Category Archives: Lent

02.23.07
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Meatless Fridays

I was pretty shocked when I learned a few years ago that Vatican II did not do away with the “no meat on Fridays” rule. Somehow, post Vatican II, Catholicism got watered down, and it seemed that the only Fridays we had to avoid meat were the ones during Lent. I guess the American bishops threw in some “equal substitution” clause that made it possible outside of Lent for practicing Catholics to do another penance instead, although the preferred sacrifice was still to go meatless.

My guess is that this allowed us to blend better in normal society. Office party on Friday night? No need to look different by shunning the chicken marsala. Neighborhood barbecue? Go ahead and chow down on those burgers. Of course, that substitution clause quickly fell by the wayside. After all, can’t we all come up with some other “sacrifice” we made during the day if pressed? I cleaned the pantry instead of reading a book…I walked the dog even though it’s my husband’s job…I cleaned up that mess my toddler made without complaining. That counts, right?

I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect in observing meatless Fridays throughout the year. There are times it is inconvenient. Perhaps we are traveling or running errands and need to get a quick bite to eat. Perhaps we are visiting friends and that’s what’s on the menu. Perhaps we have people at our house and a meatless meal would not be popular.

But isn’t that the whole point of abstaining from meat on Fridays? Are we, as Catholics, called to “blend in,” to not draw attention to our faith, to segregate who we are outside of church from who we are while sitting in Mass? I’m not talking about holier-than-thou pointing out to everyone you know that you’re eating a tuna fish sandwich because it’s Friday or ranting that the office cafeteria doesn’t offer any vegetarian selections on Fridays for all those Catholics who work there or demanding that your neighbor who invited you over for the barbecue grill up some shrimp too. Most people would think you are eating tuna or shrimp because you like tuna or shrimp. I like tuna and shrimp, and I’ll eat them on random days of the week just because I enjoy them. I like lots of meatless meals, and really have no trouble observing the no meat rule during Lent. It’s just those few inconvenient times during the rest of the year.

But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

Hooray for me and for you if going meatless is no sacrifice. The point is obedience. And then try to obey the rule come Easter time. See just how difficult it can be.

02.21.07
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Have a blessed Lent

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. Mark 1:15

Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. Joel 2:12-18
02.20.07
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To blog or not to blog

With Lent now only hours away, selecting penances, sacrifices and good intentions for the season has many a Catholic blogger scrambling to discern the best way to deepen her relationship with God. I’ve already seen one person bid the blogosphere a temporary adieu, and I can certainly understand and respect that decision. Blogging takes time.

I myself toyed with that idea. But…

Virtually all of the blogs I read are Catholic. Most of them routinely address living a Catholic life in a secular world. They are inspirational, encouraging, and often challenge me to be a better Catholic mother. Reading them is like getting a daily pep talk from a good friend. In addition, I suspect that the majority of folks who stop by here on a regular basis are getting a similar inspiration and encouragement from me. I don’t want to stop offering that to others.

But again, blogging takes time. The key is to find a decent balance between blogging about life and living life. Pep talks are great, but a team can’t spend the day in the locker room. It’s got to go out and play the game.

And so I have proposed to myself a two-part compromise.

First of all, I’m not going to comment on other people’s blogs. I am not a frequent commenter anywhere, but I do try to speak up often enough to not be considered a lurker. I’ll still read the blog, but I’m going to refrain from putting in my two cents. If you have grown accustomed to an occasional pithy remark from me, don’t worry, I still love you. Perhaps you may find my comments about your blog over here on mine.

Secondly, I’m turning off comments on my blog. My husband didn’t understand how much additional time and energy goes into your comments here. For whatever reason, Blogger does not usually send me an email notification of a comment. Before I began doing comment moderation, I had no idea that someone had left a comment. And comments sometimes require comments. Someone may ask a question or say something particularly nice, and silence on my part could be perceived as rude if the person didn’t realize that I was completely clueless that they had said something. It’s like leaving a message on an answering machine and never getting a call back.

Even after I enabled comment moderation, Blogger still doesn’t email me that comments have been left. I have to manually go into the moderation page to see if anyone has commented. It’s a pain, as you might imagine. And it takes time. And it causes me to compulsively check the dashboard about every hour. If there are no comments because you can’t leave comments there will be no excuse to go and check. I can better regulate my time online and stop wondering if anyone has left me a love note.

My email address is in the sidebar. I’m not saying that I don’t want any of you wasting my time by trying to engage me in conversation! No, I don’t mind dialogue at all. Feel free to send me a note.

So, this is your last chance!! Comments will be open here until bedtime tonight. Wish me a blessed and holy Lent as I wish the same for you.