What is Lent?
It's the 40-day period of repentance and renewal preceding Easter.
Liturgically, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the Easter Service. Holy Week commemorates Christ's last week of life on earth. It's the final, most important part of Lent.
Lent is a SPECIAL TIME for
- meditation,prayer and penitential practices
- increased understanding of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection
- renewal of baptismal vows and recommitment to the Christian life
It can be understood from the important Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday. That spirit is also expressed in the Opening Prayer for Ash Wednesday, " Lord, protect us in our struggle against evil. As we begin the discipline of Lent, make this season holy by self-denial." The prayer over the Gift for Ash Wednesday adds:" Lord, help us to resist temptation by our Lenten works of charity and penance."
The Station of the Cross
A helpful devotion, particularly during Lent, is the Way of the Cross. Since the 14th Century the Franciscan Fathers have made this a popular Catholic devotion. It calls for meditation at the 14th 'station' which commemorate the Lord's journey to death and burial. An excellent Lenten practice is to make the Stations of the Cross daily or weekly.
Ashes: The ashes we receive on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday are an annual reminder of the passage of time and our constant need of repentance. Now we acknowledge publicly that we are all sinners and in need of repentance. Carrying the ashes on our foreheads indicates our willingness to do penance for our sins. The words used as the ashes are placed provide a timely reflection. "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return" or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."
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