Abstaining During Lent

March 04, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Why do Catholics Give Things Up For Lent?

One of the first questions when beginning the Lenten season is "What should I give up for Lent?" As a child, my answer to this was usually dessert, games, or TV shows. I knew the point was to find something that I really enjoyed and abstain from it for the next 40 days (except Sundays or feast days). The problem was that while I did find something to give up, I inevitably discovered something else to distract myself and fill my time. This continued throughout my teen years, and so I was able to get through most Lenten seasons pretty much the same as any other ones. It wasn't until I became an adult that I really discovered the meaning behind the sacrifice. I learned that the point was truly to embrace denial of my own base desires and enter into a place of suffering where I could encounter my Lord.

Redemptive Suffering - Salvifici Dolores

In February 1984, Pope John Paul II composed an apostolic letter on suffering entitled Salvifici Dolores (Redemptive Suffering). He proposed that we are invited to enter the suffering of our Lord. It is not that God needs us, but by offering up our suffering we can play a part in our own redemption and the redemption of others.

"In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus, each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ".

As Catholics, we have come to understand and embrace the opportunity that Christ has given us to be co-redeemers. Our efforts are certainly small and meagre compared to His, but He receives and elevates them for the redemption of the world.

So many of us spend our lives trying to avoid suffering. We weren't created to experience pain and so it is only natural that it is something we run from. But, just as Pope John Paul II said, Christ elevated suffering. He attached meaning and redemption to it. So now when we suffer, it doesn't have to be fruitless. This Lent I invite us all to be mindful of our suffering and offer it to God.

Finding Something to Give Up For Lent

Abstaining from something for Lent is going to look different for each person. For some it may be not eating chocolate, for others, it could be sleeping without a pillow. I'll give you an example: my sister loves ice. It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, she always has ice in her drinks. For Lent this year she told me she was considering foregoing ice in all her drinks. I don't use ice very often in my drinks. For me, giving up ice would not be a sacrifice, but for her, it is a huge sacrifice. Every time she instinctively goes to the ice machine, she can stop herself and offer up a prayer for someone. By dying to herself, she can unite her suffering to Christ's and give Jesus the gift of her sacrifice to be used for her own sanctification -- or another's.

Fasting Rules

Sometimes I meet people who have different opinions of the official fasting requirements during Lent. In fact, until last year I thought Holy Thursday was a day of fasting like Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I looked into it and found these guidelines given by the USCCB - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

A summary of current practice:

• On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent: Everyone aged 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat.
• On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone aged 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt, due to usually a medical reason.

"Why Don't Catholics Eat Meat on Those Special Days?"

It's a question you may have wondered about, and I have an answer for you! Jesus is the Lamb of God. In the Old Testament, lambs were offered as sacrifice in atonement for sins.

"And he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. Leviticus 5:6".

Jesus came to earth as fully God and fully man. He sacrificed His own flesh for the forgiveness of our sins. He became the true and perfect sacrifice so that after Him, there need be no other. Every Friday in Lent and on the days that we fast, we abstain from meat to honor the flesh of Jesus. Meat is also considered a luxurious food, and by not partaking in it we are adding another form of sacrifice in which we can reflect on Jesus' Passion and unite our suffering with His. Up until 1966, Catholics abstained from meat every Friday throughout the entire year. Some Catholics still observe this practice.

Autom's Good Deed Rosary and Bracelet can help. Pull a bead toward the Crucifix for any act of self-denial or love for others and watch them add up throughout the day.

Before You Go

What are you planning to give up for Lent?
What do you think of redemptive suffering?
Do you eat meat on Fridays throughout the year?

I would LOVE to hear from you. Send me an email to catholic-living@autom.com

I wish you all a beautiful and penitential Lent! May you feel God's presence more intimately than ever before and follow Him more trustingly. Be sure to follow and subscribe to the links below for more tips and information.