I mean if today is Fat Tuesday. Do you eat all your chocolate today and just savor the memory of it tomorrow? Do you even bother going out to dinner on Wednesday?

I recall when St. Patrick's Day was on a Lenten Friday, the church gave a special allownace to have corned beef on that day. I haven't heard any similar exceptions stated for tomorrow.

eat chocolate and then give it up then eat some more?

Ignore both and enjoy your life daily.

sexton said:

I recall when St. Patrick's Day was on a Lenten Friday, the church gave a special allownace to have corned beef on that day. I haven't heard any similar exceptions stated for tomorrow.

So there can be a "give", I was wondering.

There is no rule that you have to give up chocolate for Lent. It's common to make some sort of personal sacrifice, but the Church does not dictate what it should be. You could give up chocolate. Or you could give up alcohol and keep eating chocolate. Or you could give up soda while continuing to eat chocolate and drink alcohol.

It's really just a mindfulness thing. Lent is a time to reflect on Christ's suffering and try to walk (in a very limited way, at least) in his footsteps, before celebrating the risen Lord at Easter. How one does that is up to the individual.

[Edited 2/14/18 12:41pm]

Genesia said:

There is no rule that you have to give up chocolate for Lent. It's common to make some sort of personal sacrifice, but the Church does not dictate what it should be. You could give up chocolate. Or you could give up alcohol and keep eating chocolate. Or you could give up soda while continuing to eat chocolate and drink alcohol.

It's really just a mindfulness thing. Lent is a time to reflect on Christ's suffering and try to walk (in a very limited way, at least) in his footsteps, before celebrating the risen Lord at Easter. How one does that is up to the individual.

[Edited 2/14/18 12:41pm]

Ah, okay. I think I'm mixing up the whole beignat, fat Tuesday tradition as a thing that every Catholic has to give up everything for Lent.

morningsong said:

Genesia said:

There is no rule that you have to give up chocolate for Lent. It's common to make some sort of personal sacrifice, but the Church does not dictate what it should be. You could give up chocolate. Or you could give up alcohol and keep eating chocolate. Or you could give up soda while continuing to eat chocolate and drink alcohol.

It's really just a mindfulness thing. Lent is a time to reflect on Christ's suffering and try to walk (in a very limited way, at least) in his footsteps, before celebrating the risen Lord at Easter. How one does that is up to the individual.

[Edited 2/14/18 12:41pm]

Ah, okay. I think I'm mixing up the whole beignat, fat Tuesday tradition as a thing that every Catholic has to give up everything for Lent.

Ash Wednesday though is the same as Lenten Fridays--no meat. So if your significant other offers to take you out for or better yet cook you a steak dinner on Valentine's Day, you'll have to decline/postpone if you want to adhere to Lenten practices.

sexton said:

morningsong said:

Ah, okay. I think I'm mixing up the whole beignat, fat Tuesday tradition as a thing that every Catholic has to give up everything for Lent.

Ash Wednesday though is the same as Lenten Fridays--no meat. So if your significant other offers to take you out for or better yet cook you a steak dinner on Valentine's Day, you'll have to decline/postpone if you want to adhere to Lenten practices.

Isn't that every Friday?

EmmaMcG said:

I'm not one for Lent (or any religious practices for that matter) but this thread seems as good as any to wish you all a happy Valentines day.

Happy Valentine's Day to you too.






I think I got a bit confused looking at certain traditions involved in Mardi Gras without taking into consideration that N.O. is the only place I know of in the US that actually has a major celebration at this time tied to (pre) Lent.

morningsong said:

sexton said:

Ash Wednesday though is the same as Lenten Fridays--no meat. So if your significant other offers to take you out for or better yet cook you a steak dinner on Valentine's Day, you'll have to decline/postpone if you want to adhere to Lenten practices.

Isn't that every Friday?

Every Friday during Lent.

sexton said:

morningsong said:

Isn't that every Friday?

Every Friday during Lent.

I did not know that.

sexton said:

I recall when St. Patrick's Day was on a Lenten Friday, the church gave a special allownace to have corned beef on that day. I haven't heard any similar exceptions stated for tomorrow.

That was just last year. Arguably, the most important day of Lent is the first day, so I doubt many dispensations were handed out last week.

morningsong said:

sexton said:

Every Friday during Lent.

I did not know that.

That's how the Friday fish fry became an institution in Wisconsin.

When I was 13, I gave up listening to my Diana Ross box set for Lent.

Lent is when Christians humble themselves, by not eating fancy food or drinking or smoking or doing fancy shit or doing public service. I am more for public service.

Valentines day is an excuse to make money for sexual favors.

Grew up in church most of my life never had a Lent. Granted, pretty much everything except meat and sugar was supposedly off the table everyday of every year anyway so what was the point setting aside a certain time for giving those things up. Fasting, now that was a big deal.

Taadaa! Problem solved.

Cinny said:

When I was 13, I gave up listening to my Diana Ross box set for Lent.

You still did this in private though:

TrivialPursuit said:

Cinny said:

When I was 13, I gave up listening to my Diana Ross box set for Lent.

You still did this in private though:

[rick astley wuz here]

Genesia said:

morningsong said:

I did not know that.

That's how the Friday fish fry became an institution in Wisconsin.

It was every Friday, but I think that ended sometime around or after Vatican II.