100 Things You Can Give Up For Lent!

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[@pintswithaquinas]

What will you be giving up for lent?

[@IlluminosaImmortalis]

Probably KZbin. Man, I don't wanna.

[@user-bl4lf9rg8m]

Few things that keep me away from God the most

[@aaronwinter447]

I'm eating bread/water only Wednesday/Friday.

[@aaronwinter447]

@@tateharrigan8061 This is true. If you get married and have children, video games tend to naturally lose their appeal. (Personal experience and that of all my friends, though occasionally have a drink together and play something, it doesn't have to be gone entirely).

[@andyandroid2155]

To add: more patient and charitable read more spiritual books and listen to more spiritual audiobooks To give up: coffee, any shape of form of sugar. give up my own control and to put my life on God's hand more in many way.

[@nathanvangoor4979]

Pooping without distraction is definitely what the early Christians meant when they introduced lent

[@judithlopez8796]

Ammmm... this is kind of awkward given that I had a "bowel movement" and started watching this video when I read this comment in the bathroom 😳🫠

[@mckenzie2260]

I’m pregnant, have difficult pregnancies, and my birth will coincide with the end of Lent or beginning of Easter. My priest has asked me to offer up my pregnancy for Lent and not be scrupulous about the fasting/giving things up etc given how things already are for me. In addition, of course, to accept all of the things that come my way during each day with a joyful spirit.

[@christianhurlburt5703]

Best of luck to your pregnancy! Stick to the advice of your priest and don’t let your scruples get the best of you (:

[@ElizabethG-hetProductions]

God bless you 🙏 Praying for you and your baby

[@otterspacetime2608]

I had a Lenten pregnancy and almost Easter birth last year and that was how I treated Lent. Instead of fasting I tried adding in good habits like daily rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Congrats and good luck!

[@cruxstationalis]

Also know that you are dispensed from the Lenten observances as a pregnant/nursing mother. Obviously, penance is beneficial to the spiritual life beyond the Lenten journey. But yes, trust your priest.

[@mimi_j]

Same but I am still trying discern what to do. My pregnancy is difficult. I have 10 weeks left. Praying for a safe delivery for both of us 🙏🏽💕💕

[@maggiebelgie6981]

My goals for Lent more prayer time, be less critical and no gossip, and be more charitable with my time/money.

[@peterparker6956]

Hey Matt! Im 16 getting confirmed soon. If you made a video about how to choose a confirmation Saint that would be incredible! Glory to Jesus Christ

[@kerrytopel9835]

Hi Peter, I’m an old woman now but I remember getting confirmed in 4th grade like it was yesterday. I picked my saint just because I like the name Elizabeth (and I even think it was because of the beautiful actress Elizabeth Taylor)-not a good discernment process at all. Then I realized that the most famous St. Elizabeth was the old mother of St. John the Baptist and I didn’t “connect” with her much. Now that I too am an older woman, I ask for her prayers and intercession every day and feel a great connection with her. So really, The Holy Spirit is going to guide you eventually if you let the Holy Spirit guide you, even if you are a knucklehead like I am. God bless you!

[@almacarminaa]

@@kerrytopel9835 I can relate to this a lot! I chose St. Anne just because it was my sponsor's name. I've always felt disconnected from my Confirmation saint, until a couple years ago. Now I've been struggling with infertility and it turns out that St. Anne is a patron saint of couples trying to conceive. I've been turning to her a lot lately, too!

[@margarets1362]

@@almacarminaa we conceived our oldest after a Novena to her! So that's her middle name.

[@almacarminaa]

@@margarets1362 Oh that’s amazing! 🥰

[@MFV77]

Perhaps find a saint whose virtues you really want to imitate. I selected St Veronica because I wanted to never fail to reach out to comfort and assist others, no matter the cost. If you recall, she was the one who offered her veil to wipe the face of Jesus as He carried His cross.

