Author Topic: Lent 2023  (Read 1606 times)

Weisass

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Lent 2023
« on: February 21, 2023, 02:02:07 PM »
Calling all observers of the Lenten Season! Wondering if any of you are interested in providing accountability and community to one another virtually during the Lenten season this year?  I know for myself I am feeling drawn to a renewal within myself respecting the three major practices of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Charity.

With that in mind, I am considering a daylight fast and no-buy lent as a way to focus my attention towards practicing generosity with more intention as well.  I figure, all that time that I'm not spending money I can spend more of my time focused on my family and my prayer life.

I'm wondering, what are y'all planning for the Lenten season? Anything? Anyone want to support one another? Or be held accountable?


Batsignaling folks I know to practice in some capacity to get responses:
 @Sailor Sam @nereo @Fireball @Exflyboy @SweetTPi @FINate @Michael in ABQ

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2023, 05:26:45 AM »
Started lent in my least favorite way …. With a sick kid last night. I suppose if I want to be legalistic I can say lent doesn’t start until Ash Wednesday service, but I was sort of hoping to spend some time this morning thinking more carefully about how this was gonna go.

Sailor Sam

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2023, 06:34:00 AM »
Hey @Weisass, thanks for the bat signal.

I'm actually not quite sure what to focus on for Lent. I'm already doing a low-buy year for 2023, and I started a new eating manifesto on the 20th. I feel like I'm already doing the Lenten things by deeply examining my consumption (aka: earthly desires), in order to really focus on what's good for my brain (aka: spirit). It feels a little bit like cheating to nudge my efforts a little towards God, and call it Lent. I played with adding something, but I'm so tired all the time. I dunno.

Either way, I do enjoy Lent, and all the pageantry of Easter, and I want to be included.

Sorry your offspring is sick :(

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2023, 06:58:37 AM »
You know, @Sailor Sam , I feel you hard on this. I wanted to do the no buy year, but I couldn't pull it together this time. So I think I'm gonna join those of you who are for Lent, and see how that goes. And the big one really is that we are going to tithe (for real) during lent, which is something we have been working towards over the years with mixed success. Should be easier if we aren't buying stuff, right? A girl can hope, at least.

And I'm committing to reading a daily devotional, which I am appalling at doing on a regular basis. So that, I hope, will do for prayer, fasting, and charity. We will see.

Nangirl17

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2023, 09:54:12 AM »
I'd love to joining the Lenten journey here! I didn't grow up observing lent in our spiritual practice, so this is a new thing for me. (I am wanting to go back to the 'basics' of Christianity and more what the Christian church at large observes, and less what my local traditions are).

We had a discussion last night as a family about what we are each going to fast from (online gaming for me, tablet games for DH and lego for DS10), and will light a candle and do a devotional reading each evening after supper - similar to what we do for Advent. DS loves this tradition for Advent, so we are adapting it for Lent. Am fasting today until supper.

I am also bad at maintaining a Scripture reading plan, so am picking up what I was really faithful with for the first few weeks of January and carrying on!

I've been reading that some people abstain from meat on Fridays during lent - I'm not sure what the logic is behind that, can anyone enlighten me?

FINate

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2023, 10:36:05 AM »
Traditional fasting is off the table for me this year.  Between chemo and being dangerously underweight last year, drs orders are to eat as much as possible to put on more lbs.

Before cancer I was fasting 1-2x/week and I miss it. Other types of fasting are good, like from buying and social media, but there's a reason abstaining from food was a commonly practiced spiritual discipline in 1st century Judaism and the early church, and it's clear that Jesus expected his disciples would fast after his ascension.

Food is good and necessary for the body, which is also good, but there's something about denying a fleshly appetite for a period of time that I find very meaningful and useful. Like I said, I miss it, hope to start again soon.

So for Lent I've been considering alternatives, haven't really come up with anything. I don't drink alcohol anymore after having most of my liver removed, nor do I smoke or anything like that. The only thing that comes to mind is giving up social media/internet forums, as these take time during my day. So I may do that, even though Lent has already started and here I am on a forum, lol.

ixtap

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2023, 10:40:07 AM »
I'd love to joining the Lenten journey here! I didn't grow up observing lent in our spiritual practice, so this is a new thing for me. (I am wanting to go back to the 'basics' of Christianity and more what the Christian church at large observes, and less what my local traditions are).

