Lent
"Repent and believe in the Good News." (Mark 1:15)
For our daily scripture reflections to help you pray and meditate during Lent, check out Journeying in Faith: Lenten Reflections, provided by the Catechetical Office.
Season of Lent: Fast Facts
- Lent is spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter. Both catechumens (those preparing for Baptism) and the faithful prepare for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery at Easter.
- Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2010) continuing until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (April 1, 2010).
- The practices of Lent involve prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
- Lent originated in the first three centuries A.D. and, over the centuries, developed from a one or two day observance to forty days (recalling the 40 day fasts of Christ, Matthew 4:2; Moses, Exodus 34:28; and Elijah, 1 Kings 19:8).
- During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the Faithful to reflect a spirit of penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.
Fasting requires that only one full meal be taken per day. Two other smaller meals may be taken during the day to maintain physical strength, but these two meals together should not equal a full meal in quantity. Fasting obliges all those who have reached the age of 18 and continues to oblige until age 59. Those not specifically obliged to fast are encouraged to join in the discipline of fasting to the extent that they are able.
Abstinence prohibits individuals from eating meat on a particular day. Abstinence obliges all those who have reached the age of 14 and continues to oblige throughout their entire life. Those not specifically obliged to abstain from eating meat are encouraged to join in this discipline to the extent that they are able.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence.
- Some Lenten practices and suggestions:
- Fasting and abstinence: donate the money you saved to a food pantry; select from other penitential practices
- Ash Wednesday Blessing Of The Season And Of A Place Of Prayer: prayer service
- Introduction to the Sacraments: learn more about baptism and the other sacraments in a free online video series
- Believe, Celebrate, Live and Pray: Lenten Resources from the USCCB.
- Self-denial: use some of your time to volunteer (e.g. volunteer to help in your parish's Religious Education Program)
- Good deeds and almsgiving: give to a charity; help stop human trafficking or the death penalty
- Prayer and reflection: pray the Rosary; read and reflect on the daily mass readings; pray the stations of the cross
- Church services: attend daily mass at your parish church; Spiritual Reading: read a gospel
