Lenten Season

The key to compassionate understanding   the meaning of Lent is simple: Baptism. Preparation for Baptism and for renewing baptismal charge lies at the affection of the season. Since the second Vatican Council, the Church has reemphasized the baptismal appearance of Lent, especially through the restoration of the Catechumenate and its Lenten rituals. Our claiming today is to renew our compassionate of  important season of the Church year and to see how we can accommodate our claimed practices into this renewed perspective. 

Why is Baptism so important in our Lenten understanding? Lent as a 40-day season developed in the fourth century from three merging sources. The first was the prehistoric paschal fast that began as a two-day acknowledgment before Easter but was gradually lengthened to 40 days. The second was the catechumenate as a method of preparation for Baptism. The third was the Order of Penitents, which was modeled on the catechumenate and sought a second conversion for those who had fallen back into serious sin after Baptism. As the catechumens (candidates for Baptism) entered their final period of preparation for Baptism, the penitents and the rest of community accompanied them on their journey and able to renew their baptismal vows at Easter.

 Why do we put ash on our forehead?

Ashes are applied to our forehead in the sign of the cross as the words, "Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return" are announced to us. The added formula which is used, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel “emphasizes our call to continual conversion and holiness of life. This act symbolizes our bloodshed as able-bodied as our charge for advancing repentance. It is a reminder that this activity is abbreviate and alone an anxiety of what we shall become through the accretion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The plan of our accretion will not be complete until we are raised from the dead, in resurrected bodies like his own and alleged to the eternal communion of heaven.

What are the significances of the 40 weekdays before Easter?

The 40 days of Lent, which precedes Easter is based on two Biblical accounts: the 40 years of wilderness abnormality by the Israelites and our Lord's 40 days  in the wilderness at which point He was tempted by Satan.

Each year the Church observes Lent where we, like Israel and our Lord, are tested. We participate in abstinence, times of fasting, acknowledgment and acts of benevolence to strengthen our acceptance and devotional disciplines. The ambition of every Christian is to leave Lent a stronger and added basic being of acceptance than if we entered. 

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The seasons and days of penance in the advance of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's atoning practice. These times are decidedly adapted for  spiritual  exercises, atoning liturgies and pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary abandonment such as fasting and almsgiving, and congenial administration (charitable and missionary works)."

 

When does Lent end?

Lent clearly ends on Holy Thursday. That is when  the "Triduum", abundant three Days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday  occur leading Easter. Easter is not alone a day but an Octave (eight day) anniversary leading to a Season of the Church, Easter Season, which ends on Pentecost.