On Lenten fasting and abstinence

Lenten Fasting Regulations

Directions

1) Abstinence on all the Fridays of Lent, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• No meat may be eaten on days of abstinence.

• Catholics 14 years and older are bound to abstain from meat. Invalids, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt.

2) Fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• Fasting means having only one full meal to maintain one's strength. Two smaller, meatless and penitential meals are permitted according to one's needs, but they should not together equal the one full meal. Eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

• Catholics from age 18 through age 59 are bound to fast. Again, invalids, pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt.

From Catholic Culture.

mt matutum, sunrise

mt matutum, sunrise
Originally uploaded by Debbie-sion

uploaded from debbie's flickr

"Joyfully Perplexed"

Alicia Victoria Joan Torres writes in a blog entry in part: Want the real shocker?? It appalls me that these public high school teens came to a Jesuit Catholic University to be introduced to a myriad of sexually deviant opinions, attitudes and practices ...

This is one of those things I commented on last year.

It is still happening. May even be getting worse.

January 2008 temperature drop

Beep! Beep! Missile lock

Aha, two new peeps in the cross-hairs of the GWA: (1) Bob Lutz, General Motors’ vice chairman and chief car guru and (2) Dr. Sallie Baliunas.

Bob Lutz, General Motors’ vice chairman and chief car guru, said, among other things, that global warming is a “total crock of ****." He said that? Read.

Dr. Sallie Baliunas shared her findings Tuesday at the University of Texas where she "suggests global warming is more directly related to solar variability than to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere..." Read.

Bad times for science?

Read Javier Cuadros take on global warming: If the global warming theory is proved wrong, citizens will look at science with lack of trust and perhaps with contempt.

Global warming: bad times for science
Environmental politics are forcing a premature consensus about climate change that may eventually cool our confidence in science.

"Hometown decision"

Justine wins the last edition of the WTA Diamond Games 6-3, 6-3 over Italian challenger Karin Knapp in Belgium. Call it a hometown decision with a very partisan crowd, but a win's a win.

Get the point

Yesterday, I attended Holy Mass at the Cagayan de Oro Cathedral. A small incident happened at communion time. One of the faithful, upon receiving communion by the hand, did not take Our Lord at once, but rather walked off with the Host in his right hand (between his thumb and forefinger). The extraordinary minister of the Eucharist (as we say, lay minister) called his attention but he continued walking. The EME followed him. Meanwhile, the man was moving towards the left grill wall area, and upon reaching the grill, spit out some spittle. Then took Our Lord. In his act of making his mouth "clean" for Our Lord, he gave us all a fright.

While communion by the hand is allowed, sadly it has been more popular and even made as the norm. And even as situations like this incident are scarce, one "abuse" is one too much. I admire the EME for what he did.

If communion by the hand is made scarce, incidents like this are avoided (although I heard horror stories of people taking the Host out of their mouths, I have not seen anyone doing that).

However bad the analogy, I would liken this to the abstinence programs. No sex, no disease, no unwanted pregnancy, no "fright".

Our Lady of Lourdes

Today, February 11, is the 150th Anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception) at Lourdes to St. Bernadette. The Church grants plenary indulgence especially today (if one is able to visit Lourdes, or if one visits and prays in a shrine or image dedicated to her).



Today is also the World Day of the Sick, so also pray for all those who are infirmed.

And today I turn 40!

Lenten sacrifice

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Church's Lenten Season. This season is a time of sacrifice and purification, in anticipation of Easter. What is your plan?

Here's Danielle Bean:

Upcoming: Lent

It’s almost Ash Wednesday. Do you have a plan for Lent?

I don’t mean printing up Way of the Cross coloring pages, preparing thorny crown crafts, or even simple “giving ups” like coffee, sweets, or TV. Those are all well and good, but what I want to know is do you have plan — a real plan for helping yourself and your family get closer to heaven? How are you going to make greater use of the sacraments, grow in faith and love, and draw closer to Christ this Lent? I’m not going to post a Your Turn discussion today because I would rather you quietly challenge yourself while I do the same:

What is standing between you and greater holiness? How are you going to get rid of it? What is your plan?

Here's one thing you may want to "cut down" on: personal carbon use. Sul serio?
Well, two bishops of Church of England think it is a good idea.
Carbon fast anyone?

H/T: The Junkman

You think they did it on purpose

There is the story of Michelle Stepney who "kicked" cervical cancer with the help of her twins (while they were still in the womb).

"I couldn't believe it when the doctors told me that the babies had dislodged the tumor," she said. "I'd felt them kicking, but I didn't realize just how important their kicking would turn out to be. I owe my life to my girls, and that's why I could have never agreed with a termination."