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What did you give up for Lent?

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Catholic Online readers want to know: What you have given up for Lent?

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1 - 50 of 125 What did you give up for Lent?

  1. Debbie Kustka
    1 month ago

    I gave up time on my e-mail, Facebook, searches It all. I was addicted, but I do go to a lot of Catholic sites

  2. Claudia
    1 month ago

    Hi for lent I did not give up any thing because I forgot about it by the time I remember itas already a few days into it. I don't go to church not because I don't want to because the is not on whee I live I am catholic and go to a catholic school and we read parts of the bible every day my sister gave up soft drink witch was hard for her because when ever we went somewhere she would have to have water the day after Easter we let her tast it when she did she said gross is this real soft drink we said yeah she doesn't drink soft drink any more

  3. Cyn
    1 month ago

    For the whole time, I gave up potato chips (serious habit ie eating a big bag every single night often with dip), and drinking martinis (those were the only drinks I drank, so for me that means all alcohol). During Holy Week, I stopped washing television and on Good Friday I fasted - no food, just water and coffee in the morning. I'm also allowing myself tea.

  4. J J
    1 month ago

    I gave up bread and cheese for lent

  5. patrick
    1 month ago

    I gave up playing music and foothball

  6. MARY
    1 month ago

    I gave up soda and playing the video gambling machines. I have done very well. i What is the last day of Lent?

  7. Ariscita
    1 month ago

    I gave up playing lottery scratch off tickets, which I love to do.

  8. florence
    1 month ago

    i gave up my luxury tv time to spend more time with GOD.

  9. Nemboy
    1 month ago

    I gave up sweets, and promised not to miss my daily scripture readings and prayers.

  10. smitha
    2 months ago

    i wish to give up wht is wrong in god eye.

  11. cecille v. felisilda
    2 months ago

    i gave buying new clothes which i want most for reflecting to it, buying more is not what i need. what i need now is to strengthen my prayer life and to pray more for others.

  12. Lynda B. Clarke
    2 months ago

    I have given up all poultry; eating only seafood.

  13. Nicole
    2 months ago

    This season for Lent I gave up wanting more in my own. I have been desiring that my spouse finish our basement and it seems that in truth I do not need this. I am letting go of the need to want it for it is beyond need.

  14. Jan
    2 months ago

    I have given up TV-at least Monday through Friday and limit it on weekends to EWTN or sports. I haven't slept so well in a long time.

  15. lisha
    2 months ago

    im giving up meat for meat because i really love eating it

  16. Anna
    2 months ago

    I am giving up listening to rock and roll music for lent. I had no idea how hard it would be because it is played in the background at a lot of fast food restaurants and is such a part of everyday life in America.

  17. anne santiago
    2 months ago

    I have given up facebook and chocolates..

  18. Bethany
    2 months ago

    I am giving up sweets- and I have probable avoided about 10,000 calories! (sweets includes cookies, cake, candy, dessert, anything with chocolate)

  19. Jess
    2 months ago

    Kudos to the folks giving up driving their car! I love it! You rock.

  20. rad
    2 months ago

    For the 40 days of Lent......I chose to fast and abstain. Not easy for one who's got a medical condition like me but I wanna do it this time. And just like the years before, I gave up FB and other social networking sites and focus more on sites like Catholic Online to learn more about our Catholic faith. It helps in my spiritual reflections, develops a lot of discipline and fortifies my realization that I am indeed blessed in many ways and have so much to be grateful for.

  21. Sarah
    2 months ago

    I've been struggling with negativity and depression...and I'm starting late. I just decided it's time to return to church and baptize my daughter who is 7 months old. I am giving up that negativity and accepting the peace that spirituality brings to be back into my life.

  22. Isabella Hof
    2 months ago

    I know this will sound VERY stupid..... but I gave up Justin Bieber for Lent and I have done really well! :)

  23. Dianne
    2 months ago

    I giving up the sweets and junk food and am praying the rosary daily for an incarcerated person I know.

  24. John Beevers
    3 months ago

    Once again I have given up red wine or should I say alcohol altogether for Lent. I have done it now for about three years. Not easy at all but I know it will do me good in more ways than one.

  25. sam
    3 months ago

    i gave up playing xbox

  26. Nne oge
    3 months ago

    My onw word is that everybody must keep he or her way clean for the gloria of his name

  27. Rae
    3 months ago

    I'm not yet confirmed - not until next year. This was my first Lent. Since I have not eaten meat since 2004, I decided to give up desserts & junk food. But last night - 17th, I cheated and had an ice cream cone and some chips. I feel like a failure ! I was able to give up meat with no problem. I see others eat it, remember how good my favorite dishes tasted, yet am not really tempted to go back to it. I would confess but I can't do so until I'm confirmed. I have bigger things to confess once allowed anyway. Thanks for listening...

  28. ALICE SIBI
    3 months ago

    PRAISE THE LORD THIS IS GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO PROCLAIM HIS WORDS. I GAVE UP MY ALL TYPES OF SWEETS SPECIALLY CAKES,CHOCOLATES,SUGAR, BECAUSE I LOVE SWEETS.

