Lent

"The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father." 

(Pope Francis, Message for Lent, 2021). 

• Lent is the 40-day season that begins on Ash Wednesday (in 2024 that is on Feb. 14) and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday (in 2024 that is on March 28). Historically, and now, Lent is a period of preparation for those who will be baptized at Easter. For those of us already baptized Lent is a season that invites us to prepare for Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. It is an invitation to conversion and growth in our lives with the Lord.

• During Lent, you might notice that the church looks different than the weeks before. You will notice that the liturgical color is purple and that there are no flowers around the altar. This is because Lent is a penitential season. The color purple is the color of penance and a reminder that things are not the same as before. The lack of flowers and less festive decorations in the church reminds us of the same thing. Lent is a time of prayerful reflection and repentance. 
• During Holy Week (Palm Sunday through the Easter Vigil) the church will change how it looks a few more times. You will notice the colors changing again (Red for Palm Sunday and Good Friday, White for Holy Thursday), on Holy Thursday there may be flowers again as well. These changes again reflect the changing nature of the liturgical celebration of the day. 

• Fasting means a person is permitted one small meal a day with two smaller meals permitted, if necessary, that together are not to equal the size of the large meal. Water is always permitted.

• On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast, except if they are not able to safely do so due to health reasons (for example, if one is pregnant or has an illness, etc.). 

• Catholics over the age of 14 are obliged to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

• The Gloria and Alleluia are both songs of joy and praise. Due to the penitential nature of Lent, we refrain from some outward signs of joy to help us enter more deeply into the Season of Lent. It will also make the joyful singing of them at Easter all the more powerful and meaningful. 
• There are however exceptions to this rule: Ritual Masses (not on Sunday) may have them both sung, and Solemnities during Lent (St. Joseph and the Annunciation) both have them sung because they are days of great solemnity and joy in the Church.

• One of the precepts of the Church is to confess one's sins and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year. While every Catholic is encouraged to take advantage of the Sacrament as often as needed, Lent provides an opportunity to prepare ourselves more fully to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ at Easter. 
• You can find more information about going to Confession on our Sacrament of Penance Page. 

• The "marks of Lent" are the traditional practices associated with the Season of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. All three are rooted in Scripture and provide us with ways to grow closer to God
  • Prayer: Prayer is a conversation with God. It should always be at the heart of our spiritual life, but it is essential when we also try and take on fasting and almsgiving because it is the start of our outward actions and it ensures that they are rooted in God and not our own sense of self. 
  • Fasting: We often think of fasting as giving up food, and we do fast in that sense at points during Lent, as well as abstain from eating meat. However, fasting is about more than food. It is an early practice of the Church which also has roots in the Jewish faith. It helps us see our dependence on God for our very lives. It is also often a noble practice to "fast" from other things that are not bringing us closer to God: gossip, being quick to judge others, consuming media that is not edifying, etc. All of these things help us remember that we need to be focused first on God and his care for us and that we should hunger for him.
  • Almsgiving: Through prayer and fasting we are reminded of our total dependence on God and on his love for us as His children. Almsgiving is a natural outgrowth of that reality. It allows us to show our gratitude to God for all he has given us and is an outward show of the love we have for our neighbors as children of God.

• Yes, it is possible to baptize your infant during Lent. However, Lent has a very specific character to it that might not fit with the celebratory nature of a baptism. Lent has also historically been a time of preparation for baptism and so often baptisms would happen either before Lent or during the Easter Season. If you are looking to have your child or yourself baptized, speak with your pastor and he will be able to provide you with further guidance. As always, if a person is in danger of death, baptism should not be delayed. 

• Yes, it is possible to be married during Lent. However, given the specific character of Lent, your wedding will have a different liturgical feel to it than it would at another time. As always, you should speak with your pastor if you are planning to get married.