Great podcast! I would only add one thing: make sure to use the penances God naturally gives you. For example, this Lent I’m in my first trimester of pregnancy. Obviously fasting and abstinence are going to be difficult if not impossible. However, I will be constantly nauseous basically until Easter, so God is giving me the gift of a penance I didn’t exactly choose (yes, a pregnancy I wanted but not so much the morning sickness). This means I don’t get to do what I planned for Lent for the most part, but that’s also God’s gift to me for humility. I think in general, people try to ignore their daily penances and they need to take them in stride as God’s gifts. The saints say that these sorts of penances are far more meritorious since we didn’t choose them.
Good points. We try to follow the tradition of meat at 1 meal only during Lent, and no meat at all on Fridays. We eat fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs instead. I am over 70 so I technically don't have to fast but I will give up all sweets, gravies, condiments, dressings in addition to meat at 1 meal and no meat on Fridays.
This is great! At the age of 69, I am still trying to figuring out what I should do but with a recent total knee and being on hormonal treatment as ex-‘athlete’, these initial comments are to the point and hilarious for me at the same time. I could digress ad nauseam but I keep trying to think my body is the same body that lost 30+ lbs to make weight my junior in high school and then became a prep all American in wrestling my senior year. Kept working out and was easily in the power lift category for over 1500 lbs in my early 30s and NOT for the glory of God while obtaining a MD and two associated Masters. Now I am retired and the goals are entirely and hopefully for the glory of God. So, goals have to be set ‘reasonably’. 😊
On the other hand, I read Gueranger’s every day so I tend to get delusional and think I can be St. Antony 🤣
Great podcast! I would only add one thing: make sure to use the penances God naturally gives you. For example, this Lent I’m in my first trimester of pregnancy. Obviously fasting and abstinence are going to be difficult if not impossible. However, I will be constantly nauseous basically until Easter, so God is giving me the gift of a penance I didn’t exactly choose (yes, a pregnancy I wanted but not so much the morning sickness). This means I don’t get to do what I planned for Lent for the most part, but that’s also God’s gift to me for humility. I think in general, people try to ignore their daily penances and they need to take them in stride as God’s gifts. The saints say that these sorts of penances are far more meritorious since we didn’t choose them.
Good timing. It was a nice stimulant to getting ready for Lent. Point five was pertinent as I have to start over often.
Thanks Kennedy
Good points. We try to follow the tradition of meat at 1 meal only during Lent, and no meat at all on Fridays. We eat fish, shellfish, dairy, eggs instead. I am over 70 so I technically don't have to fast but I will give up all sweets, gravies, condiments, dressings in addition to meat at 1 meal and no meat on Fridays.
This is great! At the age of 69, I am still trying to figuring out what I should do but with a recent total knee and being on hormonal treatment as ex-‘athlete’, these initial comments are to the point and hilarious for me at the same time. I could digress ad nauseam but I keep trying to think my body is the same body that lost 30+ lbs to make weight my junior in high school and then became a prep all American in wrestling my senior year. Kept working out and was easily in the power lift category for over 1500 lbs in my early 30s and NOT for the glory of God while obtaining a MD and two associated Masters. Now I am retired and the goals are entirely and hopefully for the glory of God. So, goals have to be set ‘reasonably’. 😊
On the other hand, I read Gueranger’s every day so I tend to get delusional and think I can be St. Antony 🤣
Thank you for this direction. In all my years as a Catholic, I have never had such in depth teaching on Lent