We had a discussion last night as a family about what we are each going to fast from (online gaming for me, tablet games for DH and lego for DS10), and will light a candle and do a devotional reading each evening after supper - similar to what we do for Advent. DS loves this tradition for Advent, so we are adapting it for Lent. Am fasting today until supper.

I am also bad at maintaining a Scripture reading plan, so am picking up what I was really faithful with for the first few weeks of January and carrying on!

I've been reading that some people abstain from meat on Fridays during lent - I'm not sure what the logic is behind that, can anyone enlighten me?

Originally, one abstained from meat throughout lent. This was lightened up to just Fridays, I believe with the same round of reforms that gave us mass in the vernacular for the Catholic Church, although I believe some Protestants have done Fridays even longer. This restriction is the origin of Fish Fridays.

Abstaining from meat was kind of fasting light, complete fasting such as is done for Ramadan was not generally expected of lay folk.

OurTown

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2023, 10:42:06 AM »
Regular fasting:  yes!  It usually works out as alternate day fasting for 36 hours a pop.

Being mindful of thoughts, feelings & emotions in real time:  yes!

Finding a way to do things for others, small acts of kindness, at least once a day:  yes!


Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2023, 12:49:35 PM »
I'd love to joining the Lenten journey here! I didn't grow up observing lent in our spiritual practice, so this is a new thing for me. (I am wanting to go back to the 'basics' of Christianity and more what the Christian church at large observes, and less what my local traditions are).

We had a discussion last night as a family about what we are each going to fast from (online gaming for me, tablet games for DH and lego for DS10), and will light a candle and do a devotional reading each evening after supper - similar to what we do for Advent. DS loves this tradition for Advent, so we are adapting it for Lent. Am fasting today until supper.

I am also bad at maintaining a Scripture reading plan, so am picking up what I was really faithful with for the first few weeks of January and carrying on!

I've been reading that some people abstain from meat on Fridays during lent - I'm not sure what the logic is behind that, can anyone enlighten me?

That sounds great! I have really appreciated looking to the traditions of the ancient church to guide me; I find comfort in the communal acts that we participate in. With respect to abstaining from meat, the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions both abstain from meat during the Lenten observance. I think part of that has to do with fasting as a symbol of the discipline it takes to turn away from sin. I have heard Catholics say that they fast from meat on Fridays because of Good Friday, and because meat is a celebratory food. Fasting in general though is a way of focusing on your own dependence, and seeking to remember your dependence on God for sustenance.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2023, 12:51:19 PM »
Traditional fasting is off the table for me this year.  Between chemo and being dangerously underweight last year, drs orders are to eat as much as possible to put on more lbs.

Before cancer I was fasting 1-2x/week and I miss it. Other types of fasting are good, like from buying and social media, but there's a reason abstaining from food was a commonly practiced spiritual discipline in 1st century Judaism and the early church, and it's clear that Jesus expected his disciples would fast after his ascension.

Food is good and necessary for the body, which is also good, but there's something about denying a fleshly appetite for a period of time that I find very meaningful and useful. Like I said, I miss it, hope to start again soon.

So for Lent I've been considering alternatives, haven't really come up with anything. I don't drink alcohol anymore after having most of my liver removed, nor do I smoke or anything like that. The only thing that comes to mind is giving up social media/internet forums, as these take time during my day. So I may do that, even though Lent has already started and here I am on a forum, lol.

I have appreciated the idea in this sense of fasting from consumption, and then taking that money and putting it towards charity. It is a good challenge, and the two practices build on one another.

I'm sorry that you are not able to fast in the way you enjoy, but I also think it is a really good thing that you are listening to your doctors. The church fathers have all sorts of reasons why fasting may not be the best choice for a particular body at a particular time.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2023, 12:51:47 PM »
Regular fasting:  yes!  It usually works out as alternate day fasting for 36 hours a pop.

Being mindful of thoughts, feelings & emotions in real time:  yes!

Finding a way to do things for others, small acts of kindness, at least once a day:  yes!

Those all sound like great practices. I will be holding you in prayer!

