[Sca-cooks] a Lenten question, and a frivolous answer

[AEllin Olafs dotter]

OK - Medieval Rule and Modern Practice Confusion.(As well there might be 
- we've been talking about both!)

In the Medieval Roman Catholic Church in Europe Lent was a time of Fast 
and Abstinence. One limited amounts of food, and one abstained from all 
animal products (except fish.) Notice there is *nothing* here about 
avoiding sweets or alcohol or delicious meals.

In the Modern Roman Catholic Church (I won't speak for any others,) Lent 
  is a time for spiritual discipline, handled in several ways. One 
continues to abstain from meat (but no longer eggs or dairy) on Fridays. 
And it is considered a Good Thing to find some other discipline to 
follow. The most traditional, and most common, is that of Giving 
Something Up. But now, we generally give up something we consider a 
luxury, or, perhaps, a minor vice... Sweets are common. Alcohol. My dad 
used to give up cigarettes, until the year he simply didn't start 
again... Other people add something - bible reading, daily Mass - or 
control something - temper with the nasty co-worker... It's all very 
personal. The ideal is to do something difficult and/or spiritually 
rewarding  for you.

Now, some of this may vary with location. I do candy sampling,and I've 
had English tourists say "No, thanks, I'm Catholic" so often I gather 
giving up sweets must be standard in England. It's common, here in the 
US, but not required. (I've never had an American give that explanation, 
though I have no doubt it is one factor.)

I know many non-Catholics also give things up. Other Christians have 
their own practices. And, as we have seen here,some non-Christians do 
it, for their own reasons.  I recently read someone saying her very 
secular family gives things up in Lent, because they feast at Christmas, 
and believe there must be a balance. Again, it is very personal.

AEllin


Bill Fisher wrote:
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> I thought sugars were proscribed too?
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> Cadoc