WHAT IS THE LENTEN SEASON and WHY is it set apart? It is a period of six weeks preceding the anniversary of the Saviour’s death, and is set apart as a special season of fasting, penitence, and prayer.
Why is it called Lent? Because it always comes in the spring of the year, and the old Saxon word Lent means spring.
With what remarkable event in the Savior’s life does the Lenten season correspond? The forty days which He spent fasting in the wilderness.
Why is the first day of Lent called Ash Wednesday? It is called so from the custom whid1 prevailed in the early Church of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents the first day of Lent, in token of humiliation and sorrow for sin.
Are there any examples of this custom mentioned in the Bible? Yes; the example of Daniel and of David and the people of Nineveh, to which our Lord Himself refers (St. Matt. 11: 21).
If Lent is only of forty days’ duration, why does it begin forty-six days before Easter? Because there are six Sundays in Lent, and as all Sundays are feast days, kept in honor of the Resurrection, they are taken out; and to make up for these, six days are added at the beginning of
the season.
How should the Lenten season be observed by Christian people? As a special season for drawing near toby extraordinary acts of penitence, charity, and religious devotion; by fasting, and abstinence