How to Keep Lent

Dr. Taylor Marshall and Philip Onochie sit down to talk about the high standards of medieval Lent and how modern Catholics can make good decisions about penance during the season of Lent.

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  Education

[Rebecca Duncan]

I didn't have an argument, I was just wondering why they were acting like it was the biggest deal in the world to do a black fast. I'm not vegan and i was never vegan before I did the fast. Steak is my favorite food. If I choose somewhere to eat it's gonna be outback steakhouse most of the time. So...I did not give up something I didn't care about. I just refrained from having a stupid attitude about giving something up and did not whine about it.

[Philip James]

It's surprising that you find something negative to say right away, but you don't understand the spiritual implications of tempering or abstaining from things one enjoys. What good is giving up something if it means nothing to you? Sure the Church prescribes we all give up meat, but additionally, for those who pride themselves on being vegans or hating meat, they ought to seek direction from their priests as to additional ways to observe lent.

In using words like wimp, your argument fails.

[Rebecca Duncan]

I don't get why you are being such a wimp about giving up all that stuff for Lent. I did a Black Fast one Lent and it wasn't that hard. It isn't like you're going to eat that way for the rest of your life, so what's the big deal? People are vegan just for political reasons or health reasons for years and years. There are a lot harder things to give up or do than just being vegan for Lent.