Quick question about Lent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't allowed to cheat on Sundays growing up, but have friends who did and said it was okay.

As a Catholic, some years I've given myself a Sunday break or used it as an excuse if it got tough to go without coffee/chocolate/wine, but I try not to.

But it's not cheating to not fast on Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't allowed to cheat on Sundays growing up, but have friends who did and said it was okay.

As a Catholic, some years I've given myself a Sunday break or used it as an excuse if it got tough to go without coffee/chocolate/wine, but I try not to.

But it's not cheating to not fast on Sunday.

I understand, but as PPs have demonstrated, that isn't widely known or even agreed to. I was raised that it was cheating.

[Anonymous]

not widely known, obviously, but in the Catholic church, rules are not agreed to -- they are set by the authorities.

[Anonymous]

Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

perhaps it's this ability to decide that throws people off in a religion that is so rule-bound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

perhaps it's this ability to decide that throws people off in a religion that is so rule-bound.

I am guessing you are not Catholic or, if you are you, did not have the benefit of a good education in Catholicism.

Very much is left to individual conscience in Catholicism. There are rules, like going to mass every Sunday and receiving communion once a year, but these are all matters of discipline and may change over time. The real emphasis is on what one believes and how one acts on those beliefs in every day life. Whether one has thoughts and engages in actions that takes one in the direction of God or away from the direction of God is a matter for the individual to decide after a thorough and honest examination of conscience, which Catholics are encouraged to do daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids are telling me (and one might be bluffing but the other would not) that the school teachers and principal told them that they can take Sundays off from their Lent pledge? (like eat chocolate if you gave up chocolate)

I've never heard of this, and we just moved here, so maybe this is an East Coast thing? I don't know. Anyone know?

Absolutely, no Lenten fasting on Sunday. Easy to look up online. Good to hear their school is teaching the correct practice of Lent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

perhaps it's this ability to decide that throws people off in a religion that is so rule-bound.

I am guessing you are not Catholic or, if you are you, did not have the benefit of a good education in Catholicism.

Very much is left to individual conscience in Catholicism. There are rules, like going to mass every Sunday and receiving communion once a year, but these are all matters of discipline and may change over time. The real emphasis is on what one believes and how one acts on those beliefs in every day life. Whether one has thoughts and engages in actions that takes one in the direction of God or away from the direction of God is a matter for the individual to decide after a thorough and honest examination of conscience, which Catholics are encouraged to do daily.

And if you decide wrong, you go to hell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

perhaps it's this ability to decide that throws people off in a religion that is so rule-bound.

I am guessing you are not Catholic or, if you are you, did not have the benefit of a good education in Catholicism.

Very much is left to individual conscience in Catholicism. There are rules, like going to mass every Sunday and receiving communion once a year, but these are all matters of discipline and may change over time. The real emphasis is on what one believes and how one acts on those beliefs in every day life. Whether one has thoughts and engages in actions that takes one in the direction of God or away from the direction of God is a matter for the individual to decide after a thorough and honest examination of conscience, which Catholics are encouraged to do daily.

And if you decide wrong, you go to hell

*sigh* not true. Tired of that hollow threat being thrown around by those who don't really know Catholicism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Giving up things for Lent is not a Church rule. It is simply a tradition. There are liturgical reasons for not viewing Sundays as fast days that by extension can be applied to the tradition of giving up things for Lent. It is up to individuals to decide whether giving up what they gave up for Lent on Sundays enhances or distracts from the self-imposed discipline.

perhaps it's this ability to decide that throws people off in a religion that is so rule-bound.

I am guessing you are not Catholic or, if you are you, did not have the benefit of a good education in Catholicism.

Very much is left to individual conscience in Catholicism. There are rules, like going to mass every Sunday and receiving communion once a year, but these are all matters of discipline and may change over time. The real emphasis is on what one believes and how one acts on those beliefs in every day life. Whether one has thoughts and engages in actions that takes one in the direction of God or away from the direction of God is a matter for the individual to decide after a thorough and honest examination of conscience, which Catholics are encouraged to do daily.

And if you decide wrong, you go to hell

*sigh* not true. Tired of that hollow threat being thrown around by those who don't really know Catholicism.

I'm just tired of the low caliber of DCUM trolls. It wasn't even close to funny.

[Anonymous]

Very much is left to individual conscience in Catholicism. There are rules, like going to mass every Sunday and receiving communion once a year, but these are all matters of discipline and may change over time. The real emphasis is on what one believes and how one acts on those beliefs in every day life. Whether one has thoughts and engages in actions that takes one in the direction of God or away from the direction of God is a matter for the individual to decide after a thorough and honest examination of conscience, which Catholics are encouraged to do daily.



And if you decide wrong, you go to hell
[Report Post]


Actually, no. People vary in their capacity to distinguish right from wrong. The really good among us are hypersensitivity to when they have turned from God. More is expected of them. Others have very limited capacity and far less is expected of them, much as the law can decide someone is incapable of telling right from wrong and, therefore, does not have the capacity to commit a crime (although they may be committed). Catholics speak of invincible ignorance, which is much along the same lines.

Further, if one has turned from the direction of God, these are sins, which depending on gravity, should be confessed. Just about everything is forgivable in Catholicism and there is always a chance of redemption.

Probably just providing more troll fuel.

[Anonymous]

but there is a chance of hell too. I am 23:50 and was raised catholic and it was made very clear by the priests and nuns that you would go to hell for not following certain church rules, like attending mass on Sundays.

If that is not right -- please advise - what can you go to hell for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:but there is a chance of hell too. I am 23:50 and was raised catholic and it was made very clear by the priests and nuns that you would go to hell for not following certain church rules, like attending mass on Sundays.

If that is not right -- please advise - what can you go to hell for?

Not breaking your Lenten vows on a Sunday.

For everything else, if you were taught by priests and nuns, then you can save everybody some time and try to remember what they told you.

(I'm not Catholic so I can't help here, but really, what kind of question is this?)