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Do Sundays “count” during Lent? Good question!

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Bringing back and updating this popular post of mine from Lent 2011!

Do Sundays “count” during Lent?

This issue comes up every year. Do you do your Lenten penances on Sunday?

I’ve heard varying opinions on this. Sundays are not counted among the actual 40 days of Lent, so some say Lenten penances should not apply on Sundays. Others think the whole season is penitential, and so therefore we should continue our disciplines. I read once a commentator say that Jesus didn’t take a break during his 40 days of fasting in the desert. Katherine of Team Whitaker falls firmly in the “Sundays count” category.

Here’s a link to a Q&A on Lent from EWTN, and it includes an answer about Sundays. Basically, there’s no official rule, so you are free to choose.

Here’s also another interesting article from a blogger with the Archdiocese of Washington who offers insight on celebrating Sunday.

Count me in the “celebrate Sunday” camp. At our house, we tend to mark Sundays as a day of Resurrection. I might have a piece of chocolate (or not) on Sundays, but my husband, who goes meatless for Lent, usually doesn’t eat meat on Sundays during Lent. Since I’m giving up my Fitbit during Lent (and still sad), I put it away and I’ll bring it out on Easter. (Update: I now go grayscale for Lent, and do not go grayscale on Sundays).

That “Sundays don’t count” wouldn’t apply, obviously, if you were trying to break a bad habit, like smoking or swearing. But if you’re giving up sugar in your coffee or tea, it seems appropriate in some ways to celebrate the mini-Easter that is every Sunday (yes, even a Sunday in Lent) by having it then.

We also celebrate feast days during Lent. In recent Lents, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), St. Joseph’s Day (March 19), and the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25). We especially celebrate St. Joseph’s day, as we have two in our house (and both granddads were Joseph), with homemade savoiardi and usually a special dinner. To me, they are not just a little “break” during Lent, but a way to really celebrate those important holidays in the liturgical year.

And I know we weren’t alone last March 13, right in the middle of Lent 2013, when we heard “Habemus Papam” and Pope Francis became our pope? We had beef and red wine and chocolate that night, even if they weren’t Argentinian, and I hope you did too.

But when it comes down to the end of the day, Sundays definitely “count” because they are the most important day of the week!

So what about you? At your house, do Sundays “count” during Lent, or do you celebrate a little? How is your Lent going this year?

Best Books of Last Year and 2015 Reading Resolutions (Better Late Than Never Edition)

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At long last, I’m finally getting to my “Reading Catholic”-favorite books of 2014, and my bookish resolutions post for 2015. I found it a helpful exercise last year, and the year before that, so here goes again..

“Short but sweet” and “finished is better than perfect,” is my mantra for this.   Thus, no images of books, but the links will take you to more detailed information about each book.

Best book I reviewed in 2014:

Gay and Catholic:

In my review, I called Eve Tushnet’s spiritual memoir a “must-read,” and several months later, I believe that even more.  Well worth reading and pondering.

It seems like every year, the best or most important book absolutely jumps out at me (like Sherry Weddell’s Forming Intentional Disciples in 2013,).  I wonder if that will be true every year.

Other extra-worthwhile books of 2014:

The three memoirs I reviewed in June 2014: Catholic by Choice by Richard Cole, Girl at the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther, and Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler.

I also thoroughly enjoyed The American Catholic Almanac by Emily Stimpson, because I love history, and I love Emily Stimpson, a veteran author with local roots.  Did you know she has a new food blog called The Catholic Table? It’s lovely, just like her.

Now for some reading resolutions:

1.  continue to “get more opinions”

I hope to continue the {Lent Book Series} (check out here to see last year’s great writing and book ideas).

I’d also love to see other times of having guest posts by author and especially local readers/writers.

2. better organize Reading Catholic reviews.

adding this on from last year’s resolutions since this didn’t happen very often.

3. write monthly posts on the “backlist”

ditto #2 here.

I’m going to stick with those three this year, and work at progress in all three areas.

I have enjoyed reading others’ posts on favorite books of 2014, and reading/writing goals for 2015.  (Here is just one, from a local Catholic). Many of these were motivating to me in getting this done.

