If you want to change your body, perhaps alcohol and candy is the way to go. But if you want to change your heart, Pope Leo XIV argues a harder fast is needed.
We fast or abstain from licit pleasures or conveniences, etc., but not from unkind remarks about others, simply because we should never do that anyway. Lent is a great time to focus on amending our lives, but I think it is unwise to belittle penances like doing without certain foods, or skipping meals. It is easy to kid oneself that those are somehow of little worth as long as one is doing good to others.
You’re absolutely correct. Here’s how I put it in the essay:
”But this isn’t to downplay the role of sacrifice during the Lenten season. Lent is a good time for penance and self-denial. But once again, Leo reminds us that these activities must truly enrich others: ’[Fasting is about] keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency.’”
This is so right on! Fasting and not eating certain foods or drinks only mskes one weak snd miserable. The better is to be well nourished so to help your neighbors who need it. Fast from not reaching out, from not helping, from not speaking out against cruelty and marginalization. That is the Fast that will truly be satisfy your soul.
A spiritual director suggested to me once that giving up something for Lent that I was already trying to do — drink less, no more cigs, banish sweets — might be self-seeking. That I consider abstaining from something new to me. That this might be more enriching and deepen my understanding. Leo’s words recalled this to me. It’s hard. Thank you Chris. Have a holy Lent.
So if you look upon a woman lustfully you should remove your eye, and if you’re a thief, cut off your hand. So then if you speak with a wicked tongue we should cut it out ?
That sounds like a sure way through the narrow gate to paradise, and the face of Jesus.
We fast or abstain from licit pleasures or conveniences, etc., but not from unkind remarks about others, simply because we should never do that anyway. Lent is a great time to focus on amending our lives, but I think it is unwise to belittle penances like doing without certain foods, or skipping meals. It is easy to kid oneself that those are somehow of little worth as long as one is doing good to others.
You’re absolutely correct. Here’s how I put it in the essay:
”But this isn’t to downplay the role of sacrifice during the Lenten season. Lent is a good time for penance and self-denial. But once again, Leo reminds us that these activities must truly enrich others: ’[Fasting is about] keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency.’”
This is so right on! Fasting and not eating certain foods or drinks only mskes one weak snd miserable. The better is to be well nourished so to help your neighbors who need it. Fast from not reaching out, from not helping, from not speaking out against cruelty and marginalization. That is the Fast that will truly be satisfy your soul.
Excellent. This is a fast I can get behind. I love the quote from St John.
Thank you for the article Chris ! I will continue to pray for the victims of the Epstein Scandal, and for Pope ♌️.
A spiritual director suggested to me once that giving up something for Lent that I was already trying to do — drink less, no more cigs, banish sweets — might be self-seeking. That I consider abstaining from something new to me. That this might be more enriching and deepen my understanding. Leo’s words recalled this to me. It’s hard. Thank you Chris. Have a holy Lent.
Love this thoughtful post and Pope Leo. I am not Catholic either.
So if you look upon a woman lustfully you should remove your eye, and if you’re a thief, cut off your hand. So then if you speak with a wicked tongue we should cut it out ?
That sounds like a sure way through the narrow gate to paradise, and the face of Jesus.
Amen.