Quick question about Lent

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

I have heard this from many people but we never did it in my Midwest hometown. I think the logic behind it is that each Sunday is a mini Easter and if you add the number of days in Lent minus the Sundays, it equals 40 days.

[Anonymous]

My mom, a very religious Episcopalian, always used to tell us we could take Sunday's off.

[Anonymous]

My mom, a very religious Episcopalian, always used to tell us we could take Sundays off.

(without the apostrophe, darn you, spell check!)

[Anonymous]

We've always been allowed to take Sundays off. My high schooler told me last week that they could also take off on St Joseph's feast day. I'd never heard that one before.

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of confusion about this among Catholics. The answer is, no, we cannot take days off:

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm

Q. Why do we say that there are forty days of Lent? When you count all the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, there are 46.
A. It might be more accurate to say that there is the "forty day fast within Lent." Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence.
Q. So does that mean that when we give something up for Lent, such as candy, we can have it on Sundays?
A. Apart from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the days of abstinence every Friday of Lent, Catholics have traditionally chosen additional penitential practices for the whole Time of Lent. These practices are disciplinary in nature and often more effective if they are continuous, i.e., kept on Sundays as well. That being said, such practices are not regulated by the Church, but by individual conscience.

It is up to the individual to decide. But that is the recommendation of the bishops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of confusion about this among Catholics. The answer is, no, we cannot take days off:

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-resources/lent/questions-and-answers-about-lent.cfm

Q. Why do we say that there are forty days of Lent? When you count all the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, there are 46.
A. It might be more accurate to say that there is the "forty day fast within Lent." Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence.
Q. So does that mean that when we give something up for Lent, such as candy, we can have it on Sundays?
A. Apart from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the days of abstinence every Friday of Lent, Catholics have traditionally chosen additional penitential practices for the whole Time of Lent. These practices are disciplinary in nature and often more effective if they are continuous, i.e., kept on Sundays as well. That being said, such practices are not regulated by the Church, but by individual conscience.

It is up to the individual to decide. But that is the recommendation of the bishops.

And lots of Catholics (even good ones!) say it's okay.

[Anonymous]

Raised Catholic in the midwest, I never heard of this until I went to college on the east coast and my roommate told me it. She would wait until midnight Saturday/Sunday and then eat whatever it was she'd given up.

[Anonymous]

hmm. Thanks. We're at a Catholic school but they told the kids it was ok.

It seems to make it worse in our household…mine was chowing down on chocolate yesterday, because she confused Saturday and Sunday.

So funny because I'm not even that religious, but when they change things (or my perception is they change things) I get a little grumbly. Like, "peace be with you--and also with you," vs. "peace be with you--and with your spirit" ---all that.

[Anonymous]

I've heard it. I had a coworker who I did a lot of business travel with. She would make sure we hit certain restaurants on Sundays so she could indulge in things she gave up.

[Anonymous]

I knew it as a CAtholic kid in Pennsylvania. It was no secret

[Anonymous]

I never really heard it as a kid, but I heard it a lot later. But I believe either give up something or not, and you decide what it is.

Many years ago I decided that rather than giving something up, I would do something extra each day, usually really reading a bible chapter closely. Puts me in a more contemplative state of mind than being under caffeinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom, a very religious Episcopalian, always used to tell us we could take Sundays off.

(without the apostrophe, darn you, spell check!)

Ha, oxymoron. Hard core Catholics don't.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Sunday is a day of rest so you can eat all the candy you want. (Or drink all the wine you want)

[Anonymous]

I never heard of that (Catholic here) but it sounds reasonable - as my priest says, examine your own conscience and if it makes sense, proceed.