1. X Lent X Lent X Lent X
What is Lent?
Lent is a time of intensified reflection, of penance, and of preparation for Easter. For forty days, we
reflect on our relationships to God, to others (individually and in society), to our own selves, and to
the resources God has given to us. When we find ways in which we have failed to be the people
God asks us to be, we undertake acts of penance, that is, signs of our contrition and our willingness
to be changed. In that same spirit, many Catholics also participate in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation during Lent. In these ways, we prepare ourselves for the Easter Triduum– the three
days that extend from the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper to the evening of Easter Day–
and the fifty days of the Easter Season.
Prayer, Fasting, and Good Works
The Church asks us to participate in the three hallmarks of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
(charitable works and contributions). In these ways we come to a deeper understanding of our lives
as Christians and become more and more the people that God has called us to be.
What does the Church mean by fasting? When should I fast, and why?
The Catholic practice of fasting can mean different things for different people. For healthy adults it
means eating no more than three simple meals: one full meal and two meals that, together, make up
the equivalent of a whole meal. Desserts and snacks are not part of the fast day. (A traditional
Jewish fast is more stringent; it involves neither eating nor drinking from one sundown to the next.)
Someone struggling with an eating disorder should not fast; neither should anyone who is sick or
elderly. We do not fast merely to deny ourselves what our body naturally needs. Instead, we fast to
recognize our dependence on God and the good things that God provides for us. By experiencing
bodily hunger we are reminded of our ultimate hunger for God; hunger pangs throughout the day
remind us of our usual blessings and, whatever we are doing, keep us focused on the significance of
the day. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the two universal fast days of the Catholic Church.
Some people choose to fast on other days as well. Because it is a time of celebration, we do not fast
during the Easter season.
What does the Church mean by abstinence? When should I abstain, and why?
The Catholic practice of abstinence typically involves refraining from eating meat. In many
cultures, eating meat is a sign of plenty; the poor are unable to afford it. We abstain in order to
remind us of our ultimate dependence on God–not on the things of this world. We also abstain in
order to practice living more simple lives, with less waste and fewer selfish pleasures. Catholics are
asked to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays in Lent. Some people choose to
abstain from various foods and practices on other days as well.
Giving up or Doing more?
You may have been taught to “give up something for Lent.” However, it is just as appropriate to
take on a new practice or discipline, or to intensify your efforts in some endeavor. Whichever the
case, you’ll want to consider what would be an appropriate offering to God at this time in your life.
If you simply give up donuts for Lent, the meaning of Easter for you may be little more than “I get
to eat donuts.” But, if giving up donuts is part of an overall effort to eat more healthful foods or if
you use the money you saved to contribute to the poor, maybe you will make one of these practices
part of your life even after Easter. In this way, your Lenten discipline can help to shape who you are
as a Christian.
40 Days?
Some people have noted that, leaving out the Sundays, the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter
number 40. However, it is probably most consistent with historical practice to count the 40 days of
Lent from the first Sunday of Lent to Holy Thursday--including neither the “introductory” period
from Ash Wednesday to the following Saturday nor the days of the Triduum. The 50 days of the
Easter season are seen as extending the Easter feast even longer than the Lenten days of self-denial.
Do Sundays count?
Some people do not undertake the same Lenten disciplines on Sundays. They argue that, because
every Sunday is like a “little Easter,” a day when Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, one
should not undertake anything that seems penitential. Disciplines that build positive habits--not just
denying oneself reasonable pleasures--may continue on Sunday. You may be the judge as to what
practices will constitute a “good Lent” for you.