What is Lent?

Lent is the time between Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday when the Catholic Church and other Christian traditions enter into a time of penitence and preparation for the great feast of Easter

Catholics engage in the practice of fasting, alms-giving, and prayer during these 40 days. These practices help us deepen our relationship with God, recognize the great sacrifice that Jesus gave on the Cross, and prepare our hearts for the great Paschal Mystery that we celebrate worldwide on Easter.

Fasting and Absitnence

Catholics over the age of 18 up until 59 are asked to limit the amount of food they eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is about detachment - a way to reclaim balance in your life and help you grow in self-discipline. The rule of thumb is to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that, when added together, don't equal a full meal. Fasting is different from abstinence, which is not eating meat. This requirement is for Catholics aged 14 and older and pertains to Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in Lent. Abstinence was not done away with by Vatican II for the rest of the year outside of Lent, as many people might think. The faithful were released from abstaining from meat on Fridays outside of Lent, so long as they abstain from something else in its place - perhaps abstaining from social media as an example. Fasting does not have to be related to food only. Here is a list from the Blessed is She website on some ideas for fasting during Lent:

• Do not eat meat on an additional weekday

• Take the worst parking spot you can find

• Eat one less meal

• Read this book on intermittent fasting and consider trying it this Lent

• Set a daily timer for Facebook or your favorite social media fix

• Wake up an hour earlier than you usually do

• Don’t buy anything extra except food

• Don’t watch TV (or Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime)

• Turn off the radio in the car

• Eat more simply

• Give up caffeine or limit yourself to one cup of coffee each day

• Do not swear or gossip

Alms-Giving

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines almsgiving as providing for the Church's material needs according to their ability (CCC 2041-2043). However, almsgiving is more than just collecting money in a rice bow; almsgiving pleases God when we act with a heart of justice and care for our neighbor. We should learn to be generous with our almsgiving so that we rely more on God to meet our needs than providing for ourselves while forgetting those less fortunate than we are. Some ideas on almsgiving as found on the Blessed is She website:

• Do not use your credit card during Lent; only pay with cash

• Each day of Lent, write an affirmation note to someone special in your life

• Give up downloading apps, games, or music to your phone

• If you like texting or talking on the phone, write more letters

• Make a meal for an elderly neighbor

• Show an act of kindness to a family member each day

• Participate in the 40 bags in 40 days challenge

• Show an act of kindness to someone who is difficult to like

• Give up complaining; take up gratitude instead

• Give up online shopping

• Raise funds for organizations like Heifer International to help low-income farmers secure livelihood

Prayer

Lent is a great time to increase your prayer life. It is a time for self-examination and looking for areas we can work on to become the best versions of ourselves. Many people begin the season of Lent by attending an Ash Wednesday Mass. Often, parishes will have a Stations of the Cross service to reflect on the decisive moments that led to Christ's death on the cross. Another good prayer practice during Lent is to pray the 7 Sorrows Rosary. Finally, here are some ways to improve your prayer life during Lent from the Blessed is She website:

• Count your daily gratefuls in the shower or on the drive to work

• Go to daily Mass an extra day or two outside of Sunday

• Pray the Angelus at 12 p.m.

• Pray the Rosary as a family, or

• Pray the Rosary in your car by yourself

• Attend Mass in a different Catholic Rite or another language other than English

• Pray the Examen at the end of your day

• Read the Gospel of Mark for ten minutes each day

Lenten Colors

In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, the youngest children learn that Purple is for Preparation. Purple is the predominant color of Lent. It reminds us of the robe that Pontius Pilate had placed on Jesus before his death - it reminds us of Jesus' suffering and sacrifice. Purple is also a color associated with royalty, thus reminding us of the King of Kings.

The fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Laetere Sunday, is when the church is covered in rose - this is at the mid-point of our Lenten observations and a time of joy in knowing that Easter will be here soon.

Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, is represented by red, foreshadowing Jesus' death on the Cross. Red is also worn on Good Friday, emphasizing the significance of the crucifixion.

White is for celebration, which is what the children in a CGS Atrium will sing for you, and this is the color the Church wears on Holy Thursday, the institution of the Eucharist, and Easter Sunday. White symbolizes Jesus' triumph over death, the joy of His resurrection, and the purity of God. During the entire Easter season, we are reminded of this rejoicing and hope as the Church continues to don white.

7 Sorrows Rosary PDF