Timestamps:
00:00 – 01:20 = Introduction and Overview (Lent and Holy Week).
01:21 – 05:00 = What is Lent? Origins and Meaning.
05:01 – 08:45 = The Significance of 40 Days in the Bible.
08:46 – 12:30 = The Three Pillars of Lent: Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving.
12:31 – 16:15 = Personal Experiences and Challenges in Lent.
16:16 – 20:30 = Holy Week: The Climax of Lent.
20:31 – 24:10 = How to Approach Holy Week if Lent Didn’t Go Well.
24:11 – 28:00 = The Debate: Should We Celebrate Feast Days During Lent?
28:01 – 31:45 = Finding Balance in Fasting and Feasting.
31:46 – 34:00 = Truth, Beauty, and Goodness Segment (Book Recommendation).
34:01 – 35:44 = Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts.
Episode Summary:
As we enter into Holy Week, we reflect on the purpose of fasting and its role in our Lenten journey. Stina and Padre share personal experiences with fasting and penance, exploring how it can either become a tool for true spiritual transformation or a mere human endeavor. They also discuss the debate around fasting on Feast days and Sundays during Lent and how our approach to these practices should ultimately be about deepening intimacy with Christ rather than merely following rigid structures. Join us as we unpack the meaning of Holy Week, fasting, and what it means to truly prepare our hearts for Easter.
Key Discussion Points:
- Purpose of Fasting in Lent: More than just a physical practice, fasting is about spiritual discipline and drawing closer to God. It teaches us detachment from worldly comforts to cultivate deeper reliance on Christ.
- Personal Approaches to Fasting: Stina and Padre share how their perspectives on fasting have evolved over the years—from rigorous discipline to understanding fasting as a means of encountering grace rather than proving human strength.
- Holy Week as a Final Push: Holy Week is the high point of Lent, and even if our Lenten practices have been inconsistent, this final week provides an opportunity to enter deeply into Christ’s suffering and resurrection.
- The Debate on Fasting on Feast days and Sundays: Stina and Padre discuss the ongoing conversation around whether one should fast on Feast days and Sundays in lent, exploring both sides and ultimately emphasizing the importance of the spirit in which we fast, and feast, rather than the rigid adherence to rules.
- Fasting as a Means, Not an End: True fasting is not about self-improvement, dieting, or proving strength, but about further attachment to Christ and a transformation led by grace.
Reflective Questions:
- How has my approach to fasting this Lent drawn me closer to Christ?
- Do I rely too much on my own strength in my Lenten sacrifices, or do I allow God’s grace to transform me?
- How can I enter more deeply into Holy Week, even if my Lenten practices haven’t been perfect?
- What does true spiritual discipline look like in my life beyond Lent?
Practical Suggestions for Growth:
- Recommit to Holy Week: If your Lenten practices have fallen away, use this week as a time to enter fully into the journey of Christ.
- Fast with Intention: Whether you fast on feast days or not, ensure that your fasting is leading you toward greater love for God rather than just a personal achievement.
- Reflect on Your Motivation: Ask yourself why you are fasting and whether it’s deepening your relationship with Jesus or simply following a rule.
- Celebrate with Virtue: As Easter approaches, embrace the joy of the Resurrection without throwing out the virtues you’ve cultivated during Lent.
TBG
Padre – The Paschal mystery by Louis Bouyer
Stina – seeing Padre’s ministry and settling into his new parish
Book Study in 3 weeks! St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Uniformity with the Will of God
If you enjoy our Show Notes, you can listen to our Living Fullness Podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, directly from our website or watch our guest interviews on YouTube! Also check out our social media pages Living Fullness Podcast on Instagram , the closed Facebook group for links and discussions, and Virtue Ministry on Facebook and Instagram.