Nangirl17

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2023, 10:03:57 AM »
Thanks for the explanations re: abstaining from meat. Perhaps we'll incorporate that another year and do a veggie Lent! =)


StarBright

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2023, 11:19:46 AM »
Thanks for this thread.

I had been waffling on committing to another church volunteer thing. I'm overbooked as it is, but church was asking for help in something that I am very good at.

Because of this thread I offered my assistance for Lent.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2023, 12:44:47 PM »
Thanks for the explanations re: abstaining from meat. Perhaps we'll incorporate that another year and do a veggie Lent! =)

I hear you! FWIW, I positively STINK at fasting. I tried going from zero to sixty on the concept in college, and ended up feeling pretty awful. Then again, I talked to a muslim friend about fasting earlier this week, and he shared with me that the first few days of ramadan are always the worst. it gets better after time. Which made sense to me.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2023, 12:46:17 PM »
Thanks for this thread.

I had been waffling on committing to another church volunteer thing. I'm overbooked as it is, but church was asking for help in something that I am very good at.

Because of this thread I offered my assistance for Lent.

If that is something you felt called to do, then I will be praying for you in Lent. I often find that I abstain from doing too much during lent to remind myself that I am finite and human, that I can't do it all.  This week I was actually reminded of the poem by Madeleine L'Engle, entitled "For Lent,"

It is my Lent to break my Lent,
To eat when I would fast,
To know when slender strength is spent,
Take shelter from the blast
When I would run with wind and rain,
To sleep when I would watch.
It is my Lent to smile at pain
But not ignore its touch.

It is my Lent to listen well
When I would be alone,
To talk when I would rather dwell
In silence, turn from none
Who call on me, to try to see
That what is truly meant
Is not my choice. If Christ’s I’d be
It’s thus I’ll keep my Lent.





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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2023, 12:42:38 PM »
I just stopped in out of curiosity, and was reminded of a story from Fintan O'Toole's history of modern Ireland:

O’Toole bundles these hypocrisies under the delicious term “Connie dodging.” Cornelius (hence “Connie”) Lucey, the Bishop of Cork, had demanded a particularly strict version of Lenten fasting, in which parishioners were restricted to one meal a day, along with two “collations,” which were understood to be something like a biscuit (equivalent to an American cookie), to be had with one’s tea. A resourceful local baker then invented a gigantic biscuit for Lent, known as a Connie dodger. “The law of God was not defied,” O’Toole observes. “It was dodged.

Exflyboy

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #16 on: February 24, 2023, 02:08:31 PM »
Hmm.. Lent.

If anything my problem is I don't spend enough and if I don't start spending more I'm going to be the richest corpse in the graveyard!

I could tell you what I've done as far as "spending therapy" goes but I think thats not quite the point of this conversation...:)

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2023, 07:33:53 PM »
I just stopped in out of curiosity, and was reminded of a story from Fintan O'Toole's history of modern Ireland:

O’Toole bundles these hypocrisies under the delicious term “Connie dodging.” Cornelius (hence “Connie”) Lucey, the Bishop of Cork, had demanded a particularly strict version of Lenten fasting, in which parishioners were restricted to one meal a day, along with two “collations,” which were understood to be something like a biscuit (equivalent to an American cookie), to be had with one’s tea. A resourceful local baker then invented a gigantic biscuit for Lent, known as a Connie dodger. “The law of God was not defied,” O’Toole observes. “It was dodged.

SNORT.  This is awesome. And I think the point should never be for other people to shame you in to deprivation. It should be your choice and with the goal of improving one’s relationship w god.

StNick

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2023, 02:45:01 PM »
A tad late to the thread, but this is my first post in MMM forums, glad to see lenten observers. I am reducing my TV, alcohol, and sweet consumption. Somewhat standard but I haven't ever actually done a standard lent before.

StarBright

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2023, 04:56:04 PM »
@Weisass That poem was lovely! Thank you for sharing.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2023, 07:00:06 PM »
A tad late to the thread, but this is my first post in MMM forums, glad to see lenten observers. I am reducing my TV, alcohol, and sweet consumption. Somewhat standard but I haven't ever actually done a standard lent before.

Good luck @StNick ! I think there is a lot of compatibility btw Lenten discipline and MMM principles.

Weisass

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2023, 07:00:23 PM »
@Weisass That poem was lovely! Thank you for sharing.

