Thursday, February 23

Ten Tips for Great Lent...


1. Regardless of how you fast, fast every single day. This type of fasting helps wear down the passions and build spiritual endurance.

2. Know exactly what the fasting regulations are and try to approximate them as best you can. Each Lent, try to be more strict yet humble.

3. Particular concerns about fasting? Age, health issues, never fasted before, mixed-marriages? Speak with your priest.

4. Be sure to recite the Lenten prayer of Saint Ephraim. If you cannot make prostrations just make bows or cross yourself.

5. On weekends, we do not make prostrations and our fasting is slightly relaxed since Saturday and Sunday are holy days.

6. The Lenten services and tones are offered only during the week –
strive to participate as much as possible in these services and the spirit of lent will rub off on you.

7. Sports and outdoor activities are not contrary to the Lenten spirit.

8. Strive to avoid going to movies, parties, vacations, and other entertainments. This we do so we can have more time to devote to spiritual things.

9. Confession and Holy Communion are central to securing the benefits of Lent. Without fail, we should receive the Sacraments during the period of Great Lent.

10. Be mindful of what we look at and how much time we spend on TV and computer. Some give up TV for all of Lent. Others strictly limit their time and watch only educational and news programs. Surfing on the web? Hit the theological sites.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am Roman Catholic, and I am curious about your fasting. We fast (two small "meals" - I do 1 piece of bread or 1 piece of fruit - and one simple, larger meal), but only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Do you fast like this each weekday of the season? Or are you discussing some other kind of fasting that happens every single day? (Of course, we abstain from meat on Fridays. We also choose other forms of sacrifice, etc., throughout the season). Thanks! You have a beautiful blog.
-Emily

MamaBirdEmma said...

In a nutshell, we fast from meat, dairy, and eggs for the whole of Great Lent. We can have fish on Annunciation and on Palm Sunday. Strict fasting also includes oil and wine. In our family, the children fast from meat. Also, it should be noted that just because something is "lenten", you can gorge yourself on it:)

Nancy Ann said...

Thank you for these tips to help prepare.

Matushka Anna said...

Yes, it was a huge temptation the year I found out Oreos were fasting. (: You can kill your fast by gorging on fasting foods. One thing to strive for is thinking less about food in general. (I find this hard when having to cook for children - I could more easily go through Lent just eating when hungry and not cooking much.)

magda said...

Oooh! Oooh! May we put this in our bulletin, please?

MamaBirdEmma said...

Sure, Magda! It was originally in my father-in-law's bulletin:)

MamaBirdEmma said...

Ack! I re-read my comment about Orthodox fasting and realized that I wrote "can gorge yourself" rather than "CAN'T"! It probably should be "shouldn't," anyway!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info! Such beautiful traditions, all.
-Emily

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