Lent

This is such a great quote!

"Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? May HE who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility, have mercy on us and save us."

St. John Chrysostom

Abstaining from foods we like can be pretty difficult to do, and it is indeed very very necessary; if we can't control our self-will over a little bit of food, we won't be able to control ourselves when it comes to the seriously big things that really really require self-control.
We need to strengthen our will in order to be dead to the world, so that we will live only for God and always do what we know to be good and true and right, no matter what the consequences.

However, as St. John Chrysostom says:
"For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? "


What am I giving up for Lent....

well, today during my rosary prayer group we were meditating on the sorrowful mysteries (as one does on a Tuesday), and it suddenly came to me that the theme for my Lent this year should be the 4th sorrowful mystery.....Jesus's carrying of the Cross.

I am going to try and spend my Lent thinking about everything to do with that event...of Jesus carrying His heavy cross...His self-denial...His perseverance...that extreme love He had for us...the pain of seeing His sweet adorable mother in agony, yet still having to carry on and do what He was meant to do...Simon of Cyrene being force to help Jesus carry the cross, and how that was probably Simon's salvation..


So yeh, I am going to try and think about my every action in light of Jesus's carrying of His cross.

I'm also going to meditate on the day's Gospel reading from Mass, I'm giving up biscuits and cakes (I don't like chocolate really, but have a serious soft-spot for all things biscuity), I'm going to try and reduce the portion of my meals and I'm also going to give up surfing blogs (except on Sundays). But I'll still be blogging here--just not surfing other blogs during the week. (oh man! That is gonna be SO hard! See that blog list on the right...well, imagine a list twice as long as that...yeh...that is what is saved under 'my favourites' on my internet explorer! and I check them all pretty much every day (frequently more than once a day!))

anyway, hope you all have a blessed, holy and fruitful Lent!

with lots of love!
-x-x-x-

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