Liturgical
Season of Lent
What is
Lent?
It
is a liturgical season that is ordered to preparing for the celebration of
Easter, since the lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the paschal
mystery both catechumens, by the various stages of Christian initiation, and
the faithful, who recall their own Baptism and do penance.1
Where does
the word "Lent" come from?
The
Teutonic word Lent, which we employ to denote the forty days' fast preceding
Easter, originally meant no more than the spring season.2
When does
Lent begin and end?
It
runs from Ash Wednesday up to but excluding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
exclusive. Lent begins at 12:01 a.m. on
Ash Wednesday and runs to just before the Mass of the Lord's Supper on the
evening of Holy Thursday.3
Is Lent
exactly forty days long as currently...
A
little longer than forty days. The number is approximative, for spiritual
purposes.
Are the
Sundays in Lent part of Lent?
Yes. Furthermore, Sundays of this time of year are
called the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent. The Sixth Sunday, on which Holy Week begins,
is called, "Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.4
Why is the
number forty significant?
Ashes
symbolized mourning, mortality and penance. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai put
on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of King Ahasuerus to kill
all of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire (Esther
4:1). Anna the Prophetess fasted to prepare herself for the coming
of the Messiah (Lk 2:37), Job repented in sackcloth and ashes (Job 42:6). Prophesying the Babylonian captivity
of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest
prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel
9:3). Jesus made reference to ashes, "If the miracles worked in
you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth
and ashes long ago" (Matthew 11:21).5
Pope
Benedict explains:
Lent
recalls the forty days of our Lord’s fasting in the desert, which He undertook
before entering into His public ministry. We read in the Gospel: “Jesus was led
up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2). Like
Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law (cf. Ex 34,28) and
Elijah’s fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (cf. 1 Kings19,8), Jesus,
too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself for the mission that lay
before Him, marked at the start by a serious battle with the tempter.6
What are
the rules for fasting in Lent?
Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast. The law of fast binds those who are
from 18 to 59 years old, unless they are excused for a sufficient reason (e.g.,
a medical condition that requires more frequent food, etc.).
The
law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking
some food in the morning and evening, observing—as far as quantity and quality
are concerned—approved local custom.7 Fasting has its health benefits, but it’s not
the same as dieting. Fasting is something spiritual and far more positive.
Fasting is a spiritual feast. It does for the soul what food does for the body. The Bible spells out specific spiritual
benefits of fasting. It produces humility (Ps 69:10). It shows our sorrow for
our sins (1 Sam 7:6). It clears a path to God (Dan 9:3). It is a means of
discerning God’s will (Ezr 8:21) and a powerful method of prayer (8:23). It’s a
mark of true conversion (Jl 2:12).8
What are
the rules for abstinence in Lent?
Ash
Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence (as well as Good
Friday). An exception is if a solemnity falls on a Friday, but no solemnities
fall on Fridays in 2015, so all Fridays are days of abstinence.
The
law of abstinence binds those who are 14 years old or older.
The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat,
but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat.9
Do you
have to give up something for Lent? If you...
The
traditional custom of giving up something for Lent is voluntary. Consequently,
if you give something up, you set the parameters. If you choose to allow
yourself to have it on Sundays as to promote joy on this holy day, that is up
to you.
1 Article
27: http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWLITYR.HTM
3 Article
28: http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWLITYR.HTM
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