  29. K B
    3 months ago

    Lent is a very emotional time for me, a time to reflect not only on Jesus and our Lord (what he went through) but also on his child...me! I try very hard to be true to my God, myself and my Faith during this special time of year. A Holy time of year. I give up; Worry, Control, Selfishness and Greed. I give myself to God as a whole. I reach for a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and also who I am as someone Jesus Loves! My Mother and Father gave this gift to me as they did my six brothers. They set us on this path of relationship with Our Father in love and selflessness. I give things up that only God and I can see, but everyone around me can feel. I love my God and I will give myself up to him this Lenten Season.

  30. David Graf
    3 months ago

    I have given up snacks between meals, bread ( except for The Holy Euchatrist), donuts, any sweet rolls.

  31. Louise
    3 months ago

    I am doing my best to give up all forms of cursing. Learning to bite my tongue. Also spend more time with my kids.

  32. Paula
    3 months ago

    1. Being more patient with my family.
    2. Praying the Rosary daily for the consecration of Russia as Our Lady of Fatima has asked.
    3. Doing some inspirational reading or research on the Internet each day.

  33. Kim Polingo
    3 months ago

    I don't give up so much as to "give" to my prayer life. I sent years as a child "giving up" the candy and sweets. As I got older I started "giving." I gave more of my time to teaching my children the real meanings and the bibical meanings to our "giving up." Now my children are all grown and they now "give" to their children, I "give" support by adding time in prayer for this next genaration of "givers."

  34. Edith
    3 months ago

    I am going to give up facebook , and only get on once a week. I am going to stop my inappropriate language. I will also stop eating so much junk food. Things that are all very hard to do for me.

  35. grace
    3 months ago

    i gave up my bed for lent. i sleep on the floor every night and i also am saying a hail mary every night and im giving up playing games like apps and board games.

  36. Nonto Mhlanga
    3 months ago

    l am giving up chocolate,alcohol and music (excluding gospel).

  37. Eve
    3 months ago

    Anger, meat, alcohol, oil, sugar

  38. Alda
    3 months ago

    I gave up meat and dairy for lent.

  39. apondi monica
    3 months ago

    I gave up Facebook, is fasting from 6am to 3pm everyday and will read the Bible each day.

  40. Janelle Martinez
    3 months ago

    I gave up negativity, twitter, and instagram.

  41. Taylor
    3 months ago

    I gave up pepsi(pop) for lent.

  42. Benjamin
    3 months ago

    Good Evening,
    I plan on giving up my cell phone, i spoke to my children and wife as well as my parents..if there is any emergency then they could call me...I'll only answer my cell if it's from my boys, wife and parents....no texting, twitter, facebook.... I'm debating giving up television and just listening to music and reading ....it will be difficult, but it's nothing compared to what JESUS did for us.

  43. Mary
    3 months ago

    I'm giving up sweets, and I'm going to say the Rosary everyday and decicate it something different everyday.

  44. Annie Perkins
    3 months ago

    I gave up tv. It was addicting to me. I became more religious and more focused on god

  45. Adela Ayala
    3 months ago

    It was hard for me to give up lent the past years, but this year im willing to stay commited and i chose to give up on cussing and to write one person per week that has been inspirational to my life

  46. Hailey
    3 months ago

    This will be my very first lent as an unbaptized member of the catholic church. I am a catechumen taking part in the RCIA process and will be baptized this Easter. For lent I have decided to give up all music (save for praise & worship and at mass). Music is a big part of my life and it will be very difficult for me to refrain from listening to my favourite artists. Instead I will fill my life with more intentional prayer, daily rosaries, and music that reflects the teachings of Christ. I will also refrain from eating lunch every Friday, as my hunger will remind me to reflect on the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.

  47. Taylor
    3 months ago

    I'm a college student, and for lent I'm giving up driving my car. Saving money AND the environment!

  48. ronnie
    3 months ago

    Instead of giving something up I decided to make Lent a season of giving. I've decided to do at least 1 act of kindness each day. It's amazing to see how that one act can be such a blessing for another, especially if they pay it forward.

  49. Elizabeth Wegener
    3 months ago

    Chicken. I gave up chicken for lent.

  50. Mark Lauritzen
    3 months ago

    I give up Beer and all Alcohol ever Lent for the past 6 years....


What did you give up for Lent?

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More Easter / Lent

'So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead' - Luke 24:46

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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. continue reading


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For most people the easiest practice to consistently fulfill will be the traditional one, to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. During Lent abstinence from meat on Fridays is obligatory in the United States as elsewhere. Christ Himself said that His disciples would fast once He had departed (Lk. 5:35). continue reading


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What did you give up for Lent?

What did you give up for Lent?

From the humorous to the bizarre, people have had interesting Lenten experiences. Tell us about what you are going to give up for this Lenten Year.
What others gave up »

Lent / Easter News

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Ash Wednesday

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Stations of the Cross

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