[@sarahfebruary]

i gave up pants for Lent in 2021 (I am a woman, lol) and never went back! Skirts and dresses. That lent "sacrifice" turned my life around.

[@ThoinFrostaxe]

I have a kilt in my closet and this is giving me ideas…

[@ipleadthefifth1791]

i am very intrigued. please expound. i just bought my first flowy maxi skirt 3 days ago, worn it 3 day in a row, and i feel like a princess.

[@francescaderimini4422]

I gave up make up, nail polish, I only wore light pink, Perfume, body lotion. Lipstick was the hardest part. This too changed my life.

[@hoseinexile07]

I appreciate the comments about sacrificing sweets, and how it's not necessarily trivial. This past year it definitely became a crutch for me because of the birth of our twins, major career changes, financial pressure, and starting a second business. I've put on some lbs because, out of stress, I made a habit of giving myself over to sweets. So while I dont want to treat Lent as just a spiritual weight loss program, replacing sweets with prayer and fasting will be a good way to jumpstart better relationships to sugar and to God going forward. Pray for me please, because getting rid of a crutch is gonna be tough.

[@limoncellosmith7594]

Well put. This is ME too.

[@limoncellosmith7594]

@hatapp2873SPAM

[@mariethomas4703]

It's a sacrifice for you. Isn't that what Lent is partly about? I think it's great. I hope you are successful!

[@hal42421]

woahhhh i felt this SO MUCH! thank you so much for sharing this

[@colomba6637]

St Josemaria: 'Choose mortifications that don't mortify others.' I think this matters a lot for family life...

[@beatlecristian]

I thought about this as I have been in a bad mood and I thought your penance shouldn’t penance for your family, right?

[@colomba6637]

​@@beatlecristian it's very hard! Poor you and poor family! Sometimes a small penance is better for us - good for humility too. The other thing is if we remember to really pray while fasting, then it is such a different experience. I forget and end up making all the effort myself - have to constantly correct that by prayer and living the presence of God. We're only at the beginning of lent 🙏

[@angrypotato_fz]

I stumbled upon a great quote from Josemaria Escriva: "Choose mortifications that don't mortify others." I hope to remember this when I plan my mortifications. Some of the ideas sound great to me, but they might be a real struggle for other people (for example - vow of silence, not talking, becoming unreachable by phone etc.). Regarding the vow of silence - I have an uncle who did it a few times, and while in fact it helped him control his words (he has a habit of making quick, snarky remarks hurting others) a bit better, but on the other hand it was quite difficult for his wife and children.

[@rebekahmartin6668]

Here I am, the day before lent. Having no idea what I’m going to do this year. This is the first year in a while I haven’t been pregnant during lent. I grew up Protestant and my Catholic friend told me about giving up chocolate during lent and that’s the only idea I had about it growing up. My husband introduced me to Catholicism when we met, so it’s definitely new for me still

[@dt1458]

I am giving up fast food, soda, caffeine, alcohol, youtube and other social media. I will no longer listen to videos or music in the background when doing menial tasks and embrace silence more. No movies or tv shows (unless with my wife and kids). And I will do no food on mon, wed, and fridays. I have done cold showers for a long time already so that isn’t really a challenge to me. Daily learning and prayer is the greatest focus. God bless everyone

[@tylertreese3150]

I had some friends in college who would always walk with a rock in their shoes to be reminded of the walk Jesus made with the cross. Small thing but was interesting.

[@ninaaraneta]

I'm actually going to fast this lent which is something I've never done before. Kinda excited for it and hope I stick with my plans. Cutting out sugar, coffee, listening to music at night and other things. Good luck everyone!

[@Emcron]

as a frontline healthcare worker, coffee quite literally guarantees my patients’ safety, so no, can’t give that up 😅😅😅

[@francescaderimini4422]

I’m the same! I need food at times and we have to time and place to eat properly. My Spiritual Director told me I could give up nail polish, make-up etc. It was harder than I thought!