Finally, let me just share some random thoughts since it’s been so long since I’ve posted here.  I have noticed this up on various places and devices:

Ayn Rand Reviews Children’s Movies, The New Yorker.  Please be sure you’re not drinking or eating anything while you read this.   I don’t subscribe to The New Yorker, even though I grew up in a house that did, because I just have too much to read, but it’s convenient to have a sister who does, and who will share good articles.

The Real Roots of Mid-Life Crisis, The Atlantic Monthly.  I do subscribe to The Atlantic Monthly in print, but I’m usually way behind on this, thus, sharing this months later. According to this article (and many others on similar research), I should be in my unhappiest decade.  I wouldn’t agree with that–for instance, wild horses couldn’t drag me back to my teens or 20s–but I agree 50s are “not my favorite,” and let’s leave it at that.

My take-away from this article? If I can just hang on to my 60s, things will get better, and continue to get better.  So that’s good.

How Many Times a Day Do You Check Your Phone?  Perpetual Adoration blog.  Harry Williams is a local Catholic, and several times in the last few months I’ve found an article of his that is a must-share. I can’t recall if I ever shared this one on Father John Hardon called “Writing and the Spiritual Life,” .  If you’ve not seen this one, please,  take a minute to read and/or bookmark this one, too.

Did you do a best of 2014 post? Do you have reading or writing resolutions for 2015?

 

 

De-Clutter-ish September {random thoughts}

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Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary for her 7 Quick Takes.  Seven is a nice way to organize!

Loyal readers will recall how I started a Facebook group to help give up sugar during August (thus, the creative name Sugar-Free August).  I really, really loved the accountability and the support the small group of people gave each other in health goals.  So for September, I started a FB group called “De-Clutter September” for support in trying to complete some house projects, as well as just generally de-clutter.

While the De-Clutter group has been great and good fun, I have not been very good about de-cluttering.  And it’s the last day of September today.

Perhaps it was a bad idea to want to tackle home projects in a month when I’ve driven thousands of miles for … so many things. Not a lot of time at home.

Perhaps I need to re-frame, and really consider all I have accomplished, even with a busy school schedule, tons of appointments, sick kids, and other life complications.

I’m also looking forward to October.  My birthday is this month, and I love my birthday.  My monthly goal is going to make an effort to see people in real life, especially grown-ups (husband, mom friends, etc.).    Maybe I can call it IRL (in real life) Social October? Maybe I should have done that for September, as Social September sounds better.

Anyway, here are seven links for de-cluttering, in case you need a little boost.  I’ll be continuing my de-cluttering projects through October, as my page-long list of to-dos only has two out of 18 things crossed out.  Not much commentary, so I can get back to de-cluttering.

1.  Flylady

The de-cluttering godmother of us all. I said I wanted her “crisis cleaning” this month, but that never happened.

2. 15 Clutter Busting Routines for Any Family

I find Becoming Minimalist very encouraging in trying to live with less.   But I had to laugh at #13, “always leave room in your coat closet.” I wish I had a coat closet. If I had a coat closet, I would try to leave room in it, I promise.

3. The Benefits of a Messy House at Momastery

“But as I lay down to sleep, I remembered this passage from Thoreau’s Walden: “I say beware of all enterprises that require new clothes and not a new wearer of the clothes.” Walden reminds me that when I feel lacking- I don’t need new things, I need new eyes with which to see the things I already have. So when I woke up this morning, I walked into my kitchen wearing fresh perspectacles. Here’s what I saw.”

Of all these articles, a must-read for anyone, de-cluttering or not.

4. Throw Everything Out 

The friend who shared this on Facebook said she was conflicted because of the colorful language in here. But it is funny, even if most of the advice is completely unrealistic for family life.

On De-Clutter September, this article inspired many of us to clean off the surfaces of our fridge and post (lovely!) bare fridges.  So it had a good effect.

5. Habit Change Is Easiest When People Move House or Undergo Some Life Transition

It wouldn’t be a random thoughts post from me without something from Gretchen Rubin, I’m starting to think.  But this is really good.  Shaking things up can really help.  I think this is why I like re-arranging rooms.

6. Habits: the Secret for Smooth and Easy Days? at Simply Convivial

This is so worth reading as well.

“Good habits do not make life smooth & easy.”

” And just because (creating good habits) is hard and never-ending does not mean we are doing something wrong or are failing in our efforts.”

Amen.

