Best Things About Lent

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Free Stuff!

You know, the ashes, the palms, etc. All the “cultural” Catholics come out of the woodwork for the Masses when they give stuff away. And then sit in my pew. You know, it seems like all of those big days are during Lent. Coincidence, I think not.

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Coming up with creative meatless Friday meals. Oh, who am I kidding? Most years, we just end up eating pizza, spaghetti, tuna noodle casserole, and eggs. In that order. I doubt this year will be any exception.

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PS. Don’t be alarmed friends. The last time I saw 110 on a scale I was standing on, I was in 5th grade. No, seriously.

The weight loss that usually accompanies giving up sweets for the duration. You know, those 3.5 pounds that are regained by nightfall on Easter Sunday after I dove head first into my basket full of chocolate, only coming up for air in order to drink more wine.

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These guys:

and

Their feasts are two days apart, and always in March; Lent is in March 99% of the time, so, Sts. Patrick and Joseph are part of Lent.

You tell me, what’s better than getting to celebrate one of the most hard-working, hard-drinking, fun cultures on Earth by eating my weight in potatoes and washing it down with whiskey? I’ll tell you what.

Getting to celebrate the *most* fun culture on the Earth two days later by eating my weight in pasta and washing it down with wine. (St. Joseph is the patron of Italy, in case you didn’t know!)

And this year, their feasts fall on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. This means I can fast and do stations of the cross in between, thereby not completely forgetting the spirit of Lent amongst the wonderful feasting.

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Spiritual reading. I always mean to read a lot of spiritual books during the year, but I usually can only get through a few, what with my addiction to Netflix busy schedule. Lent is a great time for me to do more reading, because I can usually be duped into completing a book over the 40 days. This year I haven’t actually chosen a book, but I am going to read through one of the Gospels (I’m thinking Matthew). I’m also thinking I should get started.

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Last but certainly not least, Holy Week. On Palm Sunday I wake up with a spring in my step, because my favorite week of the liturgical year is upon us.

I love everything about Holy Week. Last year we did our own seder supper to honor the Jewish roots of our faith, before going to Holy Thursday Mass. I would love to go to an actual Seder, hosted by people who actually know what they are doing.

The washing of the feet, the priest prostrating himself before the altar on Good Friday, the lighting of the Paschal candle at the Easter Vigil; these are such beautiful, and holy symbols of our Church. Don’t even get my started on the baptisms and confirmations that happen at the Easter Vigil. It is my favorite Mass of the whole year.

Now, before you go chastising me, saying, “Well, Holy Week isn’t actually part of Lent”, let me just cut you off now and say, I don’t care. It’s my favorite time of the year, and it comes immediately after Lent. So there.

What are your favorite things about Lent?