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| Lenten Penance | |
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| Topic Started: Tuesday, 17. February 2009, 00:19 (495 Views) | |
| Mrs.Pogle | Friday, 6. March 2009, 13:19 Post #46 |
Happy Couple!
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Sorry, I got a bit uppity about this yesterday!  Not being able to afford a hair-shirt (as if!) or being in posession of a sack of potatoes or such like, I have made a belt of plaited rough garden twine to wear next to the skin as a constant aid to recollection during Lent. Every time I feel discomfort, or itching, I will turn my mind to God, and make an ejaculatory prayer. That will undoubtedly help me during Lent, and I'm sure at other times, too  Well, in the absence of cakes during Lent, I have bread to make, so better log off! |
"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front  “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Friday, 13. March 2009, 11:37 Post #47 |
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Happy Couple!
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Today I am spending all my time in the home barefoot, as a reminder of Christ's poverty... |
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| KatyA | Friday, 13. March 2009, 12:14 Post #48 |
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I prefer going barefoot in the home but from now on I will try to make the association as you suggest. KatyA |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Friday, 13. March 2009, 13:01 Post #49 |
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Happy Couple!
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It's a tough one for me, as I recognise that one of my great failings is being a lover of comfort ~ I always wear fluffy socks ad slippers, like my hot water bottle and being warm etc. Lent is a good time for me to seriously put those comforts to one side. One way is by going barefoot and not putting the heating on when I am at home alone. There is a long history of barefoot penance. At one time, people would make pilgrimages barefoot (Queen Katherine of Aragon made barefoot pilgrimages to Walsingham many times) or go to Church barefoot in Lent/Holy Week. Not to be done now though, as it would just attract unnecessary attention to oneself, which would defeat the object! The Discalsed Carmelites wear sandals instead of shoes, as the word "discalsed" means without shoes. Some go barefoot. St. John of the Cross always went barefoot, but St. Teresa of Avila told him off for going too far! I also feel it's a shame that we don't go forward on our knees for the Veneration of the Crucifix on Good Friday, as they still do in Poland, for instance. |
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| Derekap | Friday, 13. March 2009, 15:21 Post #50 |
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Mrs Pogle wrote: "I also feel it's a shame that we don't go forward on our knees for the Veneration of the Crucifix on Good Friday, as they still do in Poland, for instance." In a very large crowded church the veneration would have to start very early in the day and there would be a rush for the front pews. Unless you are referring to something like three genuflections on two knees when nearing the Cross. During my visit to Rome in 1950 I climbed La Scala Santa on my knees. It seemed the dear old ladies ahead of me were praying five decades of the Rosary on every step and were reluctant for a then, young impatient sprite, to overtake them. Was I relieved when I reached the top! |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Monday, 16. March 2009, 20:24 Post #51 |
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Happy Couple!
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I don't know about anyone else, but I'm finding Lent really hard right now, particularly the fasting :( I made some breakfast muffins for my family yesterday and had one after tea. I felt so tired I really needed some sugar to give me a lift *sigh* I did pass on the raspberry brulee cheesecake though (it's hard, because my family are not Catholic, and don't fast, and anyway my daughter is breastfeeding, so couldn't!) Lent feels like a mini "dark night of the soul" at the moment, with little or no consolation in prayer, but what an opportunity to pray by faith alone! Oh well, tomorrow is another day... 
Edited by Mrs.Pogle, Monday, 16. March 2009, 20:24.
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| pat | Tuesday, 17. March 2009, 23:41 Post #52 |
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Mrs P, I really admire how seriously you are taking your Lenten devotions. I have failed miserably in the intentions I had. Nonetheless, I will start again tomorrow. We can always begin again. |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Wednesday, 18. March 2009, 13:54 Post #53 |
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Happy Couple!
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To be honest, I am finding it so hard right now, I am looking forward to Laetare Sunday perhaps more than I should be! But I think that's what Lent is about. When I take away my comforts, my crutches, all kinds of stuff rises to the surface, and it is turning out to be a very painful time, emotionally, spiritually and even physically as the change in diet has kicked off some digestive problems :( I do hope Almighty God knows what He's doing with me, 'cos I certainly don't! As you so rightly say Pat, we can always begin again. You are not the only one who has failed! I may have stuck to my Lenten fast, but I haven't behaved in a very Christian manner over the last couple of days, and so I too need to "begin again"... Pax, Mrs.P xx 
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Sunday, 29. March 2009, 20:57 Post #54 |
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Happy Couple!
