Season of Lent
Lent & its Practices
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE Q & A
Q. I understand that Catholics ages 18 to 59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, but what exactly are the rules for these fasts?A. Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?A. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting. - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Lent 2020
Lent is a time of penance and turning back to the Lord. It is a time that we prepare to celebrate the central mysteries of our faith in Holy Week and Easter. We traditionally think about it as a time to “give up” something. The Church doesn’t call us to “give up” something officially though, but instead to “take up” some new things. These are the practices of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING.
“The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.” - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
To help with these three Lenten practices, we have compiled a list of ideas that might help you to decide to “take up” something from each of the categories this Lent. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we hope that it helps to spark some new ideas this Lent.
Q. I understand that Catholics ages 18 to 59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, but what exactly are the rules for these fasts?A. Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?A. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting. - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Lent 2020
Lent is a time of penance and turning back to the Lord. It is a time that we prepare to celebrate the central mysteries of our faith in Holy Week and Easter. We traditionally think about it as a time to “give up” something. The Church doesn’t call us to “give up” something officially though, but instead to “take up” some new things. These are the practices of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING.
“The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.” - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
To help with these three Lenten practices, we have compiled a list of ideas that might help you to decide to “take up” something from each of the categories this Lent. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we hope that it helps to spark some new ideas this Lent.
Prayer
- Visit the adoration chapel
- Go to daily Mass
- Participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent
- Read the daily Scriptures
- Participate in Stations of the Cross
- Daily examination of conscience
- Learn the Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Learn to pray Liturgy of the Hours
- Pray the rosary
- Learn the Angelus prayer
- Make a list of daily prayer intentions
- Grab a prayer app for your smartphone like Laudate, Catholic Mega App, Pray Catholic Novenas or Relevant Radio
- Participate in an “prayer a day” program via email
- Best Lent Ever - Dynamic Catholic
- Daily Lenten Gospel Reflection with Bishop Baron - Word on Fire
- Lenten Reflections - FORMED
- Reflexiones de Cuaresma - FORMED
- Lenten Reflections (also available via text message) - Flocknote
Fasting
- Fast from an hour of TV to learn about your faith
- Fast from a meal weekly & give $ to charity
- Fast from constant secular news to look at daily Church news
- Fast from the radio in the car to create silence for conversation w/ God
- Fast from judging others, using put-downs & start affirming the good in others
- Fast from holding resentments and start practicing forgiveness
Almsgiving
- Downsize your wardrobe & donate items to St. Vincent de Paul
- Visit a parishioner or family member in the nursing home
- Donate a dessert for United Caring Shelter(bring desserts to the Parish Office on the Tuesday before the 4th Wednesday of each month)
- Give a gift card to someone in need
- Make a meal for a homebound neighbor
Learn more about Lent
- Your Guide To A Catholic Lent Everything you need for a more spiritual Lent - Simply Catholic
- 25 Great Things You Can Do for Lent; Besides giving up chocolate - Busted Halo
- 10 Tips for Making the Lenten Season More Meaningful - Simply Catholic
- Questions And Answers About Lent And Lenten Practices - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Fasting and abstinence: More than laws of the Church - Simply Catholic
- Check out a Lenten Calendar (like an Advent Calendar but with inspiration & challenges instead of chocolate) - Busted Halo