Whoo-hoo! I’m all excited about Lent! I have plans…. And, they may involve you…. :)
Now, here’s the million dollar question: is it okay to involve other people in your Lenten penance, as long as you the the one doing the penance, right?
Next, I need a really good cause for my Lenten penance. Any suggestions?
5 responses so far ↓
1 Kasia // Jan 21, 2008 at 1:11 pm
You are perhaps the first person I’ve known who is EXCITED about Lent. :-p
Re: other people, it probably depends on the context. I don’t think there’s a fundamental problem, but other people might not always cooperate…
A really good cause? An end to abortion is always a good cause. Also, the Pope has asked all Catholics to pray intensely that the priesthood be cleansed of…ah, let’s say those whose proclivities have so notoriously besmirched its reputation for the last decade or so?
2 Jaibee // Jan 21, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I think my Lenten penance will not be big enough to end abortion.
The priesthood has a besmirched reputation???? Horrors! Or maybe just wildly out-of-proportion press….
Are you going to be one of my non-cooperative types? :P
3 Kasia // Jan 22, 2008 at 9:11 am
I think my Lenten penance will not be big enough to end abortion.
What is?! I think the point is for everyone to sacrifice and make reparations, not for one person to expiate the evil a la Our Lord…
The priesthood has a besmirched reputation???? Horrors! Or maybe just wildly out-of-proportion press….
Well, the press has certainly not helped, but the things being reported on had, by and large, actually happened. Not that it’s representative of the priesthood, of course, but I think the Holy Father is right on this one. I may not have represented the Holy Father’s request accurately…
Are you going to be one of my non-cooperative types? :P
I will have you know that I have already told the Canuck of your Lenten penance, and informed him that we need to plan to go to your house for a BARE MINIMUM of one dinner, probably more. So nyah! :-p
4 Dr Alice // Jan 27, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Cause recommendations… only a negative one, ie, NOT global warming or any of the Millennium Development Goals (although I think those are just an Episcopalian thing).
Personally I always try to go for personal denial, since it’s something I traditionally have a tough time with (like no Starbucks and give the money I would have spent to another cause, also no ordering out for dinner).
OK, now I feel like I have to explain AGAIN, I don’t buy Starbucks daily or order out every day - why am I apologizing in advance? I wonder - but for every day when I WOULD, I estimate what I would have spent and set the money aside.
5 Jaibee // Jan 27, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I did Starbucks last year. I really *didn’t* want to give up coffee, but my priest was giving out suggestions for what to give up and looked at me when he mentioned coffee. So, I did what anyone would do, and blew it off as a fluke. Then, the following week it happened again, so I took that as God wanting me to give up coffee (What? me? With the 7 coffee cards?). I did manage to go completely without for the entire time, and even resisted temptation when I was in a store and they were offering “free samples.” :)
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