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I didn't know whether to post this here, or as a prayer request, but it felt appropriate for Lent... The last few days have been very difficult. I have experienced a sense of brokenness which is fitting for this time of Lent ~ but God is putting me back together in a way which reflects His image more. The breaking has to come first though, and whilst it is painful, it is necessary. I had covered up His image in me with many things, not least sin, pride and self-importance...like a beautiful sculpture covered with ugly dirty clay. He has been chipping away, and there are glimpses of the Master's work underneath...the ugly clay was my attempt! I feel that much of the ugliness has been apparent in some of my posts on this forum, but I have a much gentler, softer side than the one I have shown. My prayer is that during Lent/Easter, God will allow that to grow, through prayer and His love. How is everyone else's journey this Lent (if you would like to share it!)? Mrs.P xx
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| KatyA | Sunday, 29. March 2009, 22:18 Post #55 |
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Not going at all well, Mrs.P. I've managed only a few extra attendances at Mass, my Lenten reading has been more or less restricted to this forum and I'm finding prayer difficult - to the extent that I'm doing less rather than more. I would say this the "worst" Lent I've experienced. (I haven't mentioned fasting because that isn't difficult - I don't eat enough as it is) KatyA |
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| OsullivanB | Monday, 30. March 2009, 10:48 Post #56 |
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KatyA When prayer is difficult I find this story helpful (told by Bishop Arthur Roche in the foreword to A Turning to God by Cardinal Basil Hume: "IndeedI recall how Cardinal Winning, during an informal gathering of bishops who were talking about prayer, asked Cardinal Hume how he as a former monk and now a bishop prayed. After a momentary awkwardness and a turning in his chair, came the reply, 'Oh, I'm such a flop'." Also: "[Cardinal Hume] once said, 'Trying to pray is prayer and it is a very good prayer. The will to try is also God's gift..'" |
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| Gerard | Monday, 30. March 2009, 11:56 Post #57 |
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MrsP Dont know if this helps or not but since you ask. After last year, which was a total failure, I deliberately set myself a very low and flexible target which I am meeting primarily because of its "flexibility".  Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
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| KatyA | Monday, 30. March 2009, 12:04 Post #58 |
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Many thanks OsB.=, I can take some encouragement from that and not give in to the temptation to "give up" KatyA |
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| Mrs.Pogle | Tuesday, 31. March 2009, 21:11 Post #59 |
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Happy Couple!
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I have been thinking back over my Lent...and I have moved forward, I think... Durng the first few weeks of Lent, I had slipped into thinking that God would be cross with me if I "failed", and my motivation was a bit skewed. But this last few days I have realised that it's not that way at all! My Lenten sacrifices should be done in a sense of joyful giving to God, because I love Him, not because He is ready to pounce should I fall. This has made a big diference. I know feel more able to fast and make other small sacrifices (the biggest is the sacrifice of my time and space in the home now Grandchild no. 3 has arrived, and I'm glad to have had this time to offer this to God, because it is a long-term thing). My primary focus for Lent now is in prayer and drawing close to God. I feel that after some horrendously hard weeks, I am drawing much closer to God and really feeling loved by Him right now. This is why, I think, I have begun to realy anticipate Easter and a big celebration! It's also my Grand-daughter's birthday on Easter Sunday, so I am making an In the Night Garden/Easter cake (I'm sure Jesus doesn't mind sharing His day with IgglePiggle and the Tombliboos)!  But the self-discipline has been really good for me. I'm not a very self-disciplined person really, and I've found it hard, but I feel less at the mercy of my "passions" now!
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"Living Life on the Home Front!" My Blog: Life on the Home Front “It is most laudable in a married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.” ~ St. Frances of Rome | |
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| OsullivanB | Tuesday, 31. March 2009, 23:36 Post #60 |
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I once made a traditional simnel cake for easter. Fun - but a lot of work! |
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8:49 AM Nov 23