As of: February 14, 2024, 8:00 a.m
By: Andrea Beschorner
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Many people want to give up sweets, alcohol and cigarettes during Lent.
© dpa
In a conversation with the clergyman Stephan Rauscher, he gives tips for Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
He himself gives up something that he particularly likes.
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– The 40-day Lent begins today.
While some use it for inner contemplation, others avoid sweets and alcohol.
But what exactly does that mean?
And how strict is a clergyman actually with himself during this time?
The FT asked Pastor Stephan Rauscher, head of the Holledau parish association.
And he even has a tip on how to make it more likely to persevere.
Just don't do too much: This is Pastor Rauscher's ultimate advice for Lent.
Hellerbrand © Hellerbrand
Pastor Rauscher, please briefly explain the meaning behind Lent for everyone who is not so versed in the Bible.
The idea behind it is to prepare for Easter.
It's not just about fasting and abstinence.
It's about me looking at my life and questioning what I might want to change about the things that have often crept in unconsciously.
And of course that can't be done in one day, it takes a long time.
40 days because Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days.
How strict will you be with yourself in the next 40 days?
I just want to try to change things that have become established and that I don't like.
To do this, I ask myself various questions: Do I regularly make time for prayer?
How do I deal with other people?
I often realize that I don't want to be like that - and then I have to change that again.
And what exactly are you giving up?
(laughs)
On spec.
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So Lent is much more than renunciation?
It's also a lot about awareness.
If I live and eat more moderately for 40 days, I will automatically be more conscious.
In other words: In order for me to live more consciously, I need a certain amount of renunciation.
This is just as good for the body as it is for the mind.
I often have to laugh when I look at what is said all year round about therapeutic fasting cures, intermittent fasting and all that. Cleansing the body and mind through mindfulness and renunciation: there is a lot of Christianity behind it.
So renunciation is good for everyone – regardless of faith?
Certainly, and you find this in all cultures.
Ramadan for example.
Some people also give up cell phones, social media or Netflix during this time: What do you think of this modern way of fasting?
I think that's good because it also leads to more awareness.
When I give up something that is important to me, I value it more again.
When we always have everything at our disposal, we often no longer value things at all.
Do you have any tips on how to last the entire fasting period?
The important thing is to only do a little bit, not too much.
We also tend to exaggerate during Lent: leave out everything, just water and bread for 40 days, that's nonsense, you can't keep up with it.
Fast consciously, don't overdo it, choose one thing that is important to you and leave it out, not a hundred things.
And also choose something spiritual for this time, like reading a book for fifteen minutes every day.
Or just do nothing.
Silence in prayer - for many this is difficult to endure and Lent is a good time to integrate this back into life.
And if everything goes perfectly, what will be at the end of these days of renunciation?
There is the joy of Easter, the joy of resurrection and redemption, the awareness that we have already been redeemed.
It's like every big celebration.
A wedding, for example: We consciously prepare for that so that we can enjoy it even more when the time comes.