Okay, I haven't actually forgotten about this. Really. And I've been starring things that I want to link to - I just haven't put it all together.
As far as our Lent goes - saying the rosary together as a family was a non-starter. We just haven't made the effort to build it into our day. Which is a shame - and my fault, because I never pushed the issue.
I have been praying more, and I know the kids are feeling the pinch of the sacrifice to give up candy for Lent. Valentine's Day was particularly difficult.
For places that are wonderfully consistent with Lenten thoughts please visit Danielle Bean and A Catholic Mom in Hawaii.
Showing posts with label Lenten Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lenten Challenge. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Fish on Fridays
It's Lent. And back to meatless Fridays. Tonight it was fish sticks -- not fancy but it kept the kids happy.
When I was growing up we had meatless Fridays during Lent, but also if my mother was planning a meatless dish - pizza, tuna fish casserole or whatever - she would tend to plan it for a Friday. The rules were not as stringent as when she was growing up - we were allowed to eat meat on Fridays (except during Lent) and sometimes we did.
By the time I was married I didn't worry about meatless Fridays (except during Lent, of course), but over the last few years my husband and I realized that although the official rules were that you could eat meat on Friday it was with the provision that another sacrifice be given in its stead.
Hmmm. Another sacrifice. Well, we weren't exactly making any specific sacrifices, we were just eating whatever we darn felt like.
Maybe that wasn't the way this was supposed to work, maybe more thought was supposed to be given to what we were doing on a Friday. So, a couple of years ago we decided to go meatless on Fridays all year long. Fish on Fridays: It's not just for Lent anymore.
Since a lot of people only worry about fish on Fridays during Lent, it's not always easy to adhere to when we eat at someone else's house. And if we are at Grandma's house and she's serving pork chops or whatever on a Friday - we eat them. We just try to remember to say an extra prayer - do an extra sacrifice instead.
Have we gotten anything out of it? I don't know. I do know that sometimes when the kids want something with meat on Friday - we just have to remind them of what day it is - and they're okay with it. And we've discussed why we do a special sacrifice on Friday (in honor of Good Friday and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.) So at the very least we're recalling Good Friday more than once a year. And we know we're doing this in honor of God. And that is a good thing to know too.
Here are a few Lenten Links for the day:
Food for thought from Danielle Bean.
A hopeful Lenten post from Hope-full Signs.
Easter offers a meditation on Fasting.
Jenn muses on how Lent offers us an ending and a beginning.
Letitia at cause of our joy offers ways to simplify during Lent.
Holy Cards for Your Inspiration offers a lovely card for of a child Jesus with a tiny cross.
Karen Edmisten tells us what her daughter plans on giving up for Lent - and offers a great idea of a sacrifice jar - I think I'm going to have to incorporate that into our Lenten season.
Esther speaks of dying to self.
And Jean at Catholic Fire offers a Lenten meditation.
If you have something inspirational you'd like me to link to - let me know. Or just leave a comment.
When I was growing up we had meatless Fridays during Lent, but also if my mother was planning a meatless dish - pizza, tuna fish casserole or whatever - she would tend to plan it for a Friday. The rules were not as stringent as when she was growing up - we were allowed to eat meat on Fridays (except during Lent) and sometimes we did.
By the time I was married I didn't worry about meatless Fridays (except during Lent, of course), but over the last few years my husband and I realized that although the official rules were that you could eat meat on Friday it was with the provision that another sacrifice be given in its stead.
Hmmm. Another sacrifice. Well, we weren't exactly making any specific sacrifices, we were just eating whatever we darn felt like.
Maybe that wasn't the way this was supposed to work, maybe more thought was supposed to be given to what we were doing on a Friday. So, a couple of years ago we decided to go meatless on Fridays all year long. Fish on Fridays: It's not just for Lent anymore.
Since a lot of people only worry about fish on Fridays during Lent, it's not always easy to adhere to when we eat at someone else's house. And if we are at Grandma's house and she's serving pork chops or whatever on a Friday - we eat them. We just try to remember to say an extra prayer - do an extra sacrifice instead.
