Ash Wednesday...(just a week away)
...the first day of Lent.
What does that really mean? As I read somewhere, Ash Wednesday is a day for remembering one's mortality...'Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.'This year, this really hits home...after the death of my precious Christine, I reflect on my mortality weekly. During Lent, Christians typically abstain/fast/give up something important to them or do something of importance...this Lenten season will be different than all others.
In the past, I've typically abstained from drinking alcoholic beverages. Well, since 10.30.05, I've abstained from drinking beer...almost 3 times the Lenten season of 40 days. I recall the years when it was so difficult not to drink on the train ride home, or at home, not to mention in social situations. Now, it's not even a temptation...weird. I recall a friend asking me why I've not had any beer since that day...I'm not exactly certain, but I think it has to do with joy and letting loose.
I know a friend who says the Rosary every day during Lent. He has a little Rosary ring that he holds in his hand as he's walking to/from work and it keeps track of the prayers. Since 10.30.05, I've been praying daily...saying the Our Father and Hail Mary many times a day.
So, what do I do this year? Since I've been living a Lenten type life for almost 17 weeks, what to do? Just seems like I should be doing more...I would like to go to mass each day, but I'm not certain that is possible with work schedule--but will investigate.
I spoke to my brother a few weeks back and he provided this list of fasting ideas...
from an article by Fr. Charles Faso, O.F.M called "The Joy of Lent"
1. "Fast from suspicion and feast on truth"
2. "Fast from complaining and feast on appreciation"
3. "Fast from judging others and feast on Christ within others"
4. "Fast from idle gossip and feast on purposeful silence"
5. "Fast from anger and feast on forgiveness"
6. "Fast from discouragement and feast on hope"
7. "Fast from worry and feast on trusting God"
8. "Fast from unrelenting pressures and feast on unceasing prayer"
9. "Fast from lethargy and feast on enthusiasm"
10. "Fast from emphasizing the differences and feast on the unity of life"
11. "Fast from thoughts of illness and feast on the healing power of God"
What are you *doing* for Lent? How are you preparing for Easter?
posted by Bike @ 11:45 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Well here's our lenten on going traditions as Nancy would say. We fast, eat fish every friday, I give up starbucks(VERY HARD FOR ME)usually need rehad after that lol, our children give up something too and I/children go to the stations once a week. This year were starting this spiritual outing through school. You go to others homes, pray, talk and reflex on life. Well I'll find out more but they do it all through lent and are even starting one for small kids this year. You just do your best that's all he's asking of us and by the way Lent is very hard for me. I have to go from a 4 shot grande mocha to a mocha the week before so I don't get the major headaches. So I have some suffering there and that's what matters the most. Which already you have been doing since 10/30 (suffering) but maybe he just wants you to reflex more, smile more, live more. Lent can be done in so many different ways it's there for us to show how much we care for him, remember why he died for us and just believe. When I was a kid every day during lent we chose a neighbor we liked and helped them or give them things to be nice but they had no clue why we did it.
DC
DC: Thanks for sharing your traditions and past Lenten activities...very insightful and inspirational.
At the CRHP follow-up meeting last night, we spoke of this very subject and so I knew I had to polish my draft copy of this post and put it out there.
I hope all who read this post do something meaningful this Lent--as you are doing with your family.
Thanks!
I don't have an answer to that. But it makes me want to plan something meaningful. In the past, Debbie, my friend and co-worker and I would try to speak to someone in our lives---a friend from far away, family member, co-worker--once per week, and share some compliment or praise that we had just not verbalized before. There is no time like the present.
When I was in grade school, Sherrie and I, my best friend, decided to be lector at the noon mass each day during lent--we did that instead of the "play ground". It meant something to both of us. Also, Linda, our sister, and I have always taken to listening to Jesus Christ SuperStar--the rock opera, which we have memorized thoroughly...as it is the Easter story.
I liked the fast and feast passage. Makes the point, it does not have to be material, but meaningful.
Tess
Giving up something has always been meaningless to me. (Plus, I always failed.) I prefer to take action. I joined a faith-sharing group, called "Leaven Groups" this year. They are sponsored by the church and we go through a prescribed series of readings and reflections. But the best, most meaningful thing I do during lent is to participate in the full Triduum, (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil.) On Good Friday, a few years ago, after the veneraton of the cross, this huge cross was lifted way up above our heads afterwards, (using pulleys, I guess. I will never, ever forget that moment when we watched the cross ascend. It was the most beautiful, symbolic, profound gesture and it sill moves me to this day. JJS
Tess & JJS,
Thanks for sharing your traditions & thoughts on this subject! I like knowing/hearing what others do...I often only think my giving up drinking/beer is the way...not anymore.
MM
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