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“Lent” is derived from the Middle English“Lente” which means springtime. In the life of the church Lent is the 40-day period of repentence and renewal preceeding Easter.

Lent began on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday (April 8). Holy Week (the week before Easter) commemorates Christ’s last week of life on earth. It is the final and most important part of Lent.

In the early Church, baptism and penance were key Lenten themes. During Lent, candidates prepared for Easter baptism and people did public penance for serious sins.

In the later years, the emphasis gradually shifted to private penance. Lent became a time of forgiveness and reconciliation for those who acknowledged their sinfulness.

During the Middle Ages strict 40-day fasts (abstinence from meat and other foods), not attending festivities, etc., were obligatory for Christians. Gradually these practices became less rigid.

Today the emphasis has shifted from long periods of fasting to prayer, meditation, and refl ection on the meaning of Easter. Lent remains important as a time of preparation for and renewal of baptism.

Traditional Lenten practices can help make Lent more meaningful. Fasting can be a way to cleanse body and mind. Self-denial strengthens self-discipline and self-control. Doing good deeds strengthens Christian living and encourages compassion and charity in our daily life. Prayer and refl ection help us learn more about God and about ourself. Christian Study will help increase our understanding of the Bible and Christianity, link that understanding to our daily life, and strengthen our faith and hope. Church Activities like regular attendance at worship services and special services during Holy Week will help renew and strengthen our faith, and will enhance a sense of fellowship and joyful hope.

Lent is a time of renewal and preparation. Be ready for Easter and its promises by choosing penitential practices that encourage inner renewal and reconciliation with God; set aside time for prayer, study, and participation in Lenten worship services; and meditate on Christ’s sacrifice and its meaning for us today.

Observing Lent can help us experience the full joy of Easter.