Courtesy The Island - By Rev. Fr. Thamil Nesan
Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent begins on 9 March 2011 and ends on 23 April 2011, which is the day before Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar.
In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 21 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper. In most churches, the decorations are purple, the royal color, to prepare for the King.
By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
Read moreDuring the 40 days of Lent, Christians remember the time when Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray before beginning his work for God. During this time Jesus was tempted several times by Satan, but was able to resist.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. On Ash Wednesday many western Christian churches hold services during which Christians are marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes. This is a sign of saying sorry to God for any wrong doing (penitence) and mortality. The ashes come from burning the palm crosses from Palm Sunday of the previous year.
Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."
Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.
The Origin of Lent
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.
Lent was traditionally an important time for people preparing to become Christians. Now, new Christians are baptized at any time through the year. This was not always so. In early times Christians would be baptized at Easter - at dawn on Easter Day. The time spent preparing for this was very important and this added to the importance of Lent. When it became popular for babies or infants to be baptized at any time in the year the importance of Lent as a training period for new Christians lessened.
The purpose of Lent
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "the real aim of Lent is, above all else, to prepare men for the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Christ…the better the preparation the more effective the celebration will be. One can effectively relive the mystery only with purified mind and heart. The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification by weaning men from sin and selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in them the desire to do God’s will and to make His kingdom come by making it come first of all in their hearts."
Fasting during Lent
Lent is a time of giving things up. For Christians, it is one way of remembering the time Jesus’ fasted in the desert and is a test of self-discipline.
There are many foods that some Christians do not eat in Lent, such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. Some Christians just give up something they really enjoy such as cakes or chocolate. Many Christians focus with a fast on Ash Wednesday and again on Good Friday (22nd April 2011).
Some will fast for the time between Ash Wednesday and up to Easter, others don’t fast on Sundays as Sunday can be considered to be a feast day. There are various ways of fasting, some people will choose to give up bad habits or certain foods and drinks or meals, where as others prefer to see Lent as a way to help others, pray for others, focus on praying for others or take up something new. There are many Christians who attempt to do both.
The concept of fasting for 40 days is to reflect the 40 days Jesus’ fasted in the desert. Christians treat this time as a way of preparation to Easter and fasting is a recognized way of helping people to focus on their spiritual life and prayer.
There are other Biblical references to the importance of 40 days. The flood in the book of Genesis was 40 days. The Hebrews were in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the promised land. Moses fasted for 40 days prior to receiving the 10 Commandments.