7. 52 Week To an Organized Home

One of my sisters shared this with me, and I’m bookmarking here so I can refer back to it.  Maybe I need a year-long challenge rather than a month-long one?  Some good ideas here.

What are you reading or encountering online these days?

More importantly, do you have any de-cluttering tips for me? 😉

 

{Random Thoughts} The Sugar-Free August/Good Habits Edition

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(Linking up with Jen’s 7 Quick Takes since I have 7 here).

As I’ve mentioned before here, August has been almost entirely sugar-free.  I’m feeling really proud!

I decided to do “Sugar-Free August” because our July vacation had so many desserts in it (ice cream, chocolate mousse), a re-set was in order to get back to normal eating.  I started a “Sugar-Free August” Facebook group for friends to help with accountability and support, and I’m so glad I did.

Some people in the Facebook group were really trying hard to go without soda, or processed foods, or sweets (all those, for me), and even one of us, bravely, was doing the August Whole30 Challenge  (note that I’m linking to NomNomPaleo, a blog I enjoy, and not the Whole30, because something about W30 language/voice/ tone really annoys me).

It’s been fun to share our frustrations, joys, successes and failures, and I have really felt support from everyone. I’ve also appreciated the accountability and honesty of checking in.

Many, many links were shared over the course of the month, and I wanted to share some of them, as well as some others I didn’t get the chance to share there.  It’s a wrap-up of what I’ve learned this month.  Nutrition and health is a big interest of mine, and so I find this field fascinating.

1.

This book, The Year of No Sugar: A Memoir, inspired a lot of discussion. At least of us got it from the library and read it during the month.

As I wrote in my GoodReads review, I didn’t love the author’s voice, but I did like how she moderated it with a family, and how they made it work. Eye-opening to realize how difficult it is in the US to eat anything processed without sugar.

2.  “Finding It Hard to Change a Habit? Maybe this Explains Why” — Gretchen Rubin.

“Often, habits can’t change until identity changes. For instance, a person identifies as the fun one, the one who says “yes” to everything — but also wants to cut back on drinking. A person identifies as a workaholic, but then wants to work reasonable hours. The identity is incompatible with the change in habits.”

This really spoke to me. On the good side, I thought, I’m glad I have a “Catholic” identity, because it had helped me do the right thing even when I didn’t want to, and it’s turns out those “right things” were really best for me.

But like the person at the end of Gretchen’s post, I have an identity as a “baker.” I love baking (and eating the yummy things), and that has been the hardest part about the . I don’t want to give up that identity. Maybe I’ll just be a “Sunday baker” starting in September?

3. “An Intuitive Eating Experiment”— Katie at Runs for Cookies.

This was kind of the opposite of eating no sugar, but it was a great concept written up by one of my favorite running bloggers.

4. “Can the Bacteria in Your Gut Send Messages to Your Brain?” –SciFri podcast.

Good interview with two scientists who are studying the on the frontiers of learning about our gut bacteria and how they might influence our moods and behaviors.  I liked best how the Irish researcher made the point at the end that while a lot of this science is speculative, eating a diverse diet of whole foods is a good practice for keeping your gut bacteria healthy.

5. “Our Microbiome May be Looking Out for Itself” –The New York Times

 “Take chocolate: Many people crave it fiercely, but it isn’t an essential nutrient. And chocolate doesn’t drive people to increase their dose to get the same high. ‘You don’t need more chocolate at every sitting to enjoy it,’ Dr. Maley said.

Perhaps, he suggests, the certain kinds of bacteria that thrive on chocolate are coaxing us to feed them.”

6. “Learning to Cut the Sugar” — The New York Times.

An article about Dr. Robert Lustig, whose anti-sugar video is hugely popular. (The video inspired “Year of No Sugar” author Eve Schaub to do a no-sugar year with her family.).

“But there’s one thing that doesn’t work for any country: processed food. And any country that adopts processed food, which is now everywhere, is getting sick. This is why I want to be known as the anti-processed food guy, not the anti-sugar guy.”

I am putting his cookbook The Fat Chance Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes to Help You Lose the Sugar and the Weight
on hold at the library–I wish I had known about the book it at the beginning of this month.

7. The Case for Sugar–The Detox Diva

Well, now I’m confused. (actually, not really) This was a little too science-y, t it did argue that no sugar can be as bad for our metabolism as too much sugar. She makes the case for fruit and small amounts of sugar. A good ending to the month.

