This year it is the period from the 5th of March to the 16th of April. The period begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Resurrection Day. Yes, we are talking about the Lenten season experienced by Catholics. For those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, it is a special time, a time of silence, pause and reflection on the most important matters. The Church recommends three Lenten practices to Catholics - fasting, prayer and almsgiving. These attitudes can be expressed in extremes - from minor changes in daily eating to total dedication to prayer and long hours in church. Which model is usually closer to us?
Table of contents:
Fasting
The ancient understanding of this practice meant abstaining from food and drink in general. The ancient approach to fasting was therefore much stricter than our present approach. This was certainly influenced by medicine and the increasing knowledge of proper nutrition. After all, the Church never demands attitudes from the faithful that have the hallmarks of heroism. It pays attention primarily to the spiritual aspects and only secondarily to the physical. Heroism should always be an attitude voluntarily adopted by the person concerned, and never imposed from above. For a very simple reason - it then loses the hallmarks of heroism as a supremely noble attitude, and gains the name of terror. This is not the point. However, it turns out that man, deep down, bears the need for heroic behaviour. It is extremely difficult for us to make even the smallest commitment and be faithful to it for a long time. Such is our mental construction. It is much harder to renounce, for example, alcohol, sweets or any other product and to persist in this resolve throughout Lent. Instead, we try to compensate for our straw enthusiasm by means of one-day "heroism " - we are able to endure the whole of Ash Wednesday or Good Friday (days during Lent when the Church encourages strict fasting - both qualitative and quantitative; no meat, two light meals and one full meal) eating absolutely nothing, possibly only bread and water. These practices are, of course, noble and beautiful, but I feel that this is not exactly what matters most. For it is not the tool that is important, but the intention with which we reach for it. If the intention is to show myself and others how abstinent I can be and how much I can renounce food, then I think we are missing out on what is really important. If, on the other hand, I subtract one product from myself and thus my stomach is not completely full then perhaps I will better understand the suffering of those who are truly in need, or I will be more inclined to live the mysteries of Easter spiritually.
It should also be noted that in the old days, electricity, social networks, the internet and many other media goods of our time were unknown. Fasting, therefore, as a renunciation, is not necessarily about physical pleasures. It may be more valuable to limit computer use for one's own pleasure. It will certainly benefit long-postponed things - family time, meeting friends, prayer time that we don't have (or at least think we don't have). Of course, if computer use is essential to the work we do, it doesn't mean we should take 40 days off for Lent because we want to go offline. All based on common sense. Lent is meant to be a time when, by giving up some pleasure, an unnecessary thing, we gain doubly. If the fasting we undertake leads to disruption of our physical or mental health then, of course, no one will persuade us to undertake it. The effect of fasting should be cheerfulness and a positive attitude. If instead there is a sense of hurt and loss then it is very likely that there is something wrong with our motivation to undertake the renunciation.
Prayer
We often understand fasting as a need for the intensity of prayer. And rightly so - it is a good time to rebuild our prayer habits. Lent provides opportunities for this - extra services are organised, everyone will find a place and time in the Church that suits them. And just as in Lent - it is not necessarily the most important thing to spend many hours every day in church one by one "passing" the services, thus soothing one's conscience. Really, if we go to Mass twice a day we will not become more holy. For that, renewing the practice of starting each day with a short prayer (even with the shortest possibility, that of making the sign of the Cross) then the subsequent parts of the day will be dedicated to God and thus more complete. It is not the quantity but the quality and intention of our actions that matter most. Again, I have the conviction that it is much easier for us to spend most of the time from Maundy Thursday to Easter in church than to resolve that I will begin and end each day making the sign of the Cross. And yet it would seem to take much less time, which, after all, we 'don't have'.
Which attitude is better?
First of all, I think that there is no need to value the attitude of "one-day heroism" and "multi-day resolution". Rather, I coined these terms to make myself and the recipients of this text aware of which attitude fits me better and what its effects are. I am not judging either of them, nor am I putting one above the other, because I know that sometimes a person needs a "jolt" to change his or her behaviour (just as defibrillation restores the heart to its proper rhythm), and at other times a person can only reach his or her goal by laboriously climbing a series of steps. I am merely pointing out that I need to consider what my motivation is? And whether I am trying to drown out guilt, remorse and want to make up for lost time with a short-term climb.
Painting Easter eggs, photo: panthermedia
However, it seems that consistency in action usually produces better results than momentary spurts, even the most noble ones. For example, a very important part of the treatment of, for example, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorder is to take medication regularly. Regularly, day after day, one tablet over a long period of time. Only then do we have a chance, doctor and patient, to achieve therapeutic success. If I forget six doses of medication and take seven tablets at once on a Saturday, the goal will not be achieved and, in addition, I may develop unpleasant side effects from taking too many tablets at once. In many chronic diseases, the greatest difficulty is precisely the consistency in dismissing the long-term effects of the disease. For example, people with hypertension do not feel any pain and are not bothered by higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. However, the possible consequences of hypertension are serious diseases of the heart, eyes, kidneys and other vital organs, the risk of which can be eliminated precisely by taking medication consistently and performing check-ups.
Of course, too iron-clad adherence to all rules, guidelines and resolutions is also not good for health, especially mental health. A person who fails to keep a resolution and, as a consequence, feels very intensified anger, self-loathing, closes in on himself, also fails to act rationally. After all, when we fail at something once, it is not yet a tragedy.
There are also mental disorders that manifest themselves in intrusive thoughts (i.e. unwanted, unpleasant thoughts that the patient cannot get rid of) that cause tension, anxiety that can only be relieved by performing an action. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, as it is referred to here, bears no resemblance to a healthy and free resolution and requires treatment.
Summary
During Lent we make various resolutions. It is worth remembering that they will only bring the expected results if they are made with good intention. I wish you much consistency in your actions! So necessary in everyday life, be it spiritual or daily. In making resolutions, fighting addictions, taking medication and other more mundane things like brushing your teeth.