thing or is just that some churches do it anyway. also, I have to say I sorta do that "use it as an excuse to diet thing" also. I've given up desserts for a few years now. Of course, it feels like I'm just doing it to lose weight, and then it turns noon of the first day and I'm willing to murder for a cookie and I realize the diet part don't mean **** that this is freakin hard. I've actually been pretty good about the dessert thing but I have to use a few technicalities to get me through. Like Jester has Krispy Kreme donuts. Now if I go there at 10 pm just to eat some, they count as desserts and I can't do it. But if it's between my 9 and 11 classes in the morning and I just need something in my stomach I can eat them and not just cereal or something. also, it nevers works as a diet anyway cuz I can always find something to take the desserts place.
Man, I worked at Long John Silvers during Lent one year... Let me tell you, those Catholics can PUT AWAY some fish on Fridays. Every single order was a family sized meal...The place was as dead as Steve Guttenberg's acting career six days a week (the place would go out of business soon after I quit), but on Fridays, man...My shirt smelled like fish, my pants smelled like fish, my jacket smelled like fish...It was like I was dating princess! I'd get off work around midnight, and these damn cats would be waiting for me outside...The SAME cats, every....single....time...just waiting...hoping for a morsel of dried grease or batter to fall off my tired body...You would figure that if they were smart enough to know I worked there every Friday, they could find a way to bust in the place and ransack it every night... Good thing I never actually carried any of that pseudo fish like substance out of the store...I could just see the headline <font size="6">College Student Killed By Deranged Cats</font> <font size="4">Mangled body covered in scratch marks, bloody paw prints</font> But, I really can't blame Catholics for all that...If it weren't for Catholics, there wouldn't be catholic school chicks in plaid skirts...
I have a question about Lent. Is the idea behind it to give up something that will generally benefit you, or to just give up anything that will be difficult to give up as a sign of your devotion? Because I was discussing it with a friend yesterday, and he seemed to be of the opinion that you are not supposed to choose things to give up because it will be good for you, but because it is something that will be hard on you. For instance, he gave up listening to the radio in his car for Lent one year. To me, this sounded crazy. I could not fathom a reason for doing it, and as he explained it, there was no practical reason for a non-Catholic, but because it was difficult, it was good for Lent. It showed his devotion. What are some of the other Catholics' opinions on this? How do you decide what to give up? Edit: Damn, A-Train, that was one of the funniest posts I have read in a LONG time.
Awesome post A-Train. I'd get off work around midnight, and these damn cats would be waiting for me outside...Good thing I never actually carried any of that pseudo fish like substance out of the store It's not fish? What do they use at Long John Silver's? Cats???!!!
I'm catholic. Usually I don't give up something too significant, but last year was a big one. I gave up French Fries. Now, that may not sound like much, but realize: - I LOVE french fries. I'm addicted. - I'm in college at the time . . . everything from the cafeteria (from chicken sandwiches to tacos) comes with french fries It was hard. The day that Lent was over, I ate french fries with/as every meal for like 3 days. I haven't even thought about this year. I think I'm gonna give up work
<b>pseudo fish like substance</b> I wonder if that's anything like the eggs at Whataburger. Watch them next time you order a taquito. They pour the egg out of a milk carton that says "EGG PRODUCT". I choose not to think too much about it and enjoy my taquito. AAAAAHHHHGGGHHHH. Taquitoooooo.
Another question about Lent: Lent does not include Sundays. If you give something up during Lent, can you have it on Sunday(s)?
Raven: as I understand, it is supposed to be a significant sacrifice. It's not necessarily about having a better lifestyle, per se, for 40 days. Pole: That is how I have always understood Lent - Sundays don't count, so to speak.
The tradition of giving something up is originally as a personal sacrifice to emulate Jesus' fasting in the desert after his baptism (40 days, just like Lent). But that's not really the only reason. We also take this time to try and make ourselves better people by re-focusing our lives to God and his goodness. We can give something up that takes our focus away from God. It also gives us the discipline to say "no" to something we enjoy. Then, when something bad comes along, we may find it easier to say "no" to that as well. It doesn't have to be giving something up, but that has kindof become the tradition. A more spiritual look is from <a href="http://www.dwc.org/questions/images/Faith/givingup.htm">This Page</a> <i>First I'd like to say I like your site a lot. It's very informative and has answered a lot of the questions I have about our practices. I'm Catholic myself, and went to Catholic school from kindergarten through Senior year of high school. I still have some questions about why we do certain things, like giving up things for Lent. For Lent I gave up a few things, some to better myself (like cursing), others as a sacrifice, like chocolates. What is the reason we give up things during Lent? <http://www.dwc.org/questions/_themes/subterra/subrulea.gif> Thanks for your question. As we head towards the Sacred Triduum this week, I suspect the long Lent is catching up to folks. I'm ready for a basket of chocolate myself. Lent is a time to focus on initiation, specifically our baptismal call to live in communion with God, others, the created world, and self. We all fall short of living up to this calling, our baptismal vocation. Lent offers us an annual 40 day retreat to re-focus our lives on what is essential, vital, and central to our lives. Because we often fail at living in communion with God, others, the world and self, we seek opportunities for penance that will set us back on track. The ancient practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the key means for observing Lent. These are spiritual disciplines that serve to keep us focused on our baptismal calling. Prayer helps keep us in tune with God and opens us to hear and accept God's will for our lives. Fasting --both from foods and behaviors--serve to remind us what we really hunger for (at the core of our being). Fasting also serves to keep us mindful of the enormous amount of 'stuff' that clutters our lives and distracts us from God's will. Almsgiving enables us to acknowledge how deeply we have been blessed by God with time, talent and money. It also keeps us connected with those who lack the basics in terms of economic survival. As you can see, prayer-fasting-almsgiving are intrinsically linked with each. Too often, our energies are turned to what we give up and keeping the Lenten fast becomes "getting through it". We too often lose the spirit of why we fast and pray and give alms. It's not simply to make us better people, but to put us in communion with God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. So how we pray, what we fast from and how we give alms become purposeful, meaningful in as much as it connects us with God, others, creation and ourselves. Have a Holy Week, <http://www.dwc.org/questions/_themes/subterra/subrulea.gif> Answer provided by: <http://www.dwc.org/questions/_themes/subterra/subbul1a.gif> Michael Grammer Director of Communications </i>
Yeah, I've always understood it be something significant. Like I said, no desserts is a good thing, but it is definitely harder than the health part is worth. And sundays definitely don't count. There ain't no way f4p could go 40 actual days without some desserts. I will be packing away the sweet stuff on sundays and chewing gum like a madman the other six days. Oh yeah, thanks A-train. I had almost forgotten about no meat on Fridays. I'll probably forget the first friday and eat a burger and then realize it later. And about Long John Silver's, that place is definitely packed on friday's. Back in high school, my family always had to pick up the food early if we wanted to get it in under an hour.
