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Lent

Lent is a 40-day period of preparation before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending at noon on Holy Saturday, excluding the Sundays. It involves practices such as fasting, prayer, and acts of repentance, symbolized by the marking of ashes on the forehead, which signifies belonging to Jesus and serves as a reminder of mortality. The season encourages personal reflection and spiritual growth, culminating in the celebration of Easter.

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June Caesar Olores
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19 views24 pages

Lent

Lent is a 40-day period of preparation before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending at noon on Holy Saturday, excluding the Sundays. It involves practices such as fasting, prayer, and acts of repentance, symbolized by the marking of ashes on the forehead, which signifies belonging to Jesus and serves as a reminder of mortality. The season encourages personal reflection and spiritual growth, culminating in the celebration of Easter.

Uploaded by

June Caesar Olores
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LENT

What is Lent?

Historically,
Lent is the
40-day period before
Easter, which the Church
uses to prepare for the
celebration of our Lord
When does Lent begin?

Lent begins on Ash


Wednesday, which is the day
on which they faithful have
their foreheads signed with
ashes in the form of a Cross
It ends at noon on
Holy Saturday. The 40
days excludes the
five Sundays of Lent.
Why do Catholics have
their foreheads marked
with a cross on Ash
Wednesday?
Thissymbolizes that the person
belongs to Jesus Christ, who died
on a Cross.
Do not harm the earth or the
"

sea or the trees, till we have


sealed the servants of our God
upon their foreheads." (Rev 7:3)
Why is the signing done with ashes?

 ashes are a biblical symbol of penance.


In Bible times the custom was to fast, wear
sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put
dust and ashes on one's head.
Ash Wednesday is a day not
only for putting ashes on one's
head, but also a day of fasting.
Is there another significance to the
ashes?

 Yes. They also symbolize death and


so remind us of our mortality.
 It is thus a reminder of our mortality
and our need to repent before this
life is over and we face our Creator.
Where do the ashes used on Ash
Wednesday come from?

They are made by burning palm


fronds which have been saved
from the previous year's Palm
Sunday, they are then blessed by
a priest.
Why is Lent forty days long?

Because 40 days is a traditional


number of discipline, devotion,
and preparation in the Bible.
 Moses stayed on the Mountain of God 40 days (Ex
24:18, 34:28)
 Elijah traveled 40 days before he reached the cave
where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8)
 Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness praying and
fasting (Matt 4:2)
Lent’s name is a derivative of the
Latin term, Quadragesima, or "the
forty days."
On what basis does the Church have
the authority to establish days of fast
and abstinence?

 On the authority of Jesus Christ who told


the leaders of His Church, "Whatever you
bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be
loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19, 18:18).
In addition to Ash Wednesday, are
any other days during Lent days of fast
or abstinence?

 Yes. All Fridays during Lent are days of


abstinence. Also, Good Friday, the day on
which Christ was crucified, is another day of
both fast and abstinence. All days in Lent are
appropriate for fasting or abstaining, but canon
law does not require fasting on those days.
Such fasting or abstinence is voluntary, like a
freewill offering.
Why are Fridays during Lent days of
abstinence?

 Jesus
died for our sins on Friday, making it
an especially appropriate day of
mourning our sins (just as Sunday, the day
on which he rose for our salvation is an
especially appropriate day to rejoice) by
denying ourselves something we enjoy.
Are acts of repentance appropriate
on other days during Lent?

"AllFridays through the year and


the time of Lent are penitential
days and time throughout the
universal Church" (CIC 1250).
Practices and Traditions

 Stations of the Cross: A devotional practice


involving meditation on the events leading up
to Jesus' crucifixion.
 Lenten Devotions: Many Christians follow
specific devotional practices, such as reading
scripture, attending additional church services,
or participating in spiritual retreats.
Symbolism of Lent

 Purple:
The liturgical color of Lent symbolizes
penance, preparation, and royalty
(anticipating the resurrection of Christ).
 Cross:
The central symbol of Christianity,
reminding believers of Jesus' sacrifice and
redemption.
 Empty Tomb:
Reflects the anticipation of Easter and
the hope of resurrection.
Personal Reflection and Growth

 Lent provides an opportunity for personal


reflection and spiritual growth.
 It encourages believers to examine their
lives, repent of their sins, and renew their
commitment to God.
Conclusion

 Lent is a meaningful season in the Christian


calendar, emphasizing reflection, repentance,
and renewal
 As we journey through Lent, may we deepen
our relationship with God, grow in faith, and
prepare our hearts to celebrate the joy of
Easter.
Activity

 Imagine you are a member of a community that includes


individuals from various religious backgrounds. You have been
asked to explain the significance of Lent to your non-Christian
friends and neighbors. In your essay, discuss the origins of Lent, its
duration and timing, and the key observances associated with the
season. Additionally, explain the symbolism behind practices such
as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving during Lent, and how these
practices contribute to personal reflection, repentance, and
spiritual growth. Consider how you can present this information in a
respectful and inclusive manner that fosters understanding and
appreciation for the Christian tradition of Lent among individuals
from diverse religious backgrounds.

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