Origins and Observances of Lent
One of the most mysterious and often misunderstood seasons of the Catholic Church calendar is Lent, the period of 40 weekdays before Easter Sunday. To those of other faiths and beliefs, Lent seems strange and unnecessary but the season of Lent is a foundation of the Catholic faith. Lent is an observance of penance and prayer, a spiritual period in which practicing Catholics offer a spiritual tithe for the entire year.
The term “Lent” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word “Lencten” which referred to the lengthening of the day as spring approached. In Latin, still the official language of the Catholic Church, the word for Lent is “Quadrigesina” which means “forty”. The number forty is a significant one for several reasons.
One is that the forty days of penance and prayer commemorates the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his own ministry. Other Biblical events in which the number forty is significant include the Flood, the forty years that the Children of Israel wandered in the desert after Moses led them out of Egypt, and Elijah’s forty day spiritual retreat.
The customs associated with Lent have been part of the Catholic calendar since the earliest centuries of Christianity, Lent begins forty week days before Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the observance of Ash Wednesday.
On Ash Wednesday, devout Catholics attend a special Mass (church service) and receive ashes on their foreheads. A priest marks the sign of the cross upon the forehead as a reminder of human sin and death and as a symbol of our penitence. Ashes are from the burning of palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm or Passion Sunday. The tradition of ashes used as a mark of penance or sorrow come from the Jewish heritage of Christianity. In the Old Testament of the Bible, the use of ashes to mark repentance, sorrow, suffering, or sin is noted.
Catholics wear the mark of ashes today as reminder of sin and suffering. Ash Wednesday is one of the two days during the Lenten season in which fasting – abstaining from food – is required for faithful Catholics. Fasting means that just one meal may be eaten although two light meals are also allowed. Children, the elderly, and anyone with a medical condition are not required to fast. Meat – except for fish – is not allowed to be eaten. The same rules apply on Good Friday. Any Catholic should not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Until the 1960’s, it was customary for Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays but relaxed rules during the remainder of the year allow meat. Fridays were once observed as a special day of prayer and fasting because Jesus was crucified on Friday.
During the Middle Ages until the latter years of the Renaissance, it was customary for Catholics (who represented the majority of Christians during that time) to abstain from meat including eggs, milk, and cheese throughout Lent. Rules were later changed to exclude meat only and today it is just Fridays on which no meat is eaten.
Catholics also often offer a spiritual fast by giving up something during Lent. Children often abstain from candy during Lent and families can elect to limit something such as television viewing during the period. Families are encouraged to spend time in prayer and in Biblical readings. Some portions of the Mass – such as the Alleluia and the Gloria – are not used because Lent is a season of reflection and mourning rather than one of joy.
Fasting and the spiritual aspects of Lent are what gave rise to the traditions of carnival or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in many parts of the world. Fat Tuesday is the day prior to Ash Wednesday and is often observed by enjoying a last binge of eating, drinking, or celebration.
During Lent, there are six Sundays. The last Sunday in Lent is called Passion Sunday and reflects upon the passion of Christ during his last week. Also called Palm Sunday, the observance marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday make up what is called the Triduum. Easter Sunday is a joyful observance that marks Christ’s triumphant Resurrection. Seven Sundays of Easter are observed in the Catholic calendar and although each has significance, Easter Sunday as part of the Triduum is consider the most holy.
Although all Catholics may not participate in fasting, abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, or seek spiritual penance during the Lenten season, it remains one of the Catholic Church’s longest observances. Like many observances within that faith Lent hearkens to ancient traditions to commemorate events that focus on Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
The term “Lent” comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word “Lencten” which referred to the lengthening of the day as spring approached. In Latin, still the official language of the Catholic Church, the word for Lent is “Quadrigesina” which means “forty”. The number forty is a significant one for several reasons.
One is that the forty days of penance and prayer commemorates the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his own ministry. Other Biblical events in which the number forty is significant include the Flood, the forty years that the Children of Israel wandered in the desert after Moses led them out of Egypt, and Elijah’s forty day spiritual retreat.
The customs associated with Lent have been part of the Catholic calendar since the earliest centuries of Christianity, Lent begins forty week days before Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the observance of Ash Wednesday.
On Ash Wednesday, devout Catholics attend a special Mass (church service) and receive ashes on their foreheads. A priest marks the sign of the cross upon the forehead as a reminder of human sin and death and as a symbol of our penitence. Ashes are from the burning of palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm or Passion Sunday. The tradition of ashes used as a mark of penance or sorrow come from the Jewish heritage of Christianity. In the Old Testament of the Bible, the use of ashes to mark repentance, sorrow, suffering, or sin is noted.
Catholics wear the mark of ashes today as reminder of sin and suffering. Ash Wednesday is one of the two days during the Lenten season in which fasting – abstaining from food – is required for faithful Catholics. Fasting means that just one meal may be eaten although two light meals are also allowed. Children, the elderly, and anyone with a medical condition are not required to fast. Meat – except for fish – is not allowed to be eaten. The same rules apply on Good Friday. Any Catholic should not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Until the 1960’s, it was customary for Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays but relaxed rules during the remainder of the year allow meat. Fridays were once observed as a special day of prayer and fasting because Jesus was crucified on Friday.
During the Middle Ages until the latter years of the Renaissance, it was customary for Catholics (who represented the majority of Christians during that time) to abstain from meat including eggs, milk, and cheese throughout Lent. Rules were later changed to exclude meat only and today it is just Fridays on which no meat is eaten.
Catholics also often offer a spiritual fast by giving up something during Lent. Children often abstain from candy during Lent and families can elect to limit something such as television viewing during the period. Families are encouraged to spend time in prayer and in Biblical readings. Some portions of the Mass – such as the Alleluia and the Gloria – are not used because Lent is a season of reflection and mourning rather than one of joy.
Fasting and the spiritual aspects of Lent are what gave rise to the traditions of carnival or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in many parts of the world. Fat Tuesday is the day prior to Ash Wednesday and is often observed by enjoying a last binge of eating, drinking, or celebration.
During Lent, there are six Sundays. The last Sunday in Lent is called Passion Sunday and reflects upon the passion of Christ during his last week. Also called Palm Sunday, the observance marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Catholic Church. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday make up what is called the Triduum. Easter Sunday is a joyful observance that marks Christ’s triumphant Resurrection. Seven Sundays of Easter are observed in the Catholic calendar and although each has significance, Easter Sunday as part of the Triduum is consider the most holy.
Although all Catholics may not participate in fasting, abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, or seek spiritual penance during the Lenten season, it remains one of the Catholic Church’s longest observances. Like many observances within that faith Lent hearkens to ancient traditions to commemorate events that focus on Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
