Lenten Disclaimers: (Lenten Series Part Three)

We’ve all heard them before. “Oh, since technically we are supposed to give up things for 40 days during Lent, and Sundays don’t count, I can eat my chocolate on Sundays.”

Or, “Since we can’t eat meat on Fridays, I’ll just go to Red Lobster and eat myself sick.”

These, ladies and gentleman, are Lenten disclaimers.

1.      The “Sundays don’t Count Rule”: If you want to get specific, Sunday’s don’t count… partly. There are 40 days in Lent and since each Sunday is considered a “mini-Easter”, Sunday’s aren’t a part of those 40 days. But does that mean that we should gorge on that chocolate we gave up or be mean to your siblings on Sundays?

There are pretty much two opinions on this. Firstly, some people believe it is okay to gorge little since Sunday’s do not count in Lent. (To find out why that is, go here )
I mean, if Sunday’s are mini-Easters, we should be allowed to stop fasting… right?
Then there’s the other side of the rainbow, the people who think “If Jesus died on the cross for us, the least we can do is go four more days without Instagram, internet, etc.”

What is your opinion on this?

For me, it is the latter opinion. I think we can go four more days with our Lenten promises. I mean, if you gave up chocolate and ate it on Sunday, is still as big as a sacrifice as it is for 40 straight days? I mean, Jesus fasted for 40 straight days and he didn’t get a break. I guess I could see it kind of as cheating. I know other people see it other ways, but hey, this is my 10 cents. J

Actually, my former parish priest said it was okay to gorge on Sundays. But, let me warn you, if you do decide to take the day off on Sundays, make sure you do it in moderation. Remember, this is supposed to be a sacrifice.

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=133505

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0527.html

2.      “Let’s go Eat at Red Lobster on Fridays…”

If you asked my old religion teacher about this subject, she would go on a tangent for three hours. Her opinion is very strong on the subject, and I am sure there are many others out there with the same opinion. The thing is you give up meat on Friday’s because it is a sacrifice. Back then (as well as some meat now,) meat was a major delicacy. To give up meat was a pretty big deal, and to tell you the truth, it is for me today. (For more information, go  here )

But instead of eating meat you go to Red Lobster and spend 50 dollars on a fulfilling, yummy meal.  Is that really a sacrifice? I mean, I would rather go to Red Lobster’s than eat some soggy fish sticks. If you really think about it, we humans try to make up for things that we don’t want in the wrong way. In other words, if we don’t like something, we will get something bigger and better. Is that really the way to go? 

If you are really craving some meat, then that’s good. It means you’re feeling the pain. J That is kind of the goal of giving up something! You want to feel the pain so you can know you are resisting the temptation.

I know that some churches have Fish Fries. (Oh my church makes the best fried cod… so good.) And it kind of goes along with Red Lobster… BUT you are supporting your church. And you are with your fellow Catholic community to gather together to celebrate the mystery of Lent.  And it’s a different story if you went once or twice during Lent, instead of every Friday. Many often go to Stations of the Cross after. Get where I’m going? I mean, don’t feel like a horrible person if you go to Red Lobster’s. It’s okay! Just rethink your food choices next time when you are supposed to abstain or fast.

Any other Lenten disclaimers you want me to address? Leave a comment below!
Have a great rest of your week! J

All through Christ,

       Maddie

 

 

PAF: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving (Lenten Series Part Two)

PAF: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

These are the three "pillars" to Lent, and if you follow through with them, they should make your Lent all the more sweeter. The words can seem kind of overwhelming sometimes. I mean, fasting? I love food; I don't know if I could go without a snack! :) Okay, maybe a snack but still. And almsgiving? What even does that mean?

Well dear readers, continue on to find out. :)

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Lenten Tip #2:

PAF is the way to go this Lent.


Prayer: I am pretty sure that we all know what prayer is. But incase you need a reminder, prayer is the direct telephone line to our Creator. Sometimes we abuse prayer by making it a one way conversation. Or a "I want this, and this, and this and oh yeah, this too" conversation. I mean, who likes that?

