Lent is sometimes viewed as a masochistic spiritual deprivation.  We give things up and clamp our mouth, fast, and bear the burden for no other reason than that's what we were taught to do.

A Dutch Catholic organization wants the people of the Netherlands to celebrate Lent again, but not many Hollanders know what Lent is anymore.  But they do hear a lot about Islam in the media, so the Catholic charity Vastenaktie has decided to drop the traditional name and call Lent the "Christian Ramadan."  More via Crunchy Con:

"The image of the Catholic Lent must be polished. The fact that we use a Muslim term is related to the fact that Ramadan is a better-known concept among young people than Lent," said Vastenaktie Director, Martin Van der Kuil.

These people have lost their faith, and quite possibly their minds. What on earth are they thinking?!

Should we start calling Christmas the "Christian Hannukah, now with Child!"?  More importantly, how do Christian denominations in America recover Lent and Christian celebrations without erring like the Dutch? ... more

Fasting on Ash Wednesday, for me, usually means an accidental relapse, and that is what happened, unfortunately.

It started out as a busy day.  I had training in New York City so I commuted in on the train and walked across Manhattan since it was nice outside.  I walked about 20 blocks and it was wonderful to see the ashes on people's forehead, they are like fish drawn in dusty ground.  The church I am currently at right now does not participate in Ash Wednesday, but I celebrate it myself, and continue to participate in Lent. 

After training I walked by St. Anne's near Lexington Ave.,  on 43rd St. I believe, and they had an open Mass for people to come off the street and partake in the holy day, but I was not in the right frame of mind as I was rushing to the subway to catch a train to Newark for my graduate class.  It pained me, I wanted to go in so bad, but I actually just caught the subway and would have been very late to class otherwise. ... more

Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, and I am not looking forward to it.  I feel sick and crumby, which is not the way Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is supposed to feel like.  I am stuffed up and have a sinus headache when I should be rejoicing before I begin the Lenten fast. 

I am going to go through N.T. Wright's Reflecting the Glory meditations during Lent again, and try to focus on the aspects of celebration within suffering and hope within suffering, which is why I am bummed about my Mardi Gras cold. 

The overriding though for Lent this year for me is going to be Satan's picture of the kingdom during his temptation of Christ, and how Christ responded: in a rejection tinged with hope.  The kingdom is coming, even in the wilderness of suffering and fasting---that is what I hope for as we all begin this Lenten season. ... more