Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Happy Lent!



"Happy" Lent? I guess that's the proper thing to say. I intend to pray more regularly, attend daily Mass if at all possible (my schedule is tight, but there's a noon mass at my hospital, and there are 8:00 am and 12:00 pm masses at my church), fast during the day, and participate in Operation Rice Bowl.

I'll also try to be less sinful than I usually am. I haven't been too successful in prior Lents (I find Lent very beautiful and very hard).

Blessings to all. Happy-- and Solemn-- Lent!

21 comments:

  1. I find it interesting that you try to adjust your level of sinfulness depending on religious holidays. Seriously, why don’t you try to be as good as you can be all the time?

    -KW

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    Replies
    1. Because it's really hard. And the more you try, the harder it seems.

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    2. Good luck. Have a wonderful Lent.

      -KW

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  2. Well, I'm planning on taking my new puppy for at least a one hour walk twice a day for Lent (it's a continuing plan). I'm certain it will do me more good than your plan of daily Masses.

    I was bemused that on the Lenten calendar on the CRS Rice Bowl website, it has as the text for Saturday 12th April Jesus dies on the Cross, followed by Palm Sunday on the 13th.

    Anyhow. I don't think I need to donate to charity. I sponsor two children through World Vision, one sponsorship starting 15 years ago when I bought a dog, and the other starting just recently after he died and shortly before I bought a replacement from the RSPCA.

    If you're able to afford non-necessities such as a pet or a daily 'fix' in a coffee shop, then you're also able to afford to make a regular monthly donation to charity, not just one once a year.

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    Replies
    1. Bachfiend, are you Catholic?

      The puppy-walks will indeed be therapeutic, may your Lent be a fruitful one.

      If you're able to afford non-necessities such as a pet or a daily 'fix' in a coffee shop, then you're also able to afford to make a regular monthly donation to charity, not just one once a year.

      The cold, hard, sting of truth... you're absolutely right.

      Curio

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    2. Bachfiend may end up in Heaven and me in Hell. That,too is cold hard sting of truth.

      Delete
    3. Eugen,

      I'm certain that I won't finish up either in Heaven or Hell. As an atheist, I think that this life is the only chance to right inequalities. There's no righting of injustices in an afterlife.

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    4. If atheism is true, there are no "injustices", because there is no justice, objectively, only opinions.

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    5. How do you know what is "objectively" just? Why doesn't God have a website listing the objectively just and good and bad, etc.

      Anyway, I can recommend the Dutch tradition of eating salted herring with onions on ash Wednesday. Happy Lent to y'all.

      Delete
    6. Egnor,

      Atheism is true. Injustice exists, as shown by the fact that poor people in poor countries often have to work harder and longer than you or I to survive.

      And both of us enjoy our high standand of living just because we were lucky enough to be born in rich countries.

      And 'God' did nothing to prevent this state of affairs to come about.

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    7. Aligned with the ecliptic
      Dipoles in the sky
      Why,oh atheist,why

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    8. Eugen,

      Care to explain what your comment means? Assuming it means anything at all.

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    9. http://bit.ly/1gUbI5R

      It's off topic Bachfiend, I was just reading something lately. Makes me think about your atheist worldview and how you justify it.

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    10. Eugen,

      I don't need to justify it. I just take it as the null hypothesis and that there's no evidence that the non-material exists.

      Delete
  3. @Dr Egnor: A happy and blessed Lent to you and yours.

    @KW: Ideally, you're right, but this season can serve as a special reminder.

    @bach: God bless you for the charitable works you do.

    JH

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  4. Perhaps you could give up your opposition to gay civil unions being celebrated by the Church?

    The Pope just did:

    http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1400916.htm

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    Replies
    1. I stand with the Church on matters of morality. I personally am open to civil unions as ways to make the lives of gay people better, although I recognize the dangers inherent in official recognition of gay unions.

      Marriage is another matter.

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    2. From the article Jem.

      'Asked if the church's teachings on sexual and medical ethics represented "non-negotiable values," a formulation used by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis said he had "never understood the expression 'non-negotiable values.'"

      "Values are values, period," he said. "I cannot say that, among the fingers of a hand, there is one less useful than another. That is why I cannot understand in what sense there could be negotiable values."

      Hope that's clear.

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    3. "Hope that's clear."

      Ha ha ha.

      You think he's saying it *won't* change when he says that?

      "The question is not whether to change the doctrine, but to go deeper and make sure that pastoral care takes account of situations and of what each person is able to do,"

      You do understand that 'going deeper than doctrine' means 'we have to find a way round this, it's a bit awkward', yes?

      They'll find a loophole, like they have with divorce. Because the Vatican doesn't like leaving money on the table. The lesson they'll have learned from the 'cake wars' is 'wait, there are people who'll pay us money for baked goods and we're turning them away?'.

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