[@ToqTheWise]

I’m studying to be a deaf educator and I think next year for lent I’m going to have a vocal fast. I can’t use my voice to talk to anyone and I can only write things down in an emergency or as a last resort. I can and often do pray in sign language as well so maintaining daily prayer won’t be a problem. This is not only a fast or penance but a fast of compassion as well. I know many people who are profoundly deaf and cannot speak, they suffer because society refuses to learn their natural language so for 40 days I can suffer with them.

[@bobandkelly]

I love the St Ephrem prayer! Ever since Matt told us about it, I think two years ago, I have said it as soon as.i get up every morning of Lent. It's beautiful.

[@AniyuAsh]

Being pregnant, I can't do the daily fast I've done in the past. So I'm having to be creative in what I do. So I'm doing daily Mass, which means waking up at 5:30am everyday and I LOVE sleeping in.

[@gmacch]

Not a whole Lenten give up, but I used to make a food fast on Good Friday, so fasting from food from Thursday night after dinner and would end the fast Holy Saturday breakfast. I'd drink water and coffee on Good Friday.

[@evansmith2018]

Same, would highly recommend

[@teogrunhut8764]

Well, Catholics have to fast on Good Friday (those aged 18-60, or something like that, but of course, people outside that limit can do it too, also, we have to fast on Ash Wednesday)

[@richbudd23]

That’s almost the Paschal Fast

[@raba650]

As a man, I think giving up my own stubbornness, frustrations, and self reliance, thus fighting my own “old self”, would be a good practical advice since I could instead focus on the spirit of Lent which is Christ’s sacrifice of authentic love on the cross and look on his own manliness instead of my own, trying to stop myself to think of/look at Christianity as a pacifist, unmanly mentality, which a lot of people may be tempted to do regarding their faith. I came up with this from Matt’s suggestion to pray when you get up from bed.

[@cruxstationalis]

So important to start the day with prayer!

[@somebodyfromsomewhere790]

Thanks Matthew. Im praying for you and your family.

[@lisamac6661]

Just looked up the St Ephram prayer. I am going to learn it and say it everyday.

[@choosejesus1910]

I've been sleeping on the ground for years. I'm going to eat one meal a day. I'm not going to use hot water for baths. I'm giving up alcohol.

[@daniellas8062]

For lent this year I decided that I’m going to regularly clean my room and bathroom which is something that I often neglect because I’m always at work or school and get home pretty late. Here’s to not sleeping on my laundry anymore 🥂

[@Ladya12345]

When Matt said “I only drink on my own” I felt that! I don’t typically drink alone but I prefer to drink in my home with my friends! So much better than bars!

[@IlluminosaImmortalis]

I struggle with feeling so confused leading up to lent because there are SO MANY things you could do. My husband and I have an intention that we want to keep for prayer but I feel so torn between five different things I could give up/do this every year. But honestly I think it's been the hardest to make an intention this year because I'm a new mother and newly type 1 diabetic and have been giving up a lot of different things, like favorite foods and sleep ...and me time 😅 but I feel there ars things I'm doing to replace this stuff to comfort myself and I've been struggling to pray. Anyway, this episode helped me, convicted me and...made me feel like giving up a million things like always 😅😅

[@bobandkelly]

I can say as an old(ER) mom that the Lord gives we moms many built in penances. Trying to accept them joyfully and embracing them is one good way to go :) Having a mindset turning those things into a gift to God, say whenever you have to get up in the middle of the night. Perhaps praying while you are feeding and changing. Just a thought! Blessings and peace!

[@francescaderimini4422]

I’m giving up the internet and you tube! Going back to the radio and reading a book!

[@lindsayhickman9604]

The eating after 3pm is a great idea for Lent.

