Comments | streetcar: Lent

streetcar

Lent

Mar 14, 2008 03:14

Is anyone on here Catholic? (Laura!) If so, can you tell me what Lent is all about, why you do it, what's the significance of the 40 days, and all that jazz? I'm really curious to know but too lazy to research it. Also, what's with the meat/no fish on Friday thing?

Comments 3

Yay Catholics! toilandtrouble March 14 2008, 13:32:23 UTC

Here's my best understanding of Lent.

Lent is the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, the time in the Bible where Jesus spent 40 days/nights roaming the desert with no food, water, etc. That's why you're supposed to give up something during Lent, to represent and honor Jesus' sacrifice. As for the no meat on Fridays, in reality, it's probably a ploy to get more people to eat fish. I don't remember what the religious symbolism is.

Julie Nolan will probably be able to give you the actual low down if you're LJ friends with her. She's uber Catholic.

log_junkie March 14 2008, 16:51:03 UTC

Lent is a time of prayer and fasting that is meant to prepare us for the death and resurrection of Christ in the Liturgical year. It is 40 days in order to mirror both the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert in await of the Promised Land and the 40 days of fasting that Jesus did in the desert to prepare for His ministry. It begins on Ash Wednesday where we receive ashes as a remembrance of our sin and from where we come (Adam was created from the dust of the earth). Throughout Lent, we are asked to make a sacrifice in order to be united to Christ's own suffering for our sake and the sake of others. For instance, this Lent I gave up sarcasm (which I haven't been the best at) because it helps me to be more temperate and also I'm not saying words that could hurt people. Sundays are not included in Lent, as every Sunday is celebrated as its own "Easter" and is a day of feasting, not fasting. The culmination of Lent is the Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday (where we celebrate the Last Supper and the washing of feet), Good Friday ( ... )

fatbob13 March 14 2008, 23:05:12 UTC

The fish thing was something that was thought up by the pope many many years ago (when they never ate fish on Fridays) because the fishermen of the world were not doing so well selling their product. So the pope said no meat buuuuuttt you can eat fish! Which basically means it is completely antiquated now...which is a large reason why I don't follow it.