As one of my friends put it on the Facebook group, “So bottom line seems to be; Too much sugar is not good. Not enough sugar is not good. Moderate sugar? Good.”

[Reading that quote made me realize it’s why a W30 has not worked for me in the past.  I did something similar several years back, and it wreaked havoc on my body, sleep, and just general good health. I think it was too little carbs/natural sugar, even eating lots of veggies.]

So what am I going to do September 1, after a month of no sugar or processed foods?

Well, I’m running a half-marathon.  The weather actually looks threatening , and I wonder if the organizers might cancel it if the projected severe storms materialize.  But I hope it’s just rain, or great weather, and I can finish in a reasonably decent time for me.

But being real and honest here?  After the half-marathon, I plan to  eat most of this treat that I just purchased at Trader Joe’s:

photo

Sometime this week, I’ll go home and make frosted brownies.  I won’t eat the whole pan, but I will have a few and enjoy them.  I have missed baking treats most of all this month, almost more than eating those yummy treats.  I while  I will try to cut back and eat some of the healthier recipes I’ve tried, and I’m going to try to keep treats for special occasions as long as possible.

Have you tried a detox recently? Any successes to share? 

Random Thoughts, Volume 7: St. Maximilian Kolbe Edition

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Today is the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe.  He is a favorite of mine.

St. Maximilian KolbeWhen I used to have a family blog (that I discontinued when I started writing this one), bloggers commonly had pseudonyms for their children, and my youngest was Max, partially because of Max from Where the Wild Things Are, and partially because of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

I loved that he wanted to use the latest technology to spread the Good News.  He would undoubtedly be online if he were alive today.

The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Libertyville, Illinois– Marytown  has a retreat center and beautiful chapel, and in the lower level, a small but very moving museum/experience of St. Max’s life.  Not to be missed. Strange random fact about me: the second time I visited it was just after I completed my first marathon (it finished near Marytown).  I went back to my hotel, cleaned up, and headed over to Marytown for a mini-pilgrimage.

Can I be honest here? It has been very difficult to write for me lately.  For a long time, very difficult.  This has been a hard year for many reasons.  But especially lately,  there has been so much bad news in the world and our country, it seems impossible to write well about anything.

I have found it somewhat restorative to make photo/quotes like the one above.  I took the quote from tomorrow’s second reading in The Office of Readings–it’s a letter of St. Max.

The teens tell me that when they are not meant to be humorous, they are not called memes, but edits.  So I have been making a lot of edits lately.  It’s very soothing arranging the words of others, play around with photo editing, and make it look reasonably good.

Some random links:

*”Ann Coulter to Jesus: Fix Bethlehem First!”  Simcha Fisher on Patheos. I was having a discussion with my older teen about who actually agrees or believes with ridiculous “commentators” like her.  I do not know a single soul in real life who agrees with the vitriol and drama of her writing (and I know a lot of sincere people who are very conservative)!.  I don’t even pay attention to famous people like this, but appreciate Simcha’s take on this.

*“Before They Go to School, Have this Conversation” — Lysa TerKeurst.   Love this exploration of the concept of “pre-deciding” how to act.  I’ve been doing a sugar-free (mostly) August along with a group of Facebook friends, and love the support.  After a July of more ice cream and desserts than I dare admit  (including a wonderful, but nearly softball-sized, portion of chocolate mousse in NYC), I’m ready for the re-set.

“Pre-deciding” is great in a lot of areas, but I’ve found it really helpful this month with food.  The notion of deciding  mostly what I’m going to cook and eat, and do, before the day begins, takes a lot of the willpower out of it. (But oh, chocolate, I miss you so).

*”Finding it Hard to Change a Habit? Maybe This Explains Why”–Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project.

“Often, habits can’t change until identity changes. For instance, a person identifies as the fun one, the one who says “yes” to everything — but also wants to cut back on drinking. A person identifies as a workaholic, but then wants to work reasonable hours. The identity is incompatible with the change in habits.

I don’t really want to give up my identity as a dark chocolate lover, so I know I will go back to this  after August, but a month off will help me moderate my consumption, at least for a while.

Finally, I finally purchased this song and have been listening to it very often in recent days.

I love the lead singer’s voice, the melody, and the message.

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
And if I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it?

What have you found compelling or inspiring online recently?