Have we gotten anything out of it? I don't know. I do know that sometimes when the kids want something with meat on Friday - we just have to remind them of what day it is - and they're okay with it. And we've discussed why we do a special sacrifice on Friday (in honor of Good Friday and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.) So at the very least we're recalling Good Friday more than once a year. And we know we're doing this in honor of God. And that is a good thing to know too.
Here are a few Lenten Links for the day:
Food for thought from Danielle Bean.
A hopeful Lenten post from Hope-full Signs.
Easter offers a meditation on Fasting.
Jenn muses on how Lent offers us an ending and a beginning.
Letitia at cause of our joy offers ways to simplify during Lent.
Holy Cards for Your Inspiration offers a lovely card for of a child Jesus with a tiny cross.
Karen Edmisten tells us what her daughter plans on giving up for Lent - and offers a great idea of a sacrifice jar - I think I'm going to have to incorporate that into our Lenten season.
Esther speaks of dying to self.
And Jean at Catholic Fire offers a Lenten meditation.
If you have something inspirational you'd like me to link to - let me know. Or just leave a comment.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Offering It Up
I've heard the phrase "offer it up" my whole life. But what does it really mean? Other than as a more religious way to say "quick your belly-aching."
So I did a little research.
I found this by Scott P. Richert
and this over at Fisheaters.
And what it comes down to is that when we are suffering - either through our own sacrifices (my that chocolate looks good, why did I give it up for Lent?) or through daily annoyances (aches and pains, rude people, alarm clocks that go off too early - even if that's the time they're set for) - we accept these things without complaining and ask God to use our suffering for the benefit of others.
This can be done through a formal prayer or informal prayer.
Jesus offered his suffering for all our sakes. We can imitate Jesus in this small way - and also offer our suffering for the sake of others.
Will it make the suffering go away? No. The aches and pains will still be there. The bad drivers will still be there. The chocolate will still be there (and not being eaten). And morning will still come when we want to sleep. But we can pray and God will allow these sufferings to be redemptive for ourselves and others.
Something to think about.
As far as Lenten Links - today I found:
Danielle Bean with more food for thought.
Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has a Lenten resolution for the day.
Easter has a beautiful prayer posted.
And I found this article about why we give things up for Lent at Ignatius Insight.
If anyone else would like to join in this Lenten Challenge and post about something that helps bring you closer to God - please let me know - and I will link to you - or just leave an inspirational comment. I can use all the inspiration I can get!
So I did a little research.
I found this by Scott P. Richert
and this over at Fisheaters.
And what it comes down to is that when we are suffering - either through our own sacrifices (my that chocolate looks good, why did I give it up for Lent?) or through daily annoyances (aches and pains, rude people, alarm clocks that go off too early - even if that's the time they're set for) - we accept these things without complaining and ask God to use our suffering for the benefit of others.
This can be done through a formal prayer or informal prayer.
Jesus offered his suffering for all our sakes. We can imitate Jesus in this small way - and also offer our suffering for the sake of others.
Will it make the suffering go away? No. The aches and pains will still be there. The bad drivers will still be there. The chocolate will still be there (and not being eaten). And morning will still come when we want to sleep. But we can pray and God will allow these sufferings to be redemptive for ourselves and others.
Something to think about.
As far as Lenten Links - today I found:
Danielle Bean with more food for thought.
Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has a Lenten resolution for the day.
Easter has a beautiful prayer posted.
And I found this article about why we give things up for Lent at Ignatius Insight.
If anyone else would like to join in this Lenten Challenge and post about something that helps bring you closer to God - please let me know - and I will link to you - or just leave an inspirational comment. I can use all the inspiration I can get!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of my Lenten Challenge.
As a way to get started with posting inspirational things I thought I'd post the Daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII - every time I read it I am inspired to be a better person. I don't always do everything on it - but it inspires me all the same.
Some Lenten Links:
Danielle Bean has some food for thought on this day of fasting.
Karen Edmisten has a psalm to get us in the mood.
Sarah, at just another day of Catholic pondering has some thoughts on Lent from a sermon by Peter Chrysologus.
Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has a some beautiful thoughts on fasting and feasting by William Arthur Ward.
Jennifer at The Pfaffl House has some wonderful thoughts on what she's going to do for Lent.
