LENT 2019 THREAD: The Journey to Easter Sunday

Catholic means universal, so if you believe you should then in our opinion you should.

I fell away from faith, and I've been considering coming back. Lately it seems I see the world differently and I keep thinking about God. I feel like I betrayed my church by leaving though and stopped talking to everyone. I have guilt and feel ashamed of coming back becayse of pride. All this are even more reason to go, but all this pride (petty as it might be) stops me. My wife was pretty happy I left too and going back would mean she'd also look down on me.

Now I know all this shouldn't stop me, I'm just venting a bit. Would it be inappropriate for me to come back to church for lent?

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Dedicate your lent to breaking down your pride. That's literally the point of lent, to prepare yourself for easter.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. - John 10:7-9

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How are you guys, doing strong?
I've done only a stout breakfast, and I intend to keep going until late mass when I receive the ash and the Eucharist. And only after then, I will cook some steamed cabbage for dinner.
I have to say, I don't think I've ever fasted for long, and I'm kind feeling good about it, I get what people say about the mind getting clearer as your intent grows stronger, this is a strong practice for self control.

However this morning I already started to get plagued by lewds thoughts, followed with the desire to see porn, luckily the quick binge around these forums led me nowhere, but I still am feeling the draw from my addiction, the biggest enemies I intend to fight this lent. It is true though, fasting and praying helps a lot in these matters.

As the other user said, its more symbolic and personal than anything. So I take it as a personal challenge, and each should fast the way he think is best off, for most regular days I intend just to hold a very strict diet, and that means eating meat at lunch but being strict with everything regardless.
In fact I'm still curious where in the bible it mentions about Christ retreating to desert while fasting for 40 days (at least that was my impression from what I read somewhere), I want to read it as well and today in my sleep, I even thought about going for a fast while spending the night atop of a mount, while praying and meditating by myself. Should be an interesting thing if I pull it off.

Should you exercise during lent? I'm not sure how it's possible when you're fasting every day. I'm good with sacrificing physical gains for spiritual gains but I'm curious if anyone tries and succeeds in staying fit+healthy during this part of the year

If you feel the need to.

Ok so I know what the minimum is for western catholic lent. But what's the maximum I can do to really get the most out of it? No memes please

I am currently doing RCIA as a catechumen. I work 12 hour shifts, have a 4 year old son, and an atheist wife. I understand the struggle, although I'm not saying mine is equal to yours.

Try to think of your struggle as a penance, and seek to bear it without complaint or bitterness. Remember our Lord suffered for your redemption, he carried his own cross to Calvary, and he did it without complaining. In fact he had pity on the crowd. As he lie up on the cross, he called out to God the Father to have mercy on those crucifying him.

Keep in mind that in the early church often Bishops would require grave sinners to do penance, sometimes for years, before accepting them in baptism. I don't believe this is the right approach, but it is fitting that you should struggle and suffer as you seek to unite yourself to the death and resurrection of our Lord.

You're on the right track.

Traditionally no meat, dairy, or eggs were consumed. The egg abstinence requirement was dropped some time in the 1700's I believe. The orthodox, and eastern rite Catholics still give up eggs.

Giving up meat (flesh) is most fitting as it reflects Jesus giving up his flesh. Tat said in giving up eggs too!