Today is the first Sunday in lent.

[hrmjustin]

The Great Litany is said in Episcopal/Anglican Churches.

[pipoman]

1. Fish every Friday at the restaurant until Easter

[hrmjustin]

2. That is a traditional lenten discipline.

[goldent]

7. Some of the fast food joints put fish on their menu just during the Lenton season

I don't know when this started - I've seen it for a few years now at Wendys and Arbys. I'm waiting for the some Atheist group to start a boycott.

[No Vested Interest]

11. Re fast food fish - this is the story I've heard-

A McDonald's franchisee in the western part of Cincinnati - traditionally very Catholic- saw his sales of typical McDonald's hamburgers drop precipitously during Lent. He came up with the idea of a fish sandwich to keep his customers coming during the Lenten season.
This would have been many years ago.

When I have more time, I'll look for a source for this story.

[goldent]

16. I think this story is true

and what I heard is that there was disagreement between the local franchisee and Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds. One wanted the fish sandwich, and the other wanted something else (maybe some kind of cheese sandwich?). Well, they did a market test and the first sandwich won, and that is the Fillet-O-Fish.

Personally, I don't like the Fillet-O-Fish so much. Around here, Arby's have a Lenten fish sandwich (Alaska pollock) that I like - Wendy's also have one they just started to offer, but I haven't tried it this year.

[No Vested Interest]

9. As transportation has made good, fresh fish available everywhere, at least

in my world, I sort of have to question "what is the sacrifice in abstaining from meat on Fridays in Lent?"
More often than not, when dining out throughout the year, my choice of entrée is seafood. I'm crazy about rainbow trout,
and when in Florida, nothing beats a good serving of grouper.

Yes, meat is more readily available, and easier to prepare, in most cases, so there is sometimes a certain inconvenience in abstinence, especially for one who feels a need for some protein at most meals.

So, I abstain, even while wondering if there isn't a better way to observe the preparation for Easter.

[goldent]

18. I agree that abstaining from meat is not a sacrifice

although it is for some people. I usually go vegetarian which is not really a sacrifice either, but headed in that direction . My big problem is remembering

[Act_of_Reparation]

39. You could always eat a capybara

Despite being a rodent, the Catholic Church maintains it is not "meat" and can be consumed guilt-free during the Lenten season.

[rurallib]

3. reminds me of the parochial school days

and how all the good little boys and girls would give up candy under the approving eyes of the nuns and priests.
So glad those days are gone.

[hrmjustin]

4. I don't give up anything. I take on something.

[pangaia]

29. Yes. Yes.

I am impressed.

My practice for..some 30 years.

[okasha]

14. That.was the fallback position.

We always tried to give up homework first, even if we wrten't Catholic.

[rurallib]

15. true, but those nuns had those rulers ..............

[okasha]

32. Not the Ursulines at my school.

We just got 20 extra math problems or a few more verb conjugations, since we loved homework so much that less would be a sacrifice.

[Freddie]

5. We Lutherans don't "have to" give something up

But we are encouraged to do so, to remind us of the sacrifices made.
I've been dieting/exercising since last fall, lost 23 lbs. (lots more to go) but I've been allowing myself too many "off days" lately. For Lent I will get myself back in track, at least until coconut-cream egg season.

[hrmjustin]

6. Eremember Sundays don't count in lent. You can cheat today.

[goldent]

8. I just learned about the Sunday thing in the last year or so.

I guess it is my well developed Catholic guilt, that I can't take advantage of it.

[hrmjustin]

10. Lol! it does sem like cheating. That is why most denominations that use lenten devotions

keep that hush hush.

[goldent]

17. I think it is the same thing for Catholics

in that you don't "have to" give up anything for Lent. Although you are supposed to abstain from meat on Fridays and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. To me, abstaining from meat is not a sacrifice - the fasting I notice. Of course, even fasting is not that bad -- I think the rule is one full/regular meal, and two smallish meals.

[Vashta Nerada]

12. This is the time of the year where I enjoy a 3/4 pound hamburger on Fridays

in public restaurants.

[hrmjustin]

13. Lol!

[cbayer]

19. So you are giving up eating what is good for you and sticking to your budget?

That is just super cool!!

[Vashta Nerada]

20. That's not what I meant...

[cbayer]

21. Oh! My bad.

Did you mean you were going to purposefully go out of your way to offend other people?

Too bad you have to eat a boatload of food that is bad for you and spend money doing it.

Somehow I think you are on the losing end of this deal, but whatever makes you happy~ I don't think anyone else will really notice.

[Vashta Nerada]

28. To offend and to show how silly their beliefs are.

[cbayer]

35. That's some funny stuff right there.

I think you should wear a big sign that lets them know that you are eating a giant sized hamburger in order to show them how silly their beliefs are.

Seriously, though, do you think anyone on earth really cares if you eat a hamburger on friday during lent? Anyone?

[Vashta Nerada]

37. You seem to care.

[cbayer]

38. Oh, yes. I am very deeply concerned.

Please, please, please do not eat a hamburger on fridays for the next 4 weeks. Your soul is at stake.

And if you eat a ¾ pound hamburger you will go to super hell, not just regular hell.

Seriously, don't do it!!!

[xfundy]

33. How could it POSSIBLY offend someone if someone else eats meat on Fridays?

Oh, wait, is it like how marriage equality "offends" those who are incredibly unlikely to get married to someone of the same sex, but can't help being all Mrs. Kravitz about making a fuss out of it?

I think I'm starting to see the "logic" behind that mindset.

Personally, I love fish and eat is as often as possible, as long as it's not from the Gulf of Mexico, which will remain poisoned for the rest of my lifetime. If eating out, which I can't afford, it's mainly available on Fridays.

Keep on looking for things to be offended about. You'll always find something

[cbayer]

36. It couldn't. That is what makes this so hilarious.

No one cares if someone else eats a giant sized hamburger in a public place on a Friday in lent. The idea that anyone would care is an extension of the gross misconceptions that some people hold about religious people that constitutes overt prejudice.

I'm not offended at all. I found the post really humorous.

I like fish, too, but generally only raw. I'm not sure if there are any religious proscriptions about whether it has to be cooked on fridays during lent, though.

[cbayer]

22. I hope the season brings you joy, peace and an opportunity for reflection.

I wasn't raised to give up anything for lent, though I grew up with a lot of catholic kids who did.

But lent was a time when we heard more of the Easter stories. We (the kids) used to make big banners in preparation for the Easter march after the service that sunday. And I liked the palms on palm sunday.

It was a fun season to be in the church.

[hrmjustin]

23. It was always my leaast favorite season. I skipped church today so I did not have to hear

the great litany that never ends.


But I do make an effort of bettering myself. Looks like I did not do so well today but that is a different story.

[cbayer]

24. Sorry to hear that.

I always liked both the religious and secular aspects of it.

And even though I did not bring my kids up with any religion at all, we still carried on with all the secular aspects of Easter, which they loved.

[hrmjustin]

25. I love Easter but Holy Week is so grueling at my church that by Easter I am ready to drop.

[cbayer]

26. Ah, I forgot that it is a lot of work for some people

which I should have known as my father worked particularly hard during the season.

Well, your chocolate covered reward is just a few weeks away!

[hrmjustin]

27. Lol yes they are.

[oldandhappy]

30. This is nice.

We do not have this lovely music, just said the ritual and that was good, also.

[hrmjustin]

31. My parish sings it but I stayed home today.

[xfundy]

34. I lent out my chainsaw last fall.

Is this the week I finally get it back?

[cbayer]

40. How do you plan to address the person who borrowed it?

I guess that would determine the answer to your question.