Tell us about LENT, please!
Au revoir,
hugs!
From Wikpedia..
Current fasting practice in the Roman Catholic Church binds persons over the age of eighteen and younger than fifty-nine (Canon 1252). Pursuant to Canon 1253, days of fasting and abstinence are set by the national Episcopal conference. On days of fasting, one eats only one full meal, but may eat two smaller meals as necessary to keep up one's strength. The two small meals together must sum to less than the one full meal. Parallel to the fasting laws are the laws of abstinence. These bind those over the age of fourteen. On days of abstinence, the person must not eat meat or poultry. In most countries, the strict requirements of abstinence have been limited by the bishops (in accordance with Canon 1253) to the Fridays of Lent and Ash Wednesday. On other abstinence days, the faithful are invited to perform some other act of penance.
(Note from br. p: On other fasting days the faithful are invited to make 'positive change' (my words). This could mean simply performing random acts of kindness to strangers. Being less harsh on your particular weaknesses (we are PROGRAMMED TO PROCREATE so getting horny, for instance, is a 'normal' thing).From Wikpedia:
Many modern Protestants consider the observation of Lent to be a choice, rather than an obligation. They may decide to give up a favorite food or drink (e.g. chocolate, alcohol) or activity (e.g., going to the movies, playing video games, etc.) for Lent, or they may instead take on a Lenten discipline such as devotions, volunteering for charity work, and so on. Roman Catholics may also observe Lent in this way in addition to the dietary restrictions outlined above, though observation is no longer mandatory under the threat of mortal sin. Many Christians who choose not to follow the dietary restrictions cite 1 Timothy 4:1-5 which warns of doctrines that "forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."
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So it all ends up to be a time of preparation for Easter. I am reminded of a funny line in the movie "The African Queen" where Kate Hepburn strictly admonishes Bogart with, "Human nature, Mr. Alnutt, is what we were put in this world to overcome." She says it with strict authority but by the end of her journey she finds some stimulations to the flesh to be exhilarating.
Lent CAN BE a GOOD thing. I didn't always think that way and I will vehemently disagree with someone who insists that there must be some kind of 'suffering' for it to mean anything. I was taught by nuns in Grade School and they freely gave out 'guilt trips' during this time of year. But that was then and this is now.
It all comes down to a simple battle. Do we control our bodies or do our bodies control us? The ANSWER is somewhere in the middle of the everlasting now..
br. p leaves podium and says "WHEW!"