Lent
 

10 Things We Can Do For Lent

As we enter into another Lent, we desire to show the Lord that He is more important to us than any material good in the world.  All we need is he.  The following are some ideas...

10 Things A Person Can Choose to Fast From This Lent:
1.  Chocolate or Sweets. 
2.  Alochol, Cigaretts, Illegal Drugs
3.  Unnecessary use of the Internet
4.  Fowl Language
5.  Criticizing others
6.  Game Consols/Television
7.  Speciality Coffees or Drinks
8.  From beating yourself up.
9.  Anything keeping you from Church on Sunday
10. From Apathy.

1.  Attend Daily Mass (or one additional Mass a week.  This Mass may not be at your praish.
2.  Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
3.  Attend an extra Parish Function
4.  Stations of the Cross: Suggestion for Stations of the Cross Prayer can be found here.
5,  Memorize a new prayer
6.  Try journaling.
7.  Try praying Scriptures
8.   Explore the Rules of Discernment
9.  Join a Prayer Group
10. Chaplet of Divine Mercy

1.  Donate to Catholic Relief Services
2.  Say a kind word to somoene
3.  Perform one or more of the Corporal works of Mercy
4.  Perform one or more of the Spiritual works of Mercy
5.  Visit a nursing home
6.  Donate some of your time to Church
7.  Send cards of affirmation to people who need a pick me up.
8. Spend time with a child/grandchild or with parent
9.  Forgive someone who has hurt you.
10. Donate to a food pantry.

I always get frustrated during Lent listening to my favorite workday DJs.  Every year they get involved in a deep discussion about whether or not they can eat chocolate on Sundays during Lent.  This frustrates me because I know through their own acknowledgement that they do not take the time to go to Church on Sunday and that a few of them are living lives that are quite opposite of Church teaching.  Lent is not about giving up things for the sake of giving up things.  Lent is about giving up things in order to become a better person and to improve one’s relationship with God.  Here are five things that I would suggest people consider giving up for Lent. 

1) Arriving late for Mass-let God know that He is more important to you than a job interview. 
2) Leaving early from Mass-let God know that you have no place better to be. 
3) Sitting in the same place each week-meet some of your other brothers and sisters in Christ.
4) Not taking the time to greet the person next to you before Mass begins.
5) Not singing. 

Here are five things that you could do during Lent
1) volunteer to be a ministers at Mass
2) dressing a little better to reinforce the fact that you are a new creation in Christ.
3) Compliment one of the ministers
4) pray the Anima Christi or other prayer after receiving Communion &
5)read the readings for Mass before Mass or  after Mass. 
 

1. Don’t buy anything that you don’t NEED.  If you can live without it, you don’t need it.  Give it up for Lent.  Put the money that you would have spent into a jar.  You will be surprised at how quickly you build up your savings.  

2- Throw Away 40 things for 40 days Every day, you walk around your house and collect 40 things to donate or throw away… every day, until Lent ends.   (Try donating, because you are helping others).

3- 40 Days of home Organization Go a step further this year. It is a day by day cleaning & decluttering that lasts through Lent.  You can do 40 tasks or just work through Lent.  It’s a way for me to free up the things that hold me back… material things.  Be sure to GIVE to others through donation after your organization.

4- No Gossiping.  Give up gossiping for Lent. That means you cannot do any gossiping.  None!  If someone says something negative about another person, either say something nice or don’t say anything at all.  

5- No eating after dinner This one is hard for me, so it really makes me think about Lent because I can see just a glimpse of how Jesus struggled when he was hungry.  I eat most of my snacks in the evening when I am watching TV.

6- Give up Soda for Lent This one is easy & not really out-of-the-box, but it is my struggle, so I had to include it.  

7. Say 3 nice things to your spouse & kids daily. You may think this is easy, but try to say things that aren’t the normal “Thanks” or “You look nice.” or “Good job.”   Try to do 3 out-of-the-box things during Lent this year “I love how you always help the kids.”  or  “I love how you work hard on your homework, even when it is tough tonight.  You are a hard worker”   Try to say this important word to your kids.  Remember… your words become their inner voice.

8- Don’t eat out for 40 days.   Try to make easy crockpot meals, like this French Dip Sandwich recipe or this Chicken Salsa recipe

9-  Replace 30 minutes of TV time with 30 extra minutes of devotion/prayer time.  Read a devotional or bible story with your family and have a discussion about it.  Even young kids can get involved in this.  

10- Do not complain. We often complain and whine about things, but we need to try to have a positive outlook on things. I tried this one year and it was VERY hard.   You don’t realize how much you complain until you give it up…  “Do everything without arguing or complaining…” Philippians 2:14 NIV

11.  (Bonus)- Spend more one-on-one time with your kids! We only have a few years to really be present in their lives.   Let’s spend these years wisely.  

Q. Why do we say that there are forty days of Lent? When you count all the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, there are 46.
A. It might be more accurate to say that there is the "forty day fast within Lent." Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence.
 
Q. So does that mean that when we give something up for Lent, such as candy, we can have it on Sundays?
A. Apart from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the days of abstinence every Friday of Lent, Catholics have traditionally chosen additional penitential practices for the whole Time of Lent. These practices are disciplinary in nature and often more effective if they are continuous, i.e., kept on Sundays as well. That being said, such practices are not regulated by the Church, but by individual conscience.
 
Q. I understand that all the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat, but I'm not sure what is classified as meat. Does meat include chicken and dairy products?
A. Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs --- all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted.
 
Q. I've noticed that restaurants and grocery stores advertise specials on expensive types of fish and seafood on Fridays during Lent. Some of my Catholic friends take advantage of these deals, but somehow I don't feel right treating myself to the lobster special on Fridays during Lent.
A. While fish, lobster and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point. Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent is a penitential practice. On the Fridays of Lent, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday and unite ourselves with that sacrifice through abstinence and prayer.
 
Q. I understand that Catholics ages 18 to 59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, but what exactly are the rules for these fasts?
A. Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
 
Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?
A. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.