A Truly Traditional Lent

[Shin]

I was wondering if anyone was familiar with what Lent used to be like, not only from a few decades back, but back, back, back through the centuries.  . .

I recall one of father's sermons on the subjects mentioned some practices though I do not recall all the details offhand.

What is a truly traditional Lent like?

[Brigid]

I also listened to the sermon on Audio Sancto speaking of what a traditional Lent was like throughout the centuries, however am not sure I'm able to post it accurately now. I do remember hearing enough that the asceticism put me to shame.  I think I seem to follow the traditions of just the '50s, but even there I am somewhat more lax with myself. 

[Shin]

Don't be discouraged Brigid!

Step by step! The 50's are certainly better than these times.

With thankfulness in the little we can do, attributing it all to God, we can build on it.. stone by stone..

[martin]

I can remember Lent as a young boy in the 60's... No treats, no TV, daily Mass, weekly confession, evening rosary and Benediction every Sunday evening at 6pm. Along with that we we're all required to give up something of our own choice for the six weeks.
I never remember it being such a big deal for anybody and it was just accepted as part of being a Cathoilic.
My, how things have changed in a few short years.

I'm guessing before the 60's Lernt was even more strict.
Lord help us all today. 

[Cat Herder]

I too felt the call to live a more traditional Lent. And so I gave up meats, desserts, and coffee (YIKES!).

Before Ash Wednesday I could not fit in my size 34 waist pants. Now I can.

There is a reason why things were done the old-fashioned way!

[Shin]

34"... I remember that..   


 

[Bailey2]

The 50's are certainly better than these times

The only thing I remember about the old days was having a terrible headache from a lack of food.  Enough said before I get in trouble here!
"I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  "Rend your hearts, not your garments."   

[Brigid]

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

And Holy be His Name!

And of these cities which shall be given out of the possessions of the children of Israel, from them that have more, more shall be taken: and from them that have less, fewer. Each shall give towns to the Levites according to the extent of their inheritance.

Catholics are given more.

[ChristianCatholic]

From a prayer book for the archdiocese of Hanoi, Vietnam:

5. Lent - Each morning pray the Litany of the Passion in place of any other litanies. Each night, meditate on the Passion and then pray the Litany of the Passion again.

I have not been able to find an English version of the litany of the Passion that fits exactly with the Vietnamese version that is used. However, this litany has a long tradition in Vietnam and is not a modernist novelty. It is recited during Lent and at funerals.

[Shin]

I can remember Lent as a young boy in the 60's... No treats, no TV, daily Mass, weekly confession, evening rosary and Benediction every Sunday evening at 6pm. Along with that we we're all required to give up something of our own choice for the six weeks.
I never remember it being such a big deal for anybody and it was just accepted as part of being a Cathoilic.
My, how things have changed in a few short years.

I'm guessing before the 60's Lernt was even more strict.
Lord help us all today. 

May God grant us more truly traditional Lent! 

[pebbles]

I was wondering if anyone was familiar with what Lent used to be like, not only from a few decades back, but back, back, back through the centuries.  . .

I recall one of father's sermons on the subjects mentioned some practices though I do not recall all the details offhand.

What is a truly traditional Lent like?

I'm not really sure how Lent is practiced in the US, but I think not much has changed how it is practiced in the Philippines.  I posted a new topic in the Daily Life section...so you guys can look it up if you've the time and see if you're familiar with any of the devotions I've mentioned 

[CyrilSebastian]

In the 1600s, a group of monks in France allowed puffins to be considered fish, since their   
"natural habitat was as much terrestial as aquatic", and the bird was allowed to be eaten on Fridays.   
 
 

[CyrilSebastian]

People were allowed one meal per day, after 3 P.M.     
In the 1400s, that time was revised to twelve noon.

[CyrilSebastian]

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were "black fasts". This means no food at all.

[CyrilSebastian]

Pope Benedict XIV wrote the Non Ambigimus encyclical.   
The subject is On Fasting during Lent. The date is May 30, 1741.

[CyrilSebastian]

During the Middle Ages the ceremony for the blessing of the palms was elaborate:   
the procession began in one church, went to a church where the palms were blessed,   
and returned to the church in which the procession had originated for the singing of the liturgy.