LENT

The central mystery that gives meaning to the Christian life is the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection: The Paschal Mystery (“paschal”= passage = from death into life). This central event in the life of a Christian gives the focus and “theme” for the whole liturgical year. It is the only theme at the heart of every Sunday and weekday celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

The Season of Lent and Easter, is the annual celebration of this Paschal Mystery and as such we immerse ourselves in a profound and rich experience of God’s saving grace.  The entire Paschal Season begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with Pentecost. 

The mystery of our salvation unfolds visibly and spiritually as we respond to God’s call to renew and enliven our faith through reconciliation, forgiveness, and discipleship.  This a time to look face to face at our own final death and at the call “to die” or to “give of ourselves” every day, with the joyful assurance of God’s loving mercy and hope of resurrection.

        Duration of the Lenten Season (Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday)

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday evening before the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper. During this time we are called to repentance, and to strengthen our baptismal commitment. It is a 40-day retreat in preparation for the experience of Easter. During Lent we recall that the Baptism of Jesus is connected with his journey into the desert for 40 days. He entered the desert to fast and pray and to prepare for his mission to bring God’s compassionate love to us, especially through his cross and resurrection.

Fasting,  Prayer,  and  Almsgiving  are traditionally the central disciplines asked of us to begin our journey into the Easter experience. Although we fast in these forty days from the Alleluia and Gloria, Lent is still a time to rejoice because we have the opportunity to open ourselves to the glory of God’s mercy and we begin to taste the promise of hope for the resurrection.

        The Three Disciplines of Lent

Lent gives us three disciplines to practice which correspond to the three fundamental relationships:  fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.  Prayer  expresses our relationship with God.  Fasting expresses our relationship with the world.  Almsgiving expresses our relationship with others through merciful or compassionate giving. We are frequently tempted to neglect these fundamental relationships in our lives. As Christians we must die, with Christ’s power, to such temptations and to sin. We are called to rise above this to practice the love of God, “poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Suggestions...

• Prayer: To pray always keeps us in communication with God!

. The center of all prayer:  attending & participating at Sunday Mass, every Sunday
. Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent (12 noon or 6 pm)

. Increase daily prayer setting up specific time

. Read and pray the scriptures, including the psalms & the Daily Mass and Sunday

  readings.

. Recite memorized prayers:  Rosary, Novenas, others

. The Jesus Prayer: “Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.” (shorter

  version:  “Jesus, have mercy”)

. Just converse with God:  petition and thanks with own words

• Fasting: Fasting is an act of selflessness: a symbol of surrender to the love of God 

.  Fasting from food involves eating less. The two required fast days of the Church

  are
.  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence from meat is required on all Fridays

  during Lent.
.  Fasting from other things that are “too much” is worth considering: too much TV,

  computer time, shopping, etc.

.  A good Lenten practice: reduce over-consumption of food & other goods as

  encouraged by our “consumer-oriented society”

• Almsgiving: Compassionate giving turns us outwards and keeps us away from self-                 centeredness. The most traditional ways of almsgiving is to give money, clothing,

  and food for the poor. Our parish provides ways to do this. Get involved!

  Consider giving away some material good each day during Lent. You may collect it in

  one place in your home to be taken to the Church or to other charity of

  your choice. Acts of kindness: Compassionate giving also includes showing

  kindness to others.

Lent 2027: Begins on Ash Wednesday February 10