Anyone else did the fish (fry) thing today?
No I didn’t do that. A bit spartan today but not too bad. What’s the “Fish fry” thing ?
Eat fish, usually fried for us, on Lenten Fridays.
Can include fries. Sometimes eat filet o’ fish at Mickey Dees.
I actually ate fish for dinner last night , and I don’t usually eat much fish. Fish and vegetables.
I’m not sure that I really want a break day on Sundays for skipping lunch. I’m just getting used to the lunch skip. The cheat day may throw me off track.
The filet-o-fish was actually created for Lent after a franchise owner complained about a Lenten fall-off of Catholic customers for regular beef hamburgers.
I’m giving up masturbation
The priest’s homily today was about St. Paul and his speaking on sin.
“What I want to do [good], I do not do, but what I hate [sin] I do.”
Freeing ourselves of sin and being righteous are not automatic.
Jesus was tested by the devil during 40 days in the desert, but did not succumb, in order that He would die for all the sins people fail to control themselves.
Giving up something for Lent is ultimately a form of fasting. We can deprive ourselves of some small pleasure or indulgence and offer that sacrifice up to God. Or we might “give up” a bad habit such as smoking as a way of positively turning our life back toward what God wants for us
I have thought of Lent observance as similar to observing rules during silent retreats. The observances per se help remind me of whatever I want to be reminded of: usually of my limitations and that I can be ok with them. I’ve been able to go on retreats at times of major career transitions, so I end up using them to check why I am making my course corrections and what I am leaving behind. Lent is not that for me, but its observances are similar in my mind.
To me “expectations” to follow Lent is a Catholic thing. Other spiritualities and religions have similar experiences. A friend and old boss I greatly admired when I first arrived in Taipei used to spend a week fasting in a particular Buddhist temple in Kaohsiung. He wasn’t Buddhist or religious (although decades later after he returned to the US, he did become a pastor of some kind; I’ve never thought there was a link until now - I always thought he was looking for something and I suppose he found it).
Now that I have a family of my own and can share my upbringing with my kid, involvement at my Catholic church including observing Lent is a bonding thing.
Another Friday of Lent, and 1 week closer to His death and resurrection.
The fasting yesterday went smoother than the previous Friday. Fish and chips for dinner again, too.
Listened to the extended version of Stations of the Cross on the App that I use for the Rosary. Goes more into describing the details of each station.
What app do you use?
Relevant Radio
So the arm wrestling with satan has been going ok - one week smoke free - satan didnt put up a huge fight but you know what he is like hanging around waiting for that weak moment to trick you.
Only prayed the one time, but I think I’ll try a hail Mary there in a minute. Hail Marys or at very least the phrase ‘mother of god’ spontaneously comes out of my mouth when I’m suddenly put under extreme pressure, so why not try one when relaxing? I’m at the cold springs in suao, sounds unseasonal but its actually great as you can alternate hot shower with cold carbonated bath.
I checked it and the app looks very good. Lots of resources!
I use the Laudate app, which gives me the daily readings and has many interesting sections, including one for helping to prepare for reconciliation.
I had downloaded Laudate, too, but never used it.
Wow, it has a ton of special prayers.
Been fasting every Friday in Lent and even a few non-Fridays.
Palm Sunday mass today. It’s the longest one (except I think Easter Vigil), but worth it and very moving.
Starts today.
Can still eat 1 meal and two snacks a day so not really fasting I guess is it.
Went to Saturday morning mass, which differs from Saturday evening mass, as the former is considered a weekday mass.
The church was crowded like a normal Sunday mass.
Confession was after mass, and the line was long at about 25-30.
Not an anomaly, as have seen similar long lines for Confession outside of Lent.
The deep faithful appears to have come back in force in the last 2-3 years.
Pray everyone has a peaceful Lent.
I think the normal time for a lent mass is wednesday, and I was told I had to fast or eat no meat, which is hard for me to do…
I think you mean a Lent mass can be any day of the week, besides a Saturday evening or Sunday mass.
Friday is traditionally a fast day for adults during Lent.
Maybe first try to have a big breakfast and then hold out until after 5pm for supper. Can drink water, or coffee, or exercise drinks during the day to try and make it. You can choose to eat a fish meal instead of meat on a Lenten Friday. If you are unable to fast due to health concerns, then God should likely understand.
I’d want a bit more certainty there 