The Season of Lent
Posted on Feb 14, 2024
What is Lent?
Lent is the forty-day liturgical season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where he endured temptations by Satan. Lent is often described as a time of preparation, and an opportunity to build a deeper relationship with God. This means that it’s a time for personal reflection as we prepare our hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when we receive the ashes that are made from the dried palms of the previous year’s Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. This is an outward sign of our faith and reminds us to turn away from poor choices and to follow the Gospel and the ways of Jesus.
How can my family participate in Lent?
The three main things people focus on during Lent are prayer, fasting, and giving.
- Prayer during Lent focuses on our need for God’s forgiveness. It’s also about repenting (turning away from our sins) and receiving God’s mercy and love.
- Fasting, or giving something up, is a very common practice during Lent. The idea is that giving up something that’s a regular part of life, like eating dessert or scrolling through Facebook, can be a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. That time can also be replaced with more time connecting with God.
- Doing something good for others is a way to respond to God’s grace, generosity and love. For example, some people spend time volunteering or donate money they would normally use to buy something, like a morning coffee.
In our Catholic schools, staff and students will observe our Catholic traditions and practices over the season of Lent. In doing so, they have the opportunity to come into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
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