Random Thoughts, Volume 6: Animal Spirits Edition

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I wonder how I can get any more random, but I do want to capture various links of online reading/listening/etc. as I come across them.

Also linking with Jen’s  7 Quick Takes since I have 7 of these.

1.  “How to Live a Happy Life: Louis CK Explains the Science” TIME magazine

“Taking an inventory about where you’re spending your time is revealing. And then once you identify the activities and people with whom you want to spend more time, calendaring your time thoughtfully becomes critical. When you put something on a calendar, you’re more likely to actually do that activity – partly because you’re less likely to have to make an active decision whether you should do it – because it’s already on your calendar.”

2.  “Keeping a Time Diary Can Identify Patterns That Affect Your Productivity” — LifeHacker

Also in the time management field.  I am (again) trying to keep track of my time and figure out what makes me more or less productive in different areas.  I do notice some of these things, but I found it fascinating that the person who kept this time diary found how a bad night sleep affected him several days later, and other quirks. I need to be better about doing this.

3,  “The Bride Didn’t Always Wear White” –The New York Times

This looks like an amazing exhibit on wedding wear through recent history.  In 2010, our family took a wonderful trip to England & Ireland.  The apartment we rented was a short walk from the V&A Museum, so we used to call it our “neighborhood museum” (the same way Brompton Oratory was our neighborhood church).  When I saw this article, I immediately thought, “time for a trip to our neighborhood museum.” I wish.

4. I just love my Fitbit.

Can I get an Amen from anyone else who enjoys the Fitbit?  After I gave it up for Lent (and oh, that was hard! I did two half-marathons during Lent, and, as we true believers like to half-jokingly say, it’s like they didn’t even count).

I’ve just entered the world of friends on Fitbit.  So far I’m Fitbit friends with several people, one of them a world-famous (if she’s not, she should be) author, Colleen Swaim.  I do really enjoy getting to compare stats and swap messages.  I’m also part of a private group that Katie at Runs for Cookies started several months back.  I enjoy getting to see my stats versus others.  My goal for July is to hit 12,000 every day.  I’ve only missed one day so far, and we have some upcoming car travel days, so I may miss a few more, but I’m sure my average will be well above the 12,000 mark.

Do you make Fitbit (or even just general fitness) goals?

5.  “Why Kids Fidget and What to Do About It” The Washington Post

“Ironically, many children are walking around with an underdeveloped vestibular (balance) system today–due to restricted movement. In order to develop a strong balance system, children need to move their body in all directions, for hours at a time. ”

So worth reading, and now I feel justified in how much I make my kids be active.  Also, now I feel reassured that my very active 11-year-old is just working his vestibular system.

6. Amazon, A Friendly Giant as Long as It’s Fed— The New York Times

I’m somewhat conflicted about Amazon.  I order from it all the time, I love Amazon Prime for watching movies and TV shows, as well as the free two-day shipping for most items.  It’s just super convenient for so many things, books included.

But I’ve read with interest articles like this one, and I must say I still like Amazon after reading this.  In many ways, Amazon has democratized the publishing process.  What do you think?

7. “Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt” — NPR’s Planet Money

I  supported this Kickstarter campaign, because (as I’ve written about before) I’m a big fan of Planet Money and listen to the  podcast often.  The series of podcasts reporting how a t-shirt gets made (based on this book: The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy:
, which I’ve not read, but looks really interesting),

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Because I supported the Kickstarter, I recently received this t-shirt in the mail.  It fits really well, it is comfortable and a really flattering color.  I decided that because the graphic is so strange (a squirrel holding up a martini!), I wouldn’t start wearing it until I could comfortably explain the economics term “animal spirits.” (The t-shirt is a visual pun of that concept).  I actually hadn’t remembered what that was all about, since it’s been a long time since I listened to the series.

So I went back to the Planet Money site and just briefly went through the great multi-media site they put together.  Do take a look if you get a chance–here’s that link.

What are “animal spirits?”  Basically, it’s the concept that economic decisions are made by people, not just markets.  Sometimes that means emotions or spontaneous ideas take place, but ultimately shows economics is about humans, not just things or money.

This might be kind of mischievous, but my thought is to wear it often, and especially during the 40 Days for Life in October, to freak out and befuddle (in a good way) my fellow NPR listeners.

What are you reading or listening to online lately?