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CajunRick
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Posted: Sat Feb 10th, 2007 06:49 pm |
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In the Latin Church, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday. (In some of the Eastern Churches, Great Lent begins on a different day.)
Although Lent technically ends on Holy Thursday, the final days of preparation before Easter, known as the Triduum, take on an even more serious obligation for penance, for at this time Jesus suffered, died, and was buried for our salvation. For the rest of this posting, any reference to "Lent" includes the Triduum.
Lent is a time of Penance and a penitential frame of mind. The regulations are governed by the Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini, issued by Pope Paul VI in 1966, and by the Code of Canon Law, canons 1249-1253. Regulations specify the minimum; we are encouraged to go beyond the requirements, which are the rules of Fast and Abstinence. Regulations for the United States are contained in a Pastoral issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (now known as the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) in 1966 called Penance and Abstinence.
The actual regulations for the universal Church, taken from Paenitemini, are as follows:
II. 1. The time of Lent preserves its penitential character. The days of penitence to be observed under obligation throughout the Church are all Fridays and Ash Wednesday, that is to say the first days of "Grande Quaresima" (Great Lent), according to the diversity of the rites. Their substantial observance binds gravely.
2. Apart from the faculties referred to in VI and VIII regarding the manner of fulfilling the precept of penitence on such days, abstinence is to be observed on every Friday which does not fall on a day of obligation, while abstinence and fast is to be observed on Ash Wednesday or, according to the various practices of the rites, on the first day of "Grande Quaresima" (Great Lent) and on Good Friday.
III. 1. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat.
2. The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing—as far as quantity and quality are concerned—approved local custom.
IV. To the law of abstinence those are bound who have completed their 14th year of age. To the law of fast those of the faithful are bound who have completed their 21st year and up until the beginning of their 60th year.
Individual conferences of bishops, with the approval of the Holy See, have the authority to modify the regulations, as do individual bishops within their own dioceses, and individual pastors in regards to individuals and families (Paenitemini, VII).
In response to Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution, The Bishops of the United States released a Pastoral called Penance and Abstinence in 1966 which revised the rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States.
To summarize:
On all Fridays, the faithful are obliged to do penance and to engage in penitential practices. In the United States, the obligation to abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent has been dispensed as long as other penitential efforts are substituted. Fridays outside of Lent are still days of penance, and abstinence from meat is still encouraged.
On Ash Wednesday (or the first day of Great Lent, if different), and on Good Friday, we are obliged to fast. Under Church law, "fast" means to eat only one complete meal a day. Other food may be eaten at other mealtimes, but the total quantity of food should be less than the main meal. The law of Fasting does not apply to those under 21 or over 60, or to those with health issues that make fasting extremely difficult. Those not obliged to fast should substitute other penitential efforts.
On Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent, we are obliged to abstain from eating meat. This includes beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and the flesh of other warm-blooded animals. Fish, seafood, dairy products, eggs, and meat byproducts such as broth, lard, etc., are permitted. The law of Abstinence applies to those who are at least 14 years of age who do not have health issues as mentioned above.
There is no requirement to "give something up" for Lent. This practice was originally intended for children under 21 who are not obliged to fast. Giving up a favorite food, drink, or practice allows them to perform a penitential act within their abilities, and as a substitute practice for those unable to fast and/or abstain for health reasons. Nevertheless, it is a worthy practice that combines a penitential action with an opportunity for self-improvement. Giving up harmful practices such as smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages or high-calorie drinks, candy, chocolate, television, video games, etc., can help us to become better people, united to Christ in his suffering. Any money saved in the process should be donated to charity.
Volunteering, donations to charity, more frequent attendance at daily mass, confession, Eucharistic adoration, more exercise, more family time, more prayer such as a daily family rosary during Lent, all lead us closer to our Savior. To quote from the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Penance and Abstinence:
It would bring great glory to God and good to souls if Fridays found our people doing volunteer work in hospitals, visiting the sick, serving the needs of the aged and the lonely, instructing the young in the Faith, participating as Christians in community affairs, and meeting our obligations to our families, our friends, our neighbors, and our community, including our parishes, with a special zeal born of the desire to add the merit of penance to the other virtues exercised in good works born of living faith.