• Focus on making prayer both ways. Listen to God this Lent, reflect on what He is trying to tell you. Sit in your bed and take deep breaths. Try to not think about anything, just focus on God. If you are like me, you'll have a horrible time concentrating. What I do is repeat the same verse over and over again and think of one specific image. Most of the times, I think Holy Spirit guide me. Or Jesus, help me. Something short and sweet that will help you in your concentration.
• Aim for spending 10 minutes a day with God. This is very hard, let me tell ya. But it really gives you a sense of peace when you just spend 10 minutes out of the 1440 you have each day with God. You don't even need to prepare anything! Just grab your Bible and spend some time talking to God. (and listening, of course. :) )

Almsgiving: Don't feel dumb if you don't know what this word means, I didn't either until my religion teacher told me. Whoops. :) Anywho, according to the Google dictionary, almsgiving is

"Making voluntary contributions to aid the poor."

My definition of almsgiving is pretty much stewardship: taking time out of your day to help others.

• Volunteer at a nursing home, food kitchen, etc. for just an hour. It is amazing what a difference you can make in people's lives with just an hour of work. The time will pass by so quickly, you won't notice. Look around your local area to find any places in need of volunteers.
• Bring along some friends! My advice to you if you think almsgiving is boring, is grab some buddies. It will make it even more fun! To top it off, the place you are volunteering for is getting more help.

Fasting: Out of all of them, this one sounds the most intimidating, no? :) No one likes giving up food! But when you really think about it, that's not all that fasting is. Fasting is mainly giving up something that is good to us to reflect on how Jesus suffered. Whether it be meat on Fridays, your mom's brownies or just overall fasting, each gets us graces from God.

• Don't feel like you have to starve. Fasting isn't meant to starve yourself, fasting is just so you can get a glimpse of what it's like without something you love. If you are hungry to the point of feeling sick, eat something! God doesn't want you to pass out.
• The "Proper" Fasting Routine. If you are really feeling ambitious, you can follow the "proper" fasting routine for Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and any other day you feel like you need to sacrifice something. Two small meals and one medium-biggish meal is what I would recommend growing teenagers to go through. Personally, I do a small breakfast, biggish meal and small dinner. Try to only have one serving or skip desert.
  

Ever feeling down on your Lenten Promise(s)? Just remember PAF and you'll be set!

Praying for you all in your Lenten journeys! :)
All through Christ,

Maddie

RESOURCES: 
http://catholicism.about.com/od/catholicliving/p/Fasting.htm

https://www.google.com/search?q=google+dictionary&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7NDKB_enUS531#q=almsgiving+definition&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address

Get Your Game on...It's Lent. (Lenten Series Part One)

Happy March! Before you start reading my awesome rant about the upcoming Lenten season, I have a pretty cool update for you! I am now apart of this amazing blog, Fire of the Spirit! Through a few weeks of me asking tons of questions and the editor being so nice to answer them patiently, I finally am starting to be apart of their blog! They also have a magazine (which has been going on for a few years,) and an upcoming YouTube channel. I am so very blessed to be apart of this amazing experience, and I am loving it so far! Please check out their website and blog: www.fireofthespirit.com. It is so cool to be working with people my age to evangelize to others around!

Now for the post...:)

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It's the most grueling, hard, peaceful, challenging, and faith boosting time of the year for Catholics. We are supposed to give up something meaningful, but it mostly ends up with us being selfish and brushing off the promise as quick as you can say "Easter."

I bet you know what I'm talking about, but incase you don't the answer is... Lent.

Yay, party! :)

When I was younger, Lent was probably on the bottom of my "Favorite Spiritual Times of the Year" list, probably because I had to give up candy, and some electronics, and stuff like that. I really didn't like how everything looked and felt sad. I just wanted some bright colors and the Easter bunny! :) But now since I'm older, I have really thought about Lent and what it means.

Lent literally means "spring" or "springtide". According to www.catholicism.about.com, Lent is a

"Lent is a 40-day period of preparation for Easter Sunday and one of the major liturgical seasons of the Catholic Church. A penitential season marked by prayer, fasting and abstinence, and almsgiving."

Lent is probably the most important Church season, despite many younger kids thoughts about Christmas. :) For me, now anyways, Lent is the period of time when people can look back on their wrongdoings, repent, and find a way to make it up.

