Lenten plans anyone?

[UrbScotty]

As I type, we are 49 1/2 hours from the beginning of Lent.

I'm getting ready to stock up on paczkis and will attend a couple fish fries.

I think I'll give up something, but I don't know what yet. My pastor says it's better to use the next 6 1/2 weeks giving up a sin we seem to hold close to us.

[tjwmason]

1. I think it's important to take something up.

My Priest said yesterday that the whole purpose of Lent is to improve our holiness. I believe that self-denial is a part of that, but not the whole.

I'll be saying Compline each evening attending more week-day Masses, and keeping an especial eye out for opportunities to be charitable.

[AngryOldDem]

2. My priest had an interesting take on Lent...

...similar to yours. Said it was a time to come closer to God and to look at those things that are preventing us from doing that. Not a time of denial, per se, but rather one of renewal. Never quite heard it put that way before, and it was refreshing.

I don't know what, exactly, I'll do, but I'm coordinating Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl for the parish for the third straight year. I also intend to give a close friend moral support as he tries to give up a vice that is really becoming a problem for him.

Used to be my parish had a series of Lenten reflections; it's not doing that this year. But they are having a bunch of run-ups to Lent that look like it's trivializing the whole thing, so I'm not planning to go to any of those.

[CBHagman]

3. Last night at mass...

...the celebrant had the following take on feasting (yes, feasting) and fasting during Lent.

He advised us to fast from resentment, worry, clutter, and the delusion that there's never enough time.

He advised us to feast on Lenten activities of various sorts (lectures, prayer, devotions, etc., at the parish), letting our lives announce the Gospel, delighting in ourselves and our relationships, and being a blessing to other people.

I can't clarify each detail on those, but the guidelines strike me as pretty solid. The Gospels say that fasting is not an opportunity to show off, and sometimes I think that Catholics make the mistake of regarding Lent as an opportunity to compete to be the most self-denying. :-)

On edit: The priest's admonitions on worrying, resentment, clutter, and the feeling of not having enough time really hit home! :-(

[demosincebirth]

4. Good message.

[Beer Snob-50]

5. i love this message!

i will be doing a class for my 10th grade ccd class on lent this week and that will be part of my talk.

[shrike]

6. Going to read Scripture

And buy a bible for my house ('bout time, huh?)

I've decided to do something positive this year, instead of "giving something up."

[CBHagman]

7. I much prefer the positive approach.

Taking something on, as long as it's done in the right spirit, may be preferable to public self-denial of something, though self-denial has its role.

I like the fact that Muslims emphasize both understanding the feeling of want (through fasting) and the need to give alms.

[Lefty48197]

8. Lots of fish and no alcohol

I've given up alcohol during Lent for the last few years. It's a strong reminder...

[IronLionZion]

9. I have no idea what to do

In the past, I've given up certain foods that I like, but I'm not eating that junk anyway for health reasons.

Maybe I'll do more volunteer work or something.

[elshiva]

10. I am giving up spending money on junk, and putting it towards

charity. I wish I could say that I could give up binging and hitting myself, but that is going to take more than 40 days to accomplish...

BLESSINGS TO ALL!

[Matilda]

11. I'm doing the giving-up thing as usual.

It's good to practise a bit of discipline once in a while. And if the money saved goes into the
Project Compassion box, that's something positive.

We used to have a very good Wednesday night meditation program at my church - some Taize chanting,
a decade of the Rosary, some hymns and the Exposition of the Sacrament. And each week a parishioner
would tell of their particular spiritual journey, which was often interesting and sometimes quite
surprising. And the lights were dimmed, and the sanctuary covered all over in candles - I find
that kind of beauty very helpful in focusing. The whole experience was very calming and cleansing.

But our new PP has instituted lectures instead, and the priest who gives them is not a very
interesting speaker. He's actually highly intelligent, and has a rather dry sense of humour, but
when he gives talks, it's very dull. He just doesn't have the gift of inspiration. I went to one
of the talks last year, but my mind wandered off somewhere on its own, so I don't think I'll bother
this year.