What is Lent?
The season of Lent is a Catholic liturgical season consisting of forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence beginning at Ash Wednesday and concluding at sundown on Holy Thursday. The official liturgical color for the season of Lent is violet. Lent begins on March 5, 2014.
The observance of Lent is related to the celebration of Easter. In the first three centuries of the Christian era, most Christians prepared for Easter by fasting and praying for three days. In some places this was extended to the entire week before Easter (now known as “Holy Week”). There is evidence that in Rome, the length of preparation was three weeks.
The word derives from the Middle English word lenten, meaning springtime – the time of lengthening days. There is biblical support for doing penance, but the season of Lent, like all Catholic liturgical seasons, developed over time. In its early three-week form, Lent was the period of intense spiritual and liturgical preparation for catechumens before they were baptized at Easter. Many members of the community imitated this time of preparation with the catechumens.
By the fourth century (when Christianity was legalized) Lent had developed into its current length of forty days, the length of the fast and temptation of Jesus in the desert (cf. Luke 4:1-13). Recently, research has suggested that the development of Lent was also influenced by the forty-day span of fasting practiced by many in the early Church (especially monks). This fast, beginning right after Epiphany (January 6th) stressed prayer and penance. Once most people were Christian and baptized as infants, Lent lost the connection to the preparation of catechumens and the themes of repentance and fasting became dominant.
When does Lent begin?
Traditionally, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Since this is more than forty days, some contend that Sundays are not counted and that Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are counted instead. Others say that it begins on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday. No one is exactly sure how Ash Wednesday became the first day of Lent.
Many Catholics were taught as children to “give up something” for Lent. The sacrifices in Lent are really penance, in the same spirit as the Ninehvites that repented at the preaching of Jonah. Throughout our history, Christians have found prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to be an important part of repentance and renewal. Many Catholics now add something during Lent rather than giving up something, either to address personal habits that need work or to add some outreach to others in need.
It is not necessary to “give up something” but it would be a tragedy to do nothing.
Do Sundays count as a part of Lent?
Ash Wednesday
It is impossible to determine when the seventh Wednesday before Easter was designated as the beginning of the preparation period before Easter. It does date from at least the fourth century. During that century, penitents looking for forgiveness and re-entry into the community would dress in sackcloth and sprinkle ashes to show their repentance. This custom certainly predates Christianity as can be seen by references in the Hebrew Scriptures (cf. Esther 4:2-3; Danie19:3; Jonah 3:6) and Christian Bible (cf. Matthew 11:21).
There is no doubt that the custom of distributing ashes to everyone on Ash Wednesday came from imitation of the practice of wearing ashes by public penitents. As Lent increasingly focused on the themes of repentance and renewal, Christians sensed their own need for repentance. The practice of distribution of ashes to all members of the community is mentioned in official documents of 1091 (Cf. Synod of Benventum, 1091 Manse, XX, 739) although nearly a hundred years earlier it is already assumed in a homily of the period.
Lenten Regulations
The Catholic Church, in an attempt to help Catholics do at least a minimum during Lent, asks all Catholics to fast and abstain from meat on certain days. Fasting means to limit food to one full meal a day with the possibility of two smaller meals (not adding up to a full meal) as needed. Abstinence means not eating meat, although fish is allowed. Catholics are asked to observe all days of fasting and abstience which is one of the precepts of the Church.
Catholics 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics
between the ages of 14 and 59 are also to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If one’s work or health make it inadvisable to fast or abstain from meat, they are not obligated to do so.
At one time, people gave up all dairy products and meat during all of the Lenten season. Since chickens continue to produce eggs and cows milk, the custom developed to make the milk into cheese and color the eggs so that when Easter arrived, no food would be wasted.
Other Definitions Concerning Lent
- Carnival
- Originally a celebration just before Lent. Carnival is Latin for “farewell to meat.”
- Laetare Sunday
- The fourth Sunday of Lent, which marks the halfway point, celebrated with rose vestments instead of the usual violet.
- Maundy Thursday
- An ancient English name for Holy Thursday. It comes from the Latin, Mandatum novum da nobis (“I give you a new commandment,” John 13:34) that began the ancient foot-washing ceremony.
- Palm Sunday
- The celebration of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem before he was arrested. In Scripture, people placed palm branches on the road as Jesus road on a donkey into Jerusalem.
- Passion Sunday
- The Sunday before Easter (also called “Palm Sunday”) in which the passion of the Lord (the story of Jesus’ arrest and death) is traditionally read.
- Spy Wednesday
- A name for the Wednesday of Holy Week that alludes to Judas agreeing with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus.