And as you already now, we give something up. Whether it be an addiction, bad habit, or something that you do everyday, you choose a sacrifice to give up to Jesus. Sometimes it really makes me sad how people put this part of Lent on the backburner.

"Oh sure, yeah, I'll give up... chocolate. Yeah, chocolate." You didn't even think about it. The first thing that popped into your mind was chocolate and since it is already Ash Wednesday, you have to go with it. There's no turning back now...

Lie. The next day you're gorging on your mother's chocolate cake.

Lenten Tip #1:

Think about what you will give up. You need something that will really make you feel the pain. (Not literally :) ) You need something that you will actually miss. It needs to be hard, that's the purpose! Whenever you are needing a little push, just think about what Jesus had to go through. I bet you would rather be nice to your siblings for 40 days rather than be nailed to a cross. Be realistic though! You can always start small and go bigger.

Here are some cool (and crazy) ideas that will really get you thinking.

1. Give up your bed.
2. Give up your pillow.
3. Give up sweets/junk food.
4. Give up electronics (or just one electronic)
5. Give up certain TV shows that you are addicted to.
6. Give up certain apps.
7. Go to one extra Mass every week.
8. Go to confession one time more than you usually do.
9. Take 5-10 minutes each day to reflect on the scriptures.
10. Put a popcorn kernel in your shoe and walk on it all day. (crazy!)
11. Right when your alarm rings, get out of your bed instead of laying there for 10 minutes.
12. Leave encouraging sticky notes in the bathroom, lockers, or anywhere else where someone could see it. (Don't leave too much!)
13. Say the Hail Mary, and do a crunch (or any other excessive) to every separate word.
14. Get some of your peers and head on down to the church.
15. Go to Eucharistic Adoration or Stations of the Cross once a week.

Also, remember it is always good to take up as well as give up. I would suggest picking one thing to give up, and one thing to take up. Go to a private school with a church attached? (or in it?) What a better Lenten promise then to gather a few of your friends and have a little faith group during Lent! All you got to do is invited people, bring your Bible, and then pray with them. It is a good way to help your peers through Lent, and hey! You'll get help in return! (it's a win win :) )

Tonight, ponder about your Lenten promise. First off, think is it realistic? Can I actually go through with this? But also think is it big enough to serve as a challenge? You want it to be hard enough for it to be a challenge, but not too hard to be impossible.

I hope you have enjoyed the first installment in my Lenten series! :) If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just want to say hi, please don't be afraid to email me at randommusings13@gmail.com !
Have a wonderful Lent! :)

All through Christ,

Maddie

Bible or Bust: Psalm 86

Many times I have read this passage (Psalm 86) when I feel like I have failed God. Which is pretty much 24/7. :) I found this psalm when I was flipping through the Bible. I just happened to land on this page. (or was it divine intervention...:) ) After I read it a few times, I dubbed the psalm the 'Plea for Mercy', when in reality, it's named Psalm of Supplication and Trust. Take a moment to read over the passage. What title comes to your mind after reading it? (It's a long one so I will just give you a link.)

Psalm 86

No matter what you name it, the Psalm as a constant message that the author is portraying. "God, you are good and I trust you. Have mercy on me and listen to my prayer." Which is kind of the jist of the Old Testament, no? Most of the Old Testament contains covenants between God and His people. The covenants are made, kept for awhile, then soon broken. The people repent, and the cycle starts over again. Salvation History for you. :)
Think about your life. Are you like the Isrealites, making covenants with God and then breaking them? I know I sure am. It is alsmost always after an inspiring movie. I'm like "God I know what to do now! I am so sorry for being such a jerk before. You know, I am going to pray an hour every morning and evening and read the whole Bible by the end of the month! Yeah, I will be an excellent Christian!" (Come on, we have all attempted to read the whole Bible some time in our life. :) )

Two days later, your covenant is broken.

My advice to you: start small then progress to more and more time with Jesus. Eventually, it won't be a burden, it will be something to look forward to. (For more prayer tips, look on my Prayer Life tab above)

Find a passage in the Scripture like Psalm 86 that you would read when you need to say sorry to God. Because sometimes, it's hard to find the words to say. Share below in the comments or shoot me an email (randommusings13@gmail.com) about the passage you chose! I would love to hear from you!
Happy praying!

All through Christ,
Maddie