[@tuned_in_brooklyn]

Literally, on my way to work and took a sip of my coffee when Matt said, “you could give up coffee, and have everyone hate you” and almost choked and died laughing 😂

[@cruxstationalis]

give up coffee if you want to give up friends too 😆

[@tuned_in_brooklyn]

@@cruxstationalis i’ve only got one friend left, I’ve got to keep her😂😂

[@cruxstationalis]

@@tuned_in_brooklyn ☕️ it is then

[@christibritton1436]

re xtra long red lights - use that extra time to say an Our Father or Hail Mary, repeat til green.

[@hannahkiwi172]

Praying we all meet our expectations/goals for exclusions and inclusions. That we can rise to the occasion on account of Jesus on the cross. Love you brothers and sisters. We can do it. Please pray for me too.

[@themissionanglicanchurchpcola]

Blessed Lent to you all. I always enjoy your videos!

[@otterspacetime2608]

Before having a baby I could give up all caffeine and snacking. Now that I'm up every 3 hours breastfeeding and work full time the those may be no-gos for the health and happiness of those around me! Here are some reachable ideas I have for this Lent, which might be useful for others in similar situations - add more prayer time (those 4am feedings are an obvious opportunity); give up all KZbin except for music and reflective religious podcasts; go to Confession *at least* once; pray the rosary *at least* every Friday; before baby is up for the day pray Divine Mercy Chaplet; and instead of a juicy book on politics, go through something more meditative (this lent I got "I Believe In Love").

[@Isaac_El_Khoury]

I'm going strict carnivore for lent, too! God bless your wife and I hope she benefits from carnivore as I have in the past. I think she will prosper on it!!

[@christiandpaul2022]

From someone with tremendous alimentary tract issues doesn't that bother you?

[@Isaac_El_Khoury]

Goodness, it's the healthiest diet you can be on. Ken Berry and Shawn Baker are great doctors that swear by it.

[@christiandpaul2022]

@@Isaac_El_Khoury Red Meat at every meal and nothing else?

[@Isaac_El_Khoury]

@@christiandpaul2022 Fatty red meat and eggs is what I have every meal. But seafoods, poultry, game, lamb... all meat is fair game. Solid dairy and eggs are also a staple. Ken Berry and Shawn Baker on YT. LOOK THEM UPPPP!

[@Isaac_El_Khoury]

@Dorys did my first thirty days perfectly but ever since that (less than a year ago) I've been off and on. Sugar is a very addictive.

[@hannahkiwi172]

The best thing my dad taught me was how to navigate with a map and compass. How the highways are usually 2 numbers going n/s and the interstates are 3 numbers going e/w. How to read a map with mile markers and measure with that silly little ruler in the corner of all atlases in cooperation with the odometer. This was also life saving, as traveling through mountains and dessert you had no internet. Maps didn't work. Made it to: st Louis, Utah, new Mexico, colorado, Nevada, grand canyon, Baltimore, Pennsylvania, Niagara falls, Maine. Thank you, dad. The most beautiful things I ever witnessed. What a great gift to travel through with no anxiety. And not having to call you every 10 minutes 😂

[@Mila-kz8tt]

If someone has problem with spending, they can give up online shopping or paying with credit/ debit card.

[@joshuaneace6597]

I am not a Byzantine Catholic although I have met an Eastern Orthodox convert to Byzantine Catholicism (don’t know how that works). The closest Byzantine Catholic parish is 67 miles away and I currently don’t drive (have a license but don’t own or lease a car at this time). I go to the local Roman parish. There is a Maronite parish on the bus line if I took two busses (one to downtown and one to around Walnut Hills).

[@chrisfinoc6236]

Phone & toilet is the only perfect combo!

[@AJanae.]

We have a “bathroom reader” and it’s a book with a ton of cool facts and true stories

[@tateharrigan8061]

Vow of silence was soooooo hard for me. It was a real penance. It really worked benefits for my soul.

[@christiandpaul2022]

Wow. I would go nuts. I talk to myself all day long! (It gets ugly when we argue)

[@cruxstationalis]

that's a beautiful thing to do! It really assists us in hearing God and mortifying the easy habitual faults.