You are welcome :)

eyesonthehorizon

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #22 on: March 03, 2023, 06:16:59 PM »
Hmm.. Lent.

If anything my problem is I don't spend enough and if I don't start spending more I'm going to be the richest corpse in the graveyard!

I could tell you what I've done as far as "spending therapy" goes but I think thats not quite the point of this conversation...:)

You could always jump in via giving/ charity. Some churches are bigger on adding acts of piety than pious deprivation; more secularly you could just make it about community support & turn it into a season of giving. A study found that if you receive $X you didn’t expect or need & are directed to spend it on yourself it has no impact on your happiness the next day, whereas if you are directed to spend it on a stranger you will be markedly happier the next day - moreover, that changing the amount of $X didn’t reduce the differential. Past a certain point spending will get you a lot further in terms of wellbeing when it’s on others.

K_in_the_kitchen

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2023, 06:03:57 PM »
I observe meat abstinence all Fridays of the year, except for Solemnities and the Friday of the Octave of Easter.  For this Lent, I'm abstaining from meat for all Lenten days (so not Sundays) except for The Annunciation.  I don't, however, consider myself to be "giving up" meat for Lent -- it's just one of many spiritual practices I'm taking on, along with prayer and almsgiving.  What I choose to fast from this Lent isn't a food item and is between me and God.

DH and I have also decided to only have desserts on Sundays during Lent, but I don't think if this as a spiritual practice.  It's really just a structured opportunity for us to reign in what had turned into having dessert several times a week

FINate

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #24 on: March 07, 2023, 09:32:14 PM »
DH and I have also decided to only have desserts on Sundays during Lent, but I don't think if this as a spiritual practice.  It's really just a structured opportunity for us to reign in what had turned into having dessert several times a week

I think what you're doing is, in fact, a spiritual practice. The Christian faith fully integrates the physical and the spiritual... I'm not even sure the two are really separable. What we do physically is spiritual, and vice versa. There's a reason the Eucharist involves physically ingesting the body and the blood. Eating too much dessert is bad for the body, and intentionally restricting this is also healthy spiritually. 

1FACTORY174!

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #25 on: March 08, 2023, 07:18:13 AM »
I see no reason for prayer,i live my life to the fullest,common sense and logic here,i follow very few,i don't need a Bible for direction ,believe in your self think positive always,i eat what i want ,time is precious don't waste it...

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FINate

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #26 on: March 08, 2023, 07:50:41 AM »
I see no reason for prayer,i live my life to the fullest,common sense and logic here,i follow very few,i don't need a Bible for direction ,believe in your self think positive always,i eat what i want ,time is precious don't waste it...

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Great! You do you. And welcome to the MMM forums. Per the topic of this thread, how are you observing Lent this year?

K_in_the_kitchen

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #27 on: March 08, 2023, 04:52:41 PM »
DH and I have also decided to only have desserts on Sundays during Lent, but I don't think if this as a spiritual practice.  It's really just a structured opportunity for us to reign in what had turned into having dessert several times a week

I think what you're doing is, in fact, a spiritual practice. The Christian faith fully integrates the physical and the spiritual... I'm not even sure the two are really separable. What we do physically is spiritual, and vice versa. There's a reason the Eucharist involves physically ingesting the body and the blood. Eating too much dessert is bad for the body, and intentionally restricting this is also healthy spiritually.
I do hear what you are saying here.  I guess what I really mean is that I don't think of myself as having "given up" desserts for Lent, rather than using Lent as a springboard to return to what we know we should be doing.  You're right that it's physical and spiritual.  I just hate when people treat Lent like the spiritual Olympics.  There are many practices I take up in my observance of Lent, to deepen my experience.  I love Lent, and I love Advent. I find these liturgical seasons of introspection and preparation give greater meaning to Easter and Christmas when they arrive.

StNick

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Re: Lent 2023
« Reply #28 on: March 15, 2023, 10:23:03 AM »
I just hate when people treat Lent like the spiritual Olympics.

Yes to this. I have known people who will say they are giving up soda for lent, and so the week before lent they just drink nothing but soda everyday so that they can really feel the burn during lent. Where is the fruit in that?
« Last Edit: March 15, 2023, 08:20:43 PM by StNick »

 

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