Finally, Pope Paul VI also cautions us to be careful that our penance becomes more than just an external act, and to be careful that our penance is always accompanied by works of charity:
Against the real and ever recurring danger of formalism and pharisaism the Divine Master in the New Covenant openly condemned—and so have the Apostles, Fathers and supreme pontiffs—any form of penitence which is purely external. The intimate relationship which exists in penitence between the external act, inner conversion, prayer and works of charity is affirmed and widely developed in the liturgical texts and authors of every era.
DISCLAIMER: The intent of this message is to present the regulations, not to discuss technical theological definitions. It presents my own interpretations of Church law. If there are inaccuracies, please feel free to correct them. If you feel any portion needs clarification, please let me know.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Truthseeker
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Posted: Sun Feb 11th, 2007 04:23 pm |
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| We don't we recite the creed on Ash Wednesday?
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 11th, 2007 04:44 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: We don't we recite the creed on Ash Wednesday?
The Creed is normally recited on Solemnities, but on Ash Wednesday, the reception of ashes serves as a profession of faith, so it replaces the Creed.
The same is true of Easter, when the baptismal promises serve as a profession of faith and replace the Creed.
The Gloria ("Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth...") is also not said during Lent, and the Alleluia is not used in the Verse before the Gospel and it is not to be used in any hymn. Easter begins with the intoning of the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, which honors the moment of transition from the Covenant of Moses to the New Covenant when Jesus rose from the dead.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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mrsbmoo
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 11:42 pm |
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I have been told by someone, not someone in authority, that sex was also prohibited on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. Any truth to that? I hope not.
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Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 10 months and 17
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Feb 21st, 2007 12:41 am |
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mrsbmoo wrote: I have been told by someone, not someone in authority, that sex was also prohibited on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. Any truth to that? I hope not.
No.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Truthseeker
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| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Wed Feb 21st, 2007 02:25 pm |
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At today's Mass, our pastor told us some history about Ash Wednesday. Apparantly, back in the day, the faithful only went to confession once in their lifetime, so they waited real long to do it. Then, at the beginning of Lent, they stood before the cathedral and told all their sins to EVERYONE gathered there and received ashes on their heads. Then, they did public penance for the entire forty days of Lent, and were absolved at Easter and welcomed back into the church. How's that for being raised from thte "spiritually' dead?
Anyway, since Ireland was an island, and without a cathedral, the monks/priests there began auricular confessions, which is how we do it, now. But, Ash Wednesday has contnued - duh - and so we remember to be penitent and proclaim our penitence by our ashes on our forheads.
Just as an aside, a man at the grocery store was reminded of Ash Wednesday by my own smudge and has made his intention to attend evening Mass. Yay!
Love, Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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brian
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| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2007 02:58 am |
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| how does lent add up to 40 days? I think the sundays do not count, but if I count all the days from Ash wednesday that are not sundays it seems to add to 40 on Holy Saturday...which would make sense, but I thought lent ended on Holy Thursday according to your info, which would be the 38th day. So does good friday and holy saturday count as days of lent?
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2007 03:17 am |
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Yes, Brian, they count. Lent officially comes to an end with the beginning of the Mass of the Vigil of Easter. The Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) is a special time during Lent.
David
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 04:22 pm |
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Just for "fun" I have been trying to fast every day during Lent. Some of the Eastern churches do so, though more strictly than I am. So far it hasn't been too bad though I have broken the rules sometimes when I feel like I am getting low blood sugar or something. God doesn't want us to make ourselves sick. I have also lost 4 pounds so far. I hope the 40 day habit of eating much smaller portions and trying to get more nutrition-dense food will carry over as a real habit.
The hard part is having low energy at the gym. I notice a quicker buildup of lactate now. But I think then of the spiritual benefits and I feel a lot better.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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