BS: Lent

Subject: BS: Lent
From: J-boy
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:00 AM

Any Mudcatters giving anything up for it? I'm not.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 03:34 AM

She snuggled up to him.

He moved away "It's Lent".

"Well who did you lend it to? Get it back then!"

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 04:34 AM

Borrowed?   Purloined?   Pinched?

.....never mind.

Pancakes anyway. Spring.

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 06:16 AM

Are we allowed to talk about lent on PC Mudcat ? Should the thread title not be Ramadan/Lent ?

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: C-flat
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 06:32 AM

It's not Ramadan until August? I think?

Maybe we could talk about it then?

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 07:54 AM

Of late I've been wondering why good Christians penalized themselves during Lent (and to a lesser extent during Advent). If you believe in what Christianity teaches why wouldn't you be joy-filled over your salvation and its anticipate its anniversary with happiness? Why punish yourself? Same deal with Advent -- why not celebrate the birth of your Savior (even though it probably happened in April or thereabouts and not December)? The "ways" were "made straight" centuries ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 09:15 AM

Have you ever noticed how the season of maximum abstinence coincides with the "blue months" when the winter larder is down to the last crumbs? The early Church fathers had a real gift for (literally) making a virtue of a necessity.

That said, the point of fasting before major feasts is to discipline the flesh and concentrate the mind while you're doing it, and to make the feast that much more glorious when you're done doing it. When you have eaten no meat and not much of anything else for six weeks, and spent an inconveniently long time on your marrowbones praying instead of watching TV, Easter is a delightful shock.

Advent has never been as effectively abstemious as Lent, not least because there's usually plenty of food at that time of the year. Also, the concentration of Christmas gift-giving and celebration on December 25th is quite recent in the traditions of western Europe -- your mileage may vary if you are Orthodox.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 09:51 AM

I know someone who gives up things for Lent and also again just before Christmas which is more of a detox really and to concentrate on all of those jobs put aside.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 10:59 AM

I am not joy filled seeing as how much purgatory I will probably have to go through..nor am I joy filled that if I escape hell supposedly lots of people are there..could be friends or family. I have never seen what is joyful about it all. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: bobad
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:08 AM

There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Maryrrf
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:41 AM

"Going without", even if it is voluntary, can help one to 1) appreciate the blessings of everyday life that we take for granted throughout most of the year and 2) develop compassion and empathy for those who have less and are deprived through poverty and lack. Ideally, when we have purified ourselves through these periodic fasts we emerge more grateful and compassionate. I think that has something to do with the underlying philosophy of Ramadan and Lent.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Becca72
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 12:39 PM

Bobad, I need that embroidered on a pillow!! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: olddude
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 12:44 PM

It would take me a 1000 years to explain it .. so why bother. If ya don't get it ya don't get it .. so why put down others that do .. to each their own

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 12:50 PM

Exactly, Maryrrf, and also, it's often quite encouraging to know one can exert self-discipline even if only for a few weeks. To be in control of one's desires is worth cultivating. I also find I draw closer to God during Lent, with the extra prayer and readings. This year's Red Nose Day gives us a chance to donate to the poorer and less fortunate during the Lent period. I realise that those who do not believe in God find Ramadan or Lent strange, but it's our faith and neither my husband (a Muslim) nor I (a Christian) would abandon the practice, even if others poke fun at us (Which they're perfectly entitled to do!)

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,999
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:15 PM

Ain't strange, Eliza. It is an aspect of religion that some people like to make fun of, but people who really believe will let the remarks go, just as you have. I gave up Lent for Lent one year, and I've never reinstituted the event in my life. However, the occasions bring something worthwhile to both you and your husband, and that's good.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:30 PM

Yes, Guest 999,I find it's always best not to get hot under the collar about one's religion when people scoff. Everyone's entitled to their view. In fact, I'm a bit suspicious of those who 'tub thump' about their chosen faith, and get very angry etc. That's why fundamentalists of any type leave me cold. They can get aggressive and full of hate, whch can only be a bad thing. I laughed at you giving up Lent for Lent! I ought to give up crumpets dripping with butter, my secret passion, but don't think I have the willpower!

