Lent – A Season of Reflection, Renewal, and Preparation.
Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), February 14 – Thursday, March 28
Mass Schedule / confession schedule - examination of conscience / adoration / Prayers / stations of the cross
Daily Inspiration for Your Lenten Journey, Click here
Inspiración diaria para tu caminar en Cuaresma, haga clic aquí
Overview
Lent derives from the Anglo-Saxon words lencten (Spring) and lenctentid (Springtime / March). Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and runs through the Thursday prior to Easter Sunday. Starting that Thursday evening the “forty days” of Lent are complete and the Triduum begins – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The three traditional pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through the three pillars of Lent, we journey to develop a closer relationship to God. The ~40 days of Lent should be filled with reflection, service, and prayer.
The Lenten journey is an opportunity for spiritual growth and presumes that the faithful will experience movement from one state to another. For some they may find themselves troubled and anxious at the beginning of Lent because of some life choice or unanswered question. The goal by the end of Lent is to experience a conversion or perhaps simply understanding and acceptance. During Lent the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment – we are not merely called to abstain from sin, but to undergo a true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ.
Key Milestones:
• Ash Wednesday – February 14, 2024
• Holy Week – March 24-30, 2024
• Palm Sunday – March 24, 2024
• Chrism Mass (Traditionally Thursday of Holy Week) – March 28, 2024
• Triduum
Holy Thursday – March 28, 2024
Good Friday – March 29, 2024
Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil – March 30, 2024
• Feast Days
02/23: Saint Polycarp
02/27: Saint Gregory of Narek
03/03: Saint Katherine Drexel
03/04: Saint Casimir
03/07: Saints Perpetua and Felicity
03/08: Saint John of God
03/17: Saint Patrick
03/18: Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
03/19/2024: St. Joseph (Solemnity)
03/23: Saint Turibus of Mogrovejo
03/25/2024: Saint Dismas
04/08/2024: The Annunciation (Solemnity)
Lenten History
• In the early Church preparation for Easter usually covered 1-2 days as some practiced a 40 hour fast prior to the Easter feast.
• It was the council of Nicaea in AD 325 (the first Church Council) that first formalized a 40-day Lenten period.
• At one point in Church history Lent was a significant period of penance – Sinners would don ashes and sackcloth and stand in front of the Church to do penance for the entire Lenten period prior to the Triduum.
• The Lenten period quickly became associated with baptism since Easter was the great baptismal feast – those preparing for baptism participated in the Lenten preparation and those already baptized joined them to prepare for Easter.
What is Required?
• Fasting and Abstinence (from meat) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for those 18-59 for whom fasting would not present a physical danger.
• Abstinence (from meat) on all other Fridays of lent for those 18-59 for whom fasting would not present a physical danger.
What is Suggested?
• Regular examination of conscience and sacramental confession.
• Self-Denial - Something good (only good things should be offered to God) to which we may be unduly attached.
• Model Jesus in his time in the desert.
• Recognize that those attachments are unhealthy – we give them to God to learn not to put anything in place of God in our lives.
What is Practiced?
• Sacrifices
• Time (volunteer)
• Talent (leverage your skills for the good of the Church)
• Treasure (almsgiving, aid to the poor)
• Attending Daily Mass
• Praying of the Rosary – Sorrowful Mysteries
• Reading of the daily Gospel passage
• Praying the Stations of the Cross
• Reading a Catholic Book of Daily Lenten Devotion
• Extending daily prayer
• Disconnecting from social media and News
• Healthy family meals
• Forgive and pray for those that hurt you
• Praying for our Priests and Religious Leaders