Thursday, March 16, 2017

Lent: Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving 2017 Edition

Hello all!

We are now in Week Two of the season of Lent, a preparatory penitential season starting on Ash Wednesday and continuing until Holy Week.

For Catholics and many other Christians, Lent is marked with forty days of fasting from something, two days of complete fasting, and abstaining from flesh meat on Fridays. Many folks, us included, will also add a form of prayer and almsgiving in addition to giving up a habit or material item. The Mister and I, being newlyweds and best friends with pretty similar vices, have decided to give up/add/give out the same things. I want to speak to them today and share some of the benefits, as well as thoughts for the future.

FASTING: from fast food and delivery*
*There have been occasions where eating out could not be avoided. For example, during our trip to Dallas we had to eat out a couple of times, and recently for a good friend's birthday dinner. On those days, we make a donation to a charity or church in the area as an alternative form of penance.

benefits: of course health-wise and financially this has been great, but Lent is not a diet plan (as a sister once said.) what this was about from the start was resisting the temptation to be lazy and gluttonous. i discovered through this past year that i rely on food for comfort after a long day when i need to connect with my friends, husband, and our awesome God instead. it's been a challenge and some days it's harder than others, but it's a great exercise in denying my selfish desires and choosing health.

PRAYER: adding prayer when possible to our everyday lives

benefit: knowing i need to find a way to add prayer each day means that i'm challenging myself to allow God to come in in more situations, as well as making me aware of the need to sacrifice time or personal pleasures for my spiritual health. i'm still working on this one, personally.

ALMSGIVING: our diocese has these cool "Ashes to Easter" collection boxes every year, so we grabbed one and have been putting change and extra cash inside

benefit: good place for change to go as well as reminds me to spend less and give more. we also, in connection to fasting above, try to donate when possible of our time or resources when we're going out or having to break our fast. tomorrow is st. patrick's day and our diocese has a dispensation allowing abstience to be replaced tomorrow only... so we're making corned beef and we TORE through our closet looking for clothing to donate. there's a huge box of great stuff going to st. vincent de paul tomorrow!

What about y'all? If you "celebrate" Lent, do you do so with prayer, fasting, almsgiving, or a combination of the above? I'd love to hear your ideas! I want to continue this tradition in Advent as well, given that it is also considered a season of penance and it is so easy to overindulge around the holidays.

Blessings,
Maria

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