Yesterday's Ash Wednesday signified the start of the Lenten Season again. In Catholic countries, such as the Philippines, this means the start of fasting and abstinence again. According to the American Catholic Org,
"Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged
to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14
years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good
Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.
Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one
full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at
breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person
chooses to eat the main or full meal.
Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat."
I know of a few people who observes this assiduously. They do not eat meat during the Lenten season. Others does not eat meat on all Fridays of Lent while some have chosen to interpret this as abstaining from something they cannot seem to live without such as rice, chocolates, meat.
In this age of technology, where people cannot seem to live without their iPhone and Android gadgets, iPad, Facebook, Blackberry Messenger, I wonder how many people or if any will choose to abstain from using any of their must have gadgets? No Facebook for 46 days? I think some people will go nuts :)
The gadgets are just a convenience for me so abstaining will not have much impact. I have decided instead to abstain from eating rice this Lenten. What about you?