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:53 PM

One of my work colleagues thought she might give up complaining during Lent - but she hasn't....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:54 PM

I try to do positive things for lent. Every Lent, I try to find time to read one book that makes me think. With that and learning new music for Easter, that's enough. Oh, and I try to make it to church every Friday night for the fish fry (I limit myself to one beer, because I'm usually the "choir" for Stations of the Cross afterwards). The wisdom of the book, the joy of the music, and the community spirit of the fish fry do me lots more good than I'd get from giving up candy.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: gnu
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:01 PM

They serve beer at the fry?

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:06 PM

And they brew beer at the friary - have a look at all the Abbey and Trappist beers.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: olddude
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:07 PM

I wasn't getting heated, like I said to each their own. Sometime I do get angry on various thread... but that is not because of religion, it is simply because I don't go around slamming people's beliefs no matter what those beliefs are. I don't do it to others, don't like others doing it to me .. thats all

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:09 PM

I am abstaining from Facebook and Twitter for Lent. Also for all the rest of the year. How's that?

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:13 PM

I'm giving up the very thought that I might have to try Californian wine. I've utterly sacrificed the idea of buying a shaky egg. I'm giving up everything brewed by St Austell brewery.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: olddude
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:35 PM

St Austell brewery. Is that a micro brew? I never tried it or heard of it before ... is it one that you can get in the states

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:40 PM

I just gave up my youngest brother for Lent. I don't think I'll give up anything else, thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:50 PM

Steve Shaw - ok, so not Tinners, but you can still get Rock?

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: gnu
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 03:45 PM

leeneia... and Facebook too for me... got ya beat.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: PoppaGator
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 03:47 PM

Here in New Orleans, America's only historically-Catholic city, abstinence from meat (dating back to the days when such was still actually observed by the population at large) has never meant anything except for increased consumption of seafood, which is especially tasty and plentiful hereabouts.

Especially crawfish ~ a delicacy whose annual harvest (i.e., greatest abundance and lowest prices) annually coincides with the post-Mardi Gras season historically known as "Lent."

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 05:49 PM

How is a historically Catholic city defined? Wouldn't some of the places in California or New Mexico, places with great Spanish influence, have started out Catholic? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 05:57 PM



Santa Fe, NM? El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula? Mission San Francisco de Asís? St. Louis? et al?

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 08:08 PM

Not to speak of Maryland, a whole state that started out as a colony for British Catholics fed up with the Test Acts.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 08:09 PM

I can't say eating fish is much of a sacrifice for Catholics, any more than eating Kosher food is a sacrifice for Jews. It's more a matter of celebration of the group's identity - and I think that can be a very good and healthy thing (with beer or wine in moderation, of course).

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 05:32 AM

In the early days of the church, the admonition was nothing to do with eating fish on Fridays. It was a stricture NOT to eat meat on Wednesdays or Fridays.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 08:38 AM

Lent is in the right time of year to give things up if you really want to do that rather than the New Year when resolutions are made not thinking about the long gloomy winter ahead.

To be honest there's nowt much else I can give up!

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 02:51 PM

I'm not Catholic, but I am seriously thinking of giving up my(what I thought was an attainable) New Year's Resolution of learning to yodel.

Unless someone here can convince me otherwise ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 05:09 PM

Your neighbours have circulated a petition and . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 12:30 AM

I don't know of a rule that said you have to eat fish on Fridays..but I did hear that the Wednesday and perhaps Friday rule was the pope being grateful to the Portugeuse for being faithful Catholics and he thought to send some business their way so people would eat more fish. No idea if this is true or not. I had not heard about the Wednesday thing until I lived in Newfoundland and someone told me. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:34 AM

I gave up religion for lent many years ago and never got it back.

Subject: RE: BS: Lent
From: DMcG
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:44 AM

There's nothing I can find in the Catholic Encyclopedia to suggest there was ever a requirement to eat fish. There is, on the other hand, this: St. Gregory writing to St. Augustine of England laid down the rule, "We abstain from flesh meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese, and eggs."

And of course, sticking to fish is one way to do that.