And Leticia has a Holy Sonnet for Lent by John Donne over at causa nostrae laetitiae.
As a way to get started with posting inspirational things I thought I'd post the Daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII - every time I read it I am inspired to be a better person. I don't always do everything on it - but it inspires me all the same.
The daily decalogue of Pope John XXIII:1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.
2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behaviour; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.
3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.
4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.
6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.
7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.
8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.
9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
I've also noticed - while browsing through my feed reader that many people have up inspiring Lenten posts today. These people don't necessarily know about my challenge - but I'm going to link to them here. If you have a post you want me to link to (and I didn't find it yet) let me know about it in the comments. If you have something inspirational to share - but don't want to post it on a blog - just leave a message here. Thanks all.
Some Lenten Links:
Danielle Bean has some food for thought on this day of fasting.
Karen Edmisten has a psalm to get us in the mood.
Sarah, at just another day of Catholic pondering has some thoughts on Lent from a sermon by Peter Chrysologus.
Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has a some beautiful thoughts on fasting and feasting by William Arthur Ward.
Jennifer at The Pfaffl House has some wonderful thoughts on what she's going to do for Lent.
And Leticia has a Holy Sonnet for Lent by John Donne over at causa nostrae laetitiae.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Getting Ready For Lent
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. We begin the church season in which we prepare for Easter. We prepare ourselves through prayer and fasting and penance.
Traditionally people give something up for Lent. As children it is often candy. It is candy for my children. I decree it so. When they are old enough to make reasonable sacrifices on their own - they may. Pippi actually can now. Harry wants to give up school.
But it's not just about giving something up. And it's not just about doing something extra either. It's about a way to bring ourselves closer to God. Which, is a pretty worthwhile goal.
So - what are we doing about Lent? There will be a general giving up of sweets - because the main grocery shopper (that would be me) will refrain from buying them. There will be exceptions. Harry's birthday is in a couple of weeks. There will be cake. Though Pippi asked that I please not give her candy for Valentine's Day.
And I'm going to try once again to institute a family rosary. You know - my kids have no objection to it. If I suggest it, we say the rosary. If I don't suggest it; we don't. And sometimes I get busy and don't suggest it. I'll make an effort to remember during Lent.
This year Harry is also getting ready for his First Communion - so maybe one of our goals for Lent will be to make sure that we all approach Mass more reverently, and less like just another part of the week.
A friend challenged me to make a Lenten challenge - inspired by HipWriterMama's thirty day challenges, but I wasn't quite sure what to do. I think I came up with it though.
For every day of Lent I'm going to try to post something that is inspirational in nature and that serves the goal of bringing me closer to God. I challenge anyone who is interested to do the same - either on your own blog (with a comment to me, so I know to look) or else in the comments here.
Let's help each other make this a holy and reverent Lent.
Traditionally people give something up for Lent. As children it is often candy. It is candy for my children. I decree it so. When they are old enough to make reasonable sacrifices on their own - they may. Pippi actually can now. Harry wants to give up school.
But it's not just about giving something up. And it's not just about doing something extra either. It's about a way to bring ourselves closer to God. Which, is a pretty worthwhile goal.
So - what are we doing about Lent? There will be a general giving up of sweets - because the main grocery shopper (that would be me) will refrain from buying them. There will be exceptions. Harry's birthday is in a couple of weeks. There will be cake. Though Pippi asked that I please not give her candy for Valentine's Day.
And I'm going to try once again to institute a family rosary. You know - my kids have no objection to it. If I suggest it, we say the rosary. If I don't suggest it; we don't. And sometimes I get busy and don't suggest it. I'll make an effort to remember during Lent.
This year Harry is also getting ready for his First Communion - so maybe one of our goals for Lent will be to make sure that we all approach Mass more reverently, and less like just another part of the week.
A friend challenged me to make a Lenten challenge - inspired by HipWriterMama's thirty day challenges, but I wasn't quite sure what to do. I think I came up with it though.
For every day of Lent I'm going to try to post something that is inspirational in nature and that serves the goal of bringing me closer to God. I challenge anyone who is interested to do the same - either on your own blog (with a comment to me, so I know to look) or else in the comments here.
Let's help each other make this a holy and reverent Lent.
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