- Triduum
- The “Great Three Days” -the three-part celebration beginning with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, continuing with The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and concluding with the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
About Jon Jakoblich
my first real boyfriend when i was in high school (a long time ago) was catholic. he was living with my friend Chuck’s family and I had no idea about lent and I found out my then boyfriend decided for lent, he would sacrifice talking to me on the phone. LOL. At the time I was furious, since it felt like punishment. going from talking every day to a 40 day period without it had me pretty gutted, also the fact that he made that decision without even talk g to me about it.
on one hand it’s sort of a compliment, but I felt disrespected, as I do not follow the faith and I never would have made that decision if I did.
the topic of lent just came up with my family today so i was reminded of this, I am curious what other folks think of that decision, if it was even fair to involve someone else without their consent. personally I still think, 20 years later, that it was rude.
I’m confused: Is Lent over on Holy Thursday, but you follow the Lenten sacrifice you made until sunset on Holy Saturday because the Triduum is a penitential time? I always thought Lent was over on Easter Sunday, but now I am being told it is over on Wednesday of Holy Week? Please help.
Lent ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Technically you need not follow your Lenten sacrifice any more, but Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence (from meat).
If you give something up for lent are
you allowed to Cheat on Sundays?
Actually, it’s not cheating! http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/are-sundays-a-part-of-lent/
Good Morning Jon, I was born and raised Catholic. We practice Lent every year. Get our ashes on Ash Wednesday. And I don’t eat or drink anything until 8:00 p.m. On Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. And I don’t meat on those days or any friday during lent. But last friday I ate tartar sauce with my fish, a little cheese dip and cole slaw. I’m confused and feel kinda bad because I don’t remember if food products made with dairy and or eggs. Can be eaten on Lent fridays. I can’t seem to get the right answer online. Some Catholic websites and forums say eating food products made with dairy and or eggs can be eaten on Lent Fridays cause it’s not the flesh of the animals. But other sites say we can’t eat dairy and egg products during fridays on lent. I’m not sure what to do now? Thanks
I’ve never understood the restriction to be on all animal products, just animal meats.
Why is lent not in the bible
Good morning Jon,
My boyfriend was born and raised Catholic. His mother is a huge catholic beliver. When his mom is home for the summer months he goes to church sometimes. His daughter was born and raised catholic also. She is getting married next year but not in a church. My boyfriends mom is very upset about this but my boyfriend doesnt feel what the big deal is. I told him thats because his mom has true beliefs and i feel he doesnt. Now its ‘lent’ and he told me no red meat. From what i read its no meat except fish. He told me if we ever get married i need to be a part of the catholic church. I dont have an issue with that but i do have an issue being asked to join the church when he doesnt truly follow the catholic religion. Ive been surrounded by people all my life who call themselves ‘Catholics’ but i feel they are hipacrits. They never go to church. Please give me your input. Im confused on how to feel about getting involved in the catholic church when i will have no support at home.
Karen, as Mother Angelica used to reply when people told her they couldn’t come to the Catholic Church because they were all hypoprites.. “One more hypocrite won’t huirt”.
In other words, we’re all “hypocrites” or sinners, nobody is perfect and so you might as well be in the only Church that Christ founded.
My name is Kiana and my mom made me look up Lent and catholicism and this article made it easier for me to understand especially the meanings behind w,the names of the different days. Thankyou and godbless. Happy Lent!
I am not sure how things changed over the years regarding Lent. But we fast and adhere only to a vegan diet. It was on Good Friday where we eat fish and Easter Sunday lamb was our first meat meal since Shrove Tuesday known as martedì grasso known as mardi gras here or carnevale. Are there different levels of Catholic Lent? I grew up in Italy from a more traditional background and this was how we always practised Lent and I continue this tradition today.
Hi Maddalena. I think that this is one way that culture can influence the faith. This website is written from my experiences as a United States Catholic where some of the traditions surrounding Lent are different. In the Midwest, for instance, it is a big deal to go out for a fish fry on Fridays, especially in Lent. We have no carnevale culturally. Your tradition is beautiful. God Bless.
More information on Ashes and their significance.
Hi Mary. Please check out my new Ash Wednesday post. Thanks!
http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/ash-wednesday/
jon i would like to know if crackers and biscuits are the same as cookies
i was thinking of giving up cookies, cake and candy for lent
do you consider biscuits and crackers to be the same as bakery or packaged cookies like oreos , choc
chips etc..
Hi Roseann. Personally I do not see them as the same, but if they are a stumbling block for you and giving them up along with desserts/sweets brings you closer to God then it would be good to do that.
thank you jon for the insight ,.
how do catholics celebrate lent in chruches
Could you clarify your question?
the catholic church restricts eating of meat on ash Wednesday and good Friday. Any other type of fasting and abstinence can be done during the other days of lent
Good morning, Jon.
I would like to know if it is accepted to eat meat on the Saturday before Passion Sunday.
Giselle DiSantis
Florida
I do not believe there is a restriction on any day other than Friday.