The Season of Lent

Cruz, Year 5

Lent is an extremely important time and I am delighted to have been asked to write an essay for Oremus, outlining its importance and main observances. I hope you enjoy reading this article and learning about Lent.

Lent is the time of year when Christians prepare for Easter. Lent begins in February or March, depending on the date of Easter. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday February 22 and ends on Thursday April 6. The 40-day period is called Lent after an old English word meaning ‘lengthen’ This is because when it happens, the days start to grow longer, as we approach Summer.

Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Christians see Lent as a time to give to those less fortunate, and so many save up their money for the 40 days and donate to charity as well as attending services. Christians use this time to engage in prayer. Lent lasts for 40 days because that’s how long Jesus was in the desert, fasting, while He resisted Satan’s temptations. Jesus successfully refused all the temptations and returned to Galilee to begin his ministry.

In Western Churches, the day before Lent starts is Shrove Tuesday. This day was traditionally the last chance to use up the foods Christians would not be eating during Lent. Some Christians ‘fast’ during Lent by giving up something that they enjoy, such as a favourite food or a fun activity. This typically includes abstaining from meat and dairy products on certain days or throughout the duration of Lent. Today, Lent can involve giving up a variety of different things, including sweets and chocolates.

On Ash Wednesday, churches hold special services, at which worshippers are marked with ash on their head in the shape of a cross. The ashes symbolise the dust God made people from and so represents their mortality. The ash is made from the palm branches, used on the previous year’s Palm Sunday to remind us of when people welcomed Jesus at his entry into Jerusalem, waving them and placing them in his path. In church we use the colour purple which indicates mourning and penitence. It was used as an act of derision towards Jesus when Pilate placed a purple robe on him, calling him ‘The King of the Jews’.

As you can see, Lent is a very important part of the Christian calendar. It is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. As we approach the beginning of Lent, I will take the opportunity to think about what I will sacrifice this year to enter into the penitential spirit of Lent more deeply.