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February 06, 2005
So, what are you doing for the quadragesimale?
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and the commencement of the Lenten Fast. I will be giving up all beverages alcoholic for the fast. I would be interested in hearing what others are giving up. Also, I would love to hear about family traditions for the Lenten Season. We do not have any in our family (we're trying to overcome the shocking lack of tradition within the US Evangelical Church, which has unfortunately left us without familial traditions to which we can turn).
Here is a nice description of the fast from the The St. James Calendar of the Christian Year:
Lenten Fast: Originally, the word Lent, now associated exclusively with the liturgical year, was simply the Anglo-Saxon term for Spring and had no religious significance. In English usage, however, its reference was gradually limited to mean the season of preparation for Easter that does, in fact, occur every Spring.
In most other languages of Western Christianity, the word for Lent is some variant of "forty," derived from the Latin quadragesimale. Traditionally this was a 40-day fast in imitation of the Lord himself, who fasted 40 days prior to beginning his earthly ministry. It was also associated with the 40-day fasts of Moses on Mount Sinai and Elijah as he journeyed to the same mountain.Doubtless it was this combination of Jesus, Moses and Elijah together on a single mountain that determined the ancient choice of the Transfiguration story as the favor Gospel reading of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches just prior to the beginning of Lent. Also, at the Transfiguration, the two prophets spoke with Jesus about his impending Passion (Lk. 9:31), a fitting theme for Lent.
I encourage you to consider giving something up for Lent, or recognizing it in some other meaningful way. Use your fast as a means of focusing on God and focusing on how you can become a better person in Christ. Lent can be a time of introspection and purification for all Christians, not just Catholics or the Eastern Orthodox.
Oh, and Happy Transfiguration Sunday.
Posted by Mark at February 6, 2005 11:21 PM
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» So, what are you giving up for Lent? from The Anchoress
Let me go on record as saying I love Lent. It's a wonderful time of preparation, and for all the fasting, abstaining and "quiet" time for prayer and introspection, it's really quite cheerful - it's like a spring cleaning for the soul. [Read More]
Tracked on February 7, 2005 09:45 PM
Comments
I appreciate your mentioning "Lenten Fasts". I will be blogging (and preaching) on a series on "communal" spiritual disciplines starting Ash Wednesday.
Please let me know what you think.
Tod
Posted by: Tod Bolsinger at February 7, 2005 02:03 PM
A few years ago I tried an Orthodox Lenten Fast, the one my Orthodox friends take part in during what they call "Great Lent." No meat, no dairy, no olive oil. It was an interesting experience and giving up so much certainly did make me feel a bit "purged" and less earthbound.
This Lent I am going to try to make Mass every morning, and I'm going to swim three times a week. Yes, these are sacrifices, because I love my bed and my flannel sheets and getting out of them to go to mass or swim in an over chlorinated pool is not good times. But...I am thinking I must honor God by honoring his creation, my body, which houses His spark.
And I am going to abstain from eating between meals, which will be tough, because I'm more into grabbing a handful of peanuts and ruining my appetite than eating wisely or well.
Posted by: TheAnchoress at February 7, 2005 08:51 PM
Just fyi - I have posted links to a lot of Lenten reading if anyone is interested:
http://theanchoress.blogspot.com/2005/02/some-good-and-useful-lenten-blogging.html
Posted by: TheAnchoress at February 8, 2005 10:02 PM
Thanks Anchoress. I will try to put together a similar list tomorrow and make sure I give you credit.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Sides at February 8, 2005 10:19 PM
As a Catholic, I will be giving up meat on Fridays. This is not as easy as you'd think. Personally, I will be giving up chocolate for Lent, which will be hard for me, especially with the Girl Scout cookies & fund raising candy bars selling at my office!
Posted by: Monika at March 1, 2006 01:33 AM