the story of growing up Scroggins
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Lent: 23 Days and Still Going Strong!
Not sure Danielle can say the same! I don't think the Miller household uses the same rule book on lent as me...40 days, 40 nights right? Danielle said her mom told her that you can have what you have given up on Sunday's during lent. Can someone confirm this, or is this something a weak minded Catholic made up?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
You knew I'd be all over this one.
Technically, there are 46 days of Lent, including Sundays. The Sundays are not "counted" in the 40 days, but instead are celebrated as "mini-Easters" to prepare us for the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
The whole purpose of Lent is to identify ourselves with Christ's sufferings and by performing small penances every day to draw ourselves more closely to those sufferings. After all, our sins put Him on the Cross. Why would we want to shortchange Him by trying to find "loopholes" in Lenten fasting and abstinence? What would have happened if He would have taken a shorcut to his [and our] destiny?
Ultimately, it's left to the individual conscience on how to honor the mocking and suffering Christ endured for us.
Some choose to fully live the spirit of Lent and others search for loopholes.
Just sayin'.
Kudos for persisting in your Lenten struggles, my friend! You're halfway home!
I knew you would be there for me! I actually expected a response...I would have been dissappointed otherwise.
So maybe that is where the perceived loophole was obtained. Some people believe Sunday's don't count since not part of the 40 days and like you said are mini-Easters. I think you are saying they do count though. If they don't, then it just does not make sense to me. 6 days is just not much of a sacrifice in my mind. On the otherhand, what most people give up (for me soft drinks), does not appropriately acknowledge what Jesus did for us on the cross. Then again, what ever could.
I double checked the Code of Canon Law and nowhere does it mention a requirement to fast and or abstain on Sundays [see Canon 1249-1253]. Nor does it indicate otherwise. It just doesn't say. I always knew that Sundays weren't "counted" in the 40 days, but I was never taught or told by a priest that whatever I had voluntarily chosen to give up during Lent could be had on Sundays. It just seems like a loophole ~ we kind of joke about it in our house... "Well, it is Sunday..."
Anyway, the Church only recommends that we perform small mortifications during Lent in addition to what is proscribed in Canon Law. So I guess technically, you don't really have to give anything up at all if you don't want to. So, IMHO, the Sunday "day-off" is a loophole if you have decided to offer up an additional daily penance and you're correct in your statement that anything we give up this year during Lent, and every year for the rest of our lives will never atone for the sacrifice Christ made for us.
Stay strong!! I'm 23 days without TV ~ I think I'm going to make it!
Don't you love being a Catholic?
Wow...going to Canon Law. I will add you to one of my life line choices for sure. By the way, do you ever listen to Catholic Answers Live. It comes on 910 AM at about 4 or 5 every weekday. I find it interesting. They talk about Canon Law quite a bit on that show. You might tell Mrs. Jar about it...she might find in interesting as well while out in about in the car. Definitely one of the more nerdy things I do.
I have tried to listen to 910 but can't get good reception down here. Only in FW and I am rarely there. Thanks for thinking of me. !
Post a Comment