What to do for Lent

[Therese]

I'm interested in having a very fruitful Lent. Besides fasting and reading the Scriptures, what can I do to please God this Lent? Thanks in advance for your help with this.

[Paul]

What I'm doing this Lent is giving up staying up late. I've been going through awful sleep deprivation to help my mother take care of our puppy, and now that he's sleeping through the night, I can start going to bed early.

This will force me to cut out all unnecessary activities, as taking care of the puppy has done, but this will continue the process. No more mindless Internet surfing, for example.

[Shin]

This reminds me of how some monks wake up in the middle of the night for a vigil of prayers, and then go back to sleep again.

It makes me think of parents with a baby they have to take care of in the middle of the night.

But in the case of the monks it's prayer, chant and contemplation.

I'm not certain what to do for Lent yet. 

Something simple, something I can do every day. . . not something too rough so I don't continue it.. hmm. . .

[Therese]

I hope you have a good and fruitful Lent, Paul and Shin.  We should pray, fast and give alms this Lent; live each moment in accordance with God's holy Will; and love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.  These are some of the answers I have received from others. 

[Poche]

I suggest to the children that they try to find one unpopular kid in their school and try to be that kid's friend.
 

[Therese]

I suggest to the children that they try to find one unpopular kid in their school and try to be that kid's friend.
 

What a great alms deed!

[Shin]

Very encouraging to hear!

'Be of good courage, my child. For twenty years without a break I have never had as much food, or drink, or sleep as I liked. My bread I have eaten by weight, and my water by measure; and I have snatched a little sleep, leaning against the wall.'

St. Macarius the Great

[Therese]

Very encouraging to hear!

'Be of good courage, my child. For twenty years without a break I have never had as much food, or drink, or sleep as I liked. My bread I have eaten by weight, and my water by measure; and I have snatched a little sleep, leaning against the wall.'

St. Macarius the Great

While fasting this Lent, my bread I'd like to eat by weight, and my water by measure.  But I do not know the weight and measure to go by.  Any suggestions?

[Shin]

Well, I think it depends on how much you normally need to eat. You'll have to decide on what you can manage reasonably.. Hmm.. I think I remember reading one of the desert fathers having a fixed amount, I wonder if I will come across how much that was again in my reading soon, as I am reading through their sayings now. It can have more meaning to have a certain amount with a certain extra meaning to it and no more...

It makes me remember a little scale I saw as a child. There were little weights you could put on one end, to determine how much the other end weighed. 

'I shall speak first about control of the stomach, the opposite to gluttony, and about how to fast and what and how much to eat. I shall say nothing on my own account, but only what I have received from the Holy Fathers. They have not given us only a single rule for fasting or a single standard and measure for eating, because not everyone has the same strength; age, illness or delicacy of body create differences. But they have given us all a single goal: to avoid over-eating and the filling of our bellies. . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.'

St. John Cassian

[Therese]

. . . A clear rule for self-control handed down by the Fathers is this: stop eating while still hungry and do not continue until you are satisfied.'

St. John Cassian

An excellent rule to live by!  Thanks for sharing this quote of St. John Cassian, Shin!

[Shin]

You're welcome!

Some quotes are easier said than done! 

[Therese]

You're welcome!

Some quotes are easier said than done! 

So true!

[Poche]

How about not talking bad about other people.

[Therese]

How about not talking bad about other people.

On Sunday I was told by my confessor to focus on doing one thing for Lent and on one thing alone.  Of course, I'll be doing the traditional 40 day Lenten fast as is expected of traditional Catholics, but the one thing I shall focus on this Lent is: to always be charitable in my thoughts, word and actions, no matter what.  How's that for a Lenten resolution?   

[Shin]

'Why do we not burn with the divine fire which He has come to enkindle on earth! We ought to be consumed therein. To love and be consumed by this sacred fire will be my constant endeavor.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Do your best!!! 

     

[Poche]

Give up something you like and donate the money you save and give it to a worthy charity.