10 April, 2006

Houston, we have a problem.

Okay, so as you can see below, I decided to participate in giving something up for Lent this year. Some people pointed out to me that the 40 days were up, so I was excited and wrote a post about it. But then I felt a little uneasy and wanted to double check to make sure it was over and not accidentally quit early. And it is complicated. I found out that the 40 days does not include Sundays, and that whatever form of abstinence is chosen can be suspended on Sundays as a part of celebrating the Lord’s Day, so the 40 day period begins on Ash Wednesday and ends Easter Sunday. But in the Eastern Church, they DO count Sundays and Lent ended last Friday (they begin Clean Monday instead of Ash Wednesday). And in the Roman Catholic Church, it ends Maundy Thursday night.
I obtained this information primarily from these two sites. I should have looked into this at the beginning.

So, what am I to do? It’s been a full 40 days, with no breaks, but this day is not sanctioned by any of the major Christian traditions. I think I feel okay about wrapping it up, as I feel that the intended purpose was served. Maybe I can think of it in terms of an ecumenical blending of different customs. If you think this is wrong, let me know.

8 comments:

Prairie Chick said...

Alexis, thanks for your faithful updates. Not only are they informative, they're hilarious! I loved the link to all the pictures of the banquet, it looks like it went really well. I also enjoyed the "mandatory fun time" story. Ha ha ha ha...
Have a marvelous week, darling!

Matt Mikalatos said...

Yes, I think that Lent generally ends on the last day of your stint.

So pour all that booze down the drain and tell John and Pete that I on to them and that telling me openly that they are drinking too much and playing it up as a joke just won't work on me anymore!

On the Warpath,

Big Chief

Matt Mikalatos said...

Be sure to use those specific words, "I on to them."

Alexis said...

Yeah, I'll tell 'em Big Chief is a comin'. And don't worry, I won't be drinking for another 8 months or so due to the pregnancy... I guess coffee has to go, after all.

Anonymous said...

you are a funny, funny girl.

miss you
alison

Unknown said...

Alexis, you are a great writer! Seriously. :-) hey, are you re-stinting?

Alexis said...

Thanks Melissa. Uh, the plan for now is to re-stint, unless we get kicked out of the country or something.

Anonymous said...

What! Here I am, having been brought up Catholic, not realizing that Lent is over! I thought it wasn't over until Easter Sunday.

 

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