Lent: Not just for Catholics anymore
If I hadn’t stumbled up it in some news item or other this morning, I wouldn’t have known that it’s the first day of Lent.
Does that make me a bad Catholic? Depends on how you define “bad”. Or “Catholic”, really.
I’ve been thinking about this more and more since I got married.
You see, my parents are Polish and like approximately 89% of Poles, they’re Roman Catholic. It was only natural that, growing up, I too would go through the Baptism/Confirmation/Communion song and dance. As I got older and learned more about Catholicism in particular and organized religion in general, however, I felt less and less inclined to perform the little rituals of my religion – going to mass, saying confession, observing Saint’s days. It’s not that I didn’t or don’t believe in the underlying truth of it, just that I don’t think of myself as Catholic so much anymore.
As for my husband, even though his mom is a minister’s daughter and he went to Sunday school, he wasn’t forced to follow the rules of any one religion. In fact, he grew to relate a lot to the Jewish faith from his father’s side, and the culture as well.
When it came to deciding how our wedding ceremony would be performed, there wasn’t even much of a discussion. If you’ve been following along with my wedding stories, you already know that it was a non-denominational outdoor ceremony officiated by our very non-official (but officially awesome) friend. That said, I do sort of feel like it took place in a church - the ‘church’ of our family and friends.
But I’m getting off topic here.
Lent. Right.
The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial—for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I don’t know if it’s all this thinking about my little two-person-family’s faith that did it. Or maybe it’s just another step along the path of self discovery that I’ve been steadily climbing the past two years. But – even though it’s been a long time since I gave something up for Lent – I feel oddly compelled to do so this year.
So here it is, folks. To make sure the sacrifice is a good one, a real one, and not just a half-assed ‘hey look at me, I’m so righteous, I’m giving up peanuts even though I’m allergic!” -one, I’m going to give up something I love A LOT. Some might say a leetle too much. Are you ready?
Wine.
And I’m writing it here so that y’all can pelt me with rocks if I fail (or whatever it is that Catholics do. Ha ha – kidding, kidding.)
This time of sacrifice will be an opportunity for me to think more about not only my spiritual beliefs but also my physical health. More on that soon.
Oh, and if you work with me or live with me – I’m apologizing in advance for the next 40 days of crankiness you’ll be putting up with.
My name is Kasia Fink and nothing makes me happier than finding goodness. This is a collection of my findings... I mean, finkings.
Solidarity sister! My mom is Catholic so we had religion floating around in our house but I was never really a church going gal. I did however dig the concept of Lent and I use it every year to think about my own beliefs and direction in life.
But it is really hard sometimes. I’ve given up pop and chocolate this year and yesterday (Day 1) my husband teased me with mint-chocolate ice cream. Ugh! 39 more days to go . . .
What a meanie. My husband also started teasing me about it already – he finds it quite amusing. I need to think of a way to get back at him… ;)
Kudos to you to for giving something up! Deepak Chopra speaks of using this time to rid your body and brain of addictions – i’m giving up dessert – as I am addicted to icecream. But…did you know:
Lent in 2009 will start on Wednesday, the 25th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 11th of April.
In Western Christianity Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days of lent because each Sunday represents a “mini-Easter”, a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
interesting, huh?!
WHAT?!? 46 days? Oh man….
If you follow the rules of the Catholic church my parents attend, you can eat/drink/partake in whatever you gave up for Lent on those Sundays…as they are not counted in the days of Lent.
I think of it as a bit of a work-around, and try not to do it myself, but it holds no one else back from indulging in my family.
Just thought I’d share (or tempt, I guess).
P.S. I gave up chocolate. (Yikes!)
WOW that is a tough one. I’m impressed! I think if I gave up wine I would drink so much extra beer/cocktails to make up for it that it wouldn’t be worth it! I’m giving up sleeping in, which has been awful so far. Me and my snooze button were really tight, and he is not taking the break-up well at all.
Well I’m going to try to abstain from alcohol in general but didn’t want to put that part in writing. God knows what might happen in the next 40 days that will absolutely necessitate a martini.
My religion has 19 days every spring where you can’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. (Much like Ramadan for Muslims.) In my personal experience, challenges like this alternate constantly between:
(a) I have so much self-control! I am all-powerful! I do not even need _____ like the rest of you wimps! and
(b) OhGodOhGodOhGodThisWillNeverBeOver.
Hope yours turns out to be more the first than the second! ;)
Good luck, chica! I think it’s fantastic that you’re giving up something important to you- that’s the true spirit of the tradition. Kudos! :)
You are a strong woman. I could never! hehe. good luck. I awarded you a blog award – http://neverabridezilla.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-first-blog-award.html. I enjoyed reading your Mrs. Seabreeze adventures and enjoy your post-wedding musings!
Aw, that’s so cool. Thanks!
I gave up candy…as I did as a child (and was told to do ;)…it lasted one day…until hubby brought me home a cadbury egg ;p