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It's Ash Wednesday, how are you spending the next 40 days?
Yeah, so Lent starts today. Ash Wednesday. Fourty days to Good Friday.
I'm far from a Roman Catholic, and don't follow any other Catholic doctrine. I'm a Protestant, actually. I do, however, take part in Lent. Or at least, this will be my second year. My mother was raised Catholic, and even after becoming Pentecostal, she continued giving up sweets for lent (these days, it's just chocolate ).
I don't really take part in the spiritual sense, and not in the religious sense. Last year I decided to fast for the fourty days, simply because I thought it would be good for me. I see Lent as an opportunity to purge after the holidays, where most of us over indulge in many different things.
It leaves me wondering if Lent was originally in preparation for Easter, or if it had originated elsewhere, as a tradition of purging after the year end celebrations that almost everyone took part in.
I lost over 15 lbs of garbage last year at this time, and would like to do the same again.
Some of the things I give up for the fourty days are:
-sweets (chocolate, sugar candies, pop, cakes, fudge, chocolate, etc.) yes, all sweets -junk food, like chips, popcorn, or any fast food -coffee -beer and liquor -heavy dressings like cream sauces, BBQ sauce, Mayo, etc. -smoking (don't ask me what, you won't like the answer)
So when I'm thirsty, I'll drink water or unsweetened fruit juice. If I'm hungry, I'll eat basic foods with little to no garnish, or grab an apple. If I'm bored, I'll take a walk.
So, I'm wondering who here takes part in Lent, or who would consider purging outside of the religion?
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Caw
"I am a Canadian by birth, but I am a Highlander by blood and feel under an obligation to do all I can for the sake of the Highlanders and their literature.... I have never yet spoken a word of English to any of my children. They can speak as much English as they like to others, but when they talk to me they have to talk in Gaelic."
-Alexander Maclean Sinclair of Goshen (protector of Gaelic Culture)
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 911
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 Zodiac: Oak
Here's the view of one religious person.
QUOTE
LENT by the Rev. Frank McCraven The word is apparently from the Old English, lengten, meaning Spring. In the Roman Catholic Church Lent came to mean a season of penitence in preparation for Easter. We Protestants noted that it was a time when Catholics had to eat fish on Fridays and give up something. (Non Catholics suspected that nothing important was given up.)
Some of us, including Roman Catholics, had to learn that there was a history behind that Lenten practice. Today it is much more than Friday fish and no Hershey bars for forty days, but whatever it might mean to those who keep Lent it still points back to an ancient Church history that needs noting.
Some histories of the early church tell us of a three year preparation time for baptism, and baptism was and is the way we become part of the Church. Baptisms took place on Easter, about the earliest time weather would permit, and a major focus in the preparation was the last forty days. When we remember that becoming a Christian would put your life on the line literally, it wasn?t something to rush into. These were the days of Christian persecution.
I?ve read some modern authors? suggestion we revive that preparation practice. With so much preparation we would not need other training programs for preachers or teachers. You could just select these from the membership. There are accounts of this happening in the early congregations. It may not be a bad idea at all.
Some other elements of a revival of the practice may not work so well. In some accounts the method of Baptism was pouring, with the candidate standing in a shallow pool in the sanctuary, in the altogether. The significance of standing bare and open before God and everyone is evident, but the practice will remain a matter of history. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are some things that come to my mind as I see Ash Wednesday appear on the calendar. Christmas has become the major Christian holiday even though without the Resurrection Christmas is without meaning. The Apostle Paul said the ?all is vain? without it.
It was the hope of early Church leaders that setting major Christian feast days at the time of major pagan celebrations would push the paganism away. There were pagan celebrations aplenty, particularly those associated with nature religions/fertility cults. The leaders were wrong. Though we do better with Christmas, which was set to replace the Winter Solstice, celebration. Though we call it Christ...mas it is still much less than it should be.
Easter, the Vernal Equinox celebration, (the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox) still carries the name of Easter (Ester, Esther, Istar...) Bunnies, eggs, and new clothes, especially for women, are still cherished elements.
We will become very frustrated if we try to do away with what has become a major marketing season. But we could spend some time recognizing that cuddly little bunnies and colored eggs, even chocolate ones, do not carry the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Time spent reflecting on our baptismal vows, what our salvation cost God and what it has cost us will be time well spent. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group: Celtic Nation
Posts: 938
Joined: 15-Dec-2003 Zodiac: Oak
Realm: Maryland
I'll be trying to give up my potty mouth. I work with a lively bunch of people and the language has rubbed off. I figure it'll be an improvement overall in my life, instead of just for 40 days.
Being of the Roman Catholic faith (even though I don't agree with some of its doctrines), I went to Mass this afternoon in the nearby Catholic hospital's chapel. They have Mass at 3:30 everyday. While at Mass, I decided I was going to give up chocolate for Lent.
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Mike F.
May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
I too am of Roman Catholic Faith, Lent to me is an important time, it's not necessarily about that which you are "giving up", but what you could be doing differently.
Jesus went 40 days and 40 nights resisting temptation, and nourishment.
So, for lent, I will be even more involved with Church/Community, I will not raise my voice to my children (that one will be hard! ) I will pray more, and try to not stress over the small stuff.
Hmm.. you guys have inspired me. I will give up chocolate for Lent, and I really ought to stop my potty mouth as well We can all try and keep each other straight and give moral support!
Hmm.. you guys have inspired me. I will give up chocolate for Lent, and I really ought to stop my potty mouth as well We can all try and keep each other straight and give moral support!
Chocolate I can do without. It will be painful though, because my favorite doughnuts (Boston Kremes) and cookies (Oreo Double Stufs) have chocolate.
Coffee, on the other hand, if I gave that up, I might as well give up breathing. I cannot go longer than a day without this particular divine nectar .
I hear you, Mike. Three days without, and I'm falling asleep at my desk, at the wheel. Not to mention that I'm one cranky bugger too. I've had no sweets or any other junk food yet, but Ange did get me a sub at Subway the other night.
(I'd rather not tell you about that last can of Kilkenny that I had in the fridge)
lent is my favourite time of the year, giving up of my favourite food,desires & pleasures makes me think of the people starving in the world. i gave up chocolate last year, but its hard to say no to it,especially in occasions this year i'll try to give up liquor & staying awake for hours at night! this is my worst problem, especially when i have classes starting at 8am.. as for my fiance he is trying to give up futball, my enemy, he should be more responsible toward his future wife & im still trying to keep my friend away from watching porn, i made a progress since last year, but he's not over with it..tough job!
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"May your mind be master of its vow; may your soul be master of its vow; and may you live on in the joy of your soul all the nights of your life."
Vd. 18.27
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