Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).
In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
Click on the live links for more information and resources
Ash Wednesday:
In the video below, Dr. Pitre gives insight into the Biblical foundation for Ash Wednesday, as well as the rationale and purpose of the season of Lent. He addresses questions such as:
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Why do you we use ashes?
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Why are we asked of the Church to increase our fasting, prayer, and almsgiving during Lent?
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Is Lent just about abstaining from a favorite food, or is there something more to it?
Video: Biblical Roots of Ash Wednesday
Video: The Significance of Ash Wednesday by Father Mike Schmitz
Fasting, Praying and Almsgiving:
During the season of lent, we are to increase our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. But why?
What is the Biblical basis for these practices and why these three actions specifically?
Dr. Pitre will show how the specific temptations of both Adam and Eve in the Garden and Jesus in the desert correspond to and are countered by these three practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Likewise, we are adjoining Jesus in his time in the desert through these actions in order to be like and follow the Master, the Teacher, the Lord, so as to detach ourselves from disordered desires for the good things in this world and attach ourselves more fully to the greatest good, God Himself.
Video: Why do we pray, fast and give alms?
Video: Fasting can change you forever by Father Mike Schmitz
Video: Four reasons for fasting by Father Mike Schmitz
Other resources for Lent:
Journey through Lent with Scott Hahn
Hallow App - Imitation of Christ