[@RoyceMusic333]

I am giving up news. Every time I would listen or check news I will say a rosary. When I have a negative thought I will say a Hail Mary. I like the Sign of the Cross if I swear. I will add that one. Thank you!

[@nicoleyoshihara4011]

Yay thank you for this!^_^❤

[@martinrivera6770]

10:00 - don’t mind me. Just bookmarking where I left off. I’ll come back and finish this podcast later, as I now need to go look up this so-called BULGARIAN ORTHODOX CHANT!!

[@katkat2340]

I’m Canadian so sorry 😂😂😂. Have a blessed lent

[@valwhelan3533]

Yeah, kinda hard to change our basic DNA for lent, eh?

[@kimberlymba9065]

Crocs are great for healthcare workers comfortable and easy clean

[@sugansugan56]

I wear Bistro Crocks in the kitchen and on my property walking about and it helps my back pain.

[@SunNy-tw1ym]

I'm yet to find a better looking shoe than the crocs that support my bone spurs like the crocs do

[@gmacch]

Unrelated to Lent, but if one wanted to bow during the private praying of the Our Father, when should one bow?

[@markusschaffer9712]

It’s going to be hard,but I’m giving up coffee for Lent. My wife may call a priest,but I’m going to get it done! Lol. Cheers,Matt!

[@verum-in-omnibus1035]

That Bulgarian chant sounded like the soundtrack to every single great modern horror film like THE CONJURING or THE NUN. I’m gonna give up ever ever hearing that sound in my head again. That is like the opposite of Gregorian Chant - it’s terrifying. 😮

[@ruthmillican6550]

The News! Give up watching all news! 🙃 The news makes me angry. I've already unsubscribed from Daily Wire (all the guys from DW that is) Church Militant and Glenn Beck in preperation for Lent. I actually have thought about eatting fish on Friday for Lent. I don't eat fish at all so I would be doing it entirely as a Penace.

[@mik569]

Wow. That's a great idea.

[@kaitlinkasperski7942]

I was sitting on the toilet with my phone the other day battling back and forth in my mind whether or not to give up my phone on the toilet.

[@ClosedDoor35]

The eating after 3pm thing is good, as long as you don't start sleeping in to make that easier (if you're someone who can afford sleeping in). A few years back I purposely overslept on fasting days to avoid that extra bit of suffering.

[@jbravo2429]

My 10yr old son says crocs are for psychopaths😂

[@kerrytopel9835]

I was thinking of STARTING an all carnivore’s diet except fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. It seems that people who stick to an all carnivore’s diet for at least 8 weeks see a drastic improvement in all their chronic problems and health complaints almost like it’s a cure-all (and too good to be true). But I heard a woman’s podcast where she had so many problems in her 20s, couldn’t conceive, went on all carnivore’s diet and had three kids in a row, saw all her health problems resolve. She’s stuck to it now for 13 years. And she doesn’t even eat expensive cuts of meat. Just telling you all this because maybe Cameron would feel better-not worse-on that diet. The woman I referred to has tried vegan/vegetarian and no relief.

[@deborahdeclue]

It’s very common to feel horrible at first- I felt like I was DYING for 3 straight weeks. But once you turn the corner it’s like a whole new life! Try it!

[@claymcdermott718]

Happy Mardi Gras everybody

[@fabricpixie3602]

love Gregorian chant, play it daily, usually an hour or longer.

[@andreasb.8936]

Hi Matt. if lent takes 40 days, then why do we count 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday? (hint: count the Sundays). So maybe Sundays in fact don't count as lent?

[@catherinewetzel417]

You are correct. Maybe he’s talking about the Eastern rites because in the West, we view Sundays in as little Easters.

[@michaelhoelscher5079]

Matt is right. It is in the season in lent, but it isn’t considered a day of fasting.

[@amandabounsana9245]

I did that last year but I drank I beer for breakfast and lunch and ate a small dinner. This year I'm pregnant so I'm giving up all flavored drinks except coffee and water.

[@NotBlandBlandina]

Giving up sweets is giving up something addictive, so when you feel a craving for it after giving it up replace it with prayer and He will strengthen you

[@racheljohnson9489]

I hope you see this Matt, (or someone who knows the answer to my question🫣😅). My husband LOVES to watch your show. We have a Dark Walnut rustic theme in our home much like your studio, and I wanted to create a prayer corner in our (his) home office this lent but I wanted to surprise him by painting part of it the color YOU have there in YOUR studio. WHAT IS IT CALLED PLEASE??? 😅🤣🤣 I have been hopelessly looking for it since we began watching your show. Please, please tell me! I must have it!! ❤️ Happy lent! Love Pints with Aquinas, keep 'em coming!!

[@CoolBeans45]

Give up complaining or gossiping

[@CollinNunis]

Attend daily Lenten services like Great Compline, the Akathist, the Great Canon of St. Andrew the Crete, and the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts!

[@violettaylor1374]

Sugar,indolence,whining,social media...well that's a start on the give ups

[@bobandkelly]

"the give ups" haha love it 🤣 And good choices!

[@allenotna9793]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@dannisivoccia2712]

I gave up lent in exchange for carrying my cross daily, which Jesus said is a requirement to become His disciple.

[@adriang.4628]

anyone got the full list?

[@kimcatalanotto2864]

Me too!!! Skip the unnecessary red lights. Lol

[@dylanbaker691]

Read the Rule of St. Benedict!

[@ClosedDoor35]

"Not exceeding the speed limit" Challenge accepted. A bit dangerous, sure, but this is why we pray the guardian angel prayer. 😅

[@breadandbutterbakery2013]

I imagine Matt doing a vow of silence and all his videos are him staring at the camera for an hour.😆

[@rummana-maryryan7774]

Some other ideas I didn't here him say is give up the snooze button, so you have more time to pray, give up seasoning, and pray outside an abortion clinic/Planned Parenthood.

[@PetertheGreatest1]

Sunday is always a feast day.

[@jessicaflaherty1952]

I just listened to Fr Mike say that if you offer something to the Lord, you shouldn’t take it back. Via Bible in a year in Exodus.. maybe not applicable?

[@ThoinFrostaxe]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a first time Lent? Currently in RCIA and this is the first time I’m participating in Lent.

[@liam606]

Phone on toilet... You just called me out Sir.

[@Cathologia]

Give up using cruise control.

[@annemarieharper2705]

Stand up to eat

[@MorePlausible]

“I go through red lights when I don’t deem them necessary.” Uh, please don’t do this. Why not petition the local govt to change the law.

[@eucharistenjoyer]

Matt is about to convert ChatGPT 🙏🏻

[@nellyblancaflor5559]

Maybe I dont have to give up anything this Lent because out of the 100 you said to give up, i have practically given up 70%-80% of what you listed. This will be my last comment on yt because i give up commenting on yt or fb

[@AshleyLoveland1739]

The lion diet

[@CoolBeans45]

Give up seasonings - including salt & pepper

[@alexjurado6029]

Last year for Lent I only ate bread and I lost 30 pounds

[@diannalaubenberg7532]

Buy two coats, give one to the poor.

[@marjoriejonsson7502]

That's a good idea

[@deborahdeclue]

Already Carnivore so giving up heavy cream. Also giving up complaining!

[@alainamolnar2199]

Is Neal now Thursday? Im confused

[@vittoriaallenorf-wiener5400]

The promo code does not work.

[@2010warning]

No birthday party or anything, Just fasting

[@andrewbrennan8446]

Matt if you find this comment I just want you to know I did find that joke about the homeless buying drugs funny. It made me laugh

[@ysi4607]

I don't watch you anyway. I just listen and do menial things. If I find you in podcast, I would be tempted to play sudoku while listening 😁

[@femmevalerie_]

I watch at your videos at the toilet 😂

[@chrisfinoc6236]

It's sad that I know exactly what intersection that is XD

[@catherineford6201]

Promo Code doesn't work?

[@Dupstan]

I thought of another idea, put your phone in grayscale.

[@fg-iw1ts]

I can't give up anything therefore I am not fasting this year

[@Poeina]

can you give something instead? maybe offer a special prayer every day for something you don’t usually pray for?

[@dorothydecesare1607]

How about fasting from criticism and feasting on praise? Not quite so easy as it might sound 😅

[@ChristianConspirator]

How about food

[@danielshea9264]

I think the male equivalent of giving up "yoga pants" is suppressing lustful temptations, whether thought, word, or deed.

[@valwhelan3533]

No, it is giving up the butt crack-showing pants

[@peggylyons6898]

I thought only kids gave up candy/chocolate for lent.

[@christiandpaul2022]

Why do we FAST for Lent ? I never rally understood what it was for. if it is just added suffering or does it benefit a cause for God, Others or can we benefit from it? I would suppose if there is an actual; goal at the end it may be an incentive to succeed. If you don't know why you are doing it then there is just boredom and failure.

[@kerrytopel9835]

At one time when I worked at nights I was addicted to watching a certain soap opera every day before work. I gave it up for Lent which I thought would be really hard. When Lent ended I had no desire to ever watch it-or any daytime TV ever again. So in that little way it changed my life for the better.

[@tryingnottobeasmartass757]

If you are fasting from food, the money you save on your meals should be given to the poor. If you fast from something else, it should be beneficial to you, and preferably others.

[@christiandpaul2022]

@@tryingnottobeasmartass757 While you're at it what is the purpose of lighting a candle? How does that help anything?

[@christiandpaul2022]

We're here to suffer so we may as well do it with purpose.

[@tryingnottobeasmartass757]

@@christiandpaul2022, candles represent the light of Jesus Christ. When we light a candle when we pray, it is a symbol that we are offering ourselves to Him and working with Him to further His Kingdom in the world. It also symbolizes the hope we have in Jesus, who conquered the darkness of sin and death.

[@catherinewetzel417]

Don’t give up deodorant!

[@pah9730]

It is sad for us, as Orthodox, to see the minimalization regarding fasting. That the Fast in the West, among the adherents of Catholicism, is more or less about “giving up something” or some things is emblematic of the general decline in spiritual life. What is more tragic is to see this state of things among those who claim they are Eastern Christians following the same Tradition as the Orthodox. Come back and return to the ascetic practices of the saints of every age (the distant past in the West) which are still the norm and ideal within the Orthodox Church. The Fast for all 40 days (and Holy Week) that all Orthodox Christians struggle to maintain - unworthily and often unsuccessfully - is total abstention from meat, eggs, dairy products, olive oil and vinegar. Why was this lost in the West? When and why?

[@andrewbendahan1379]

I think some Roman Catholics unfortunately view the fast as just giving something up and don't really think about the great opportunity to suffer with the Lord in a true fast. Thank you for your insight. I will attempt to do a harder fast throughout the whole season of Lent this year. May God bless you.

[@l21n18]

What’s so hard about giving up vinegar?

[@andrewbendahan1379]

@@l21n18 probably products with vinegar in it (such as most to all condiments)

[@l21n18]

@@andrewbendahan1379 I guess but not all of em and you can make them yourself without vinegar. I could do beans, rice and Pico de gallo easily and be content. Maybe that last part is the problem? You couldn’t make me miserable so it wouldn’t count? They’d the problem with making asceticism about obeying as many rules as possible, it often makes those the end in itself and people always look for (and find) loopholes. Nothing prevents a Roman Catholic from adopting a stricter fast than required anyhow

[@andrewbendahan1379]

@@l21n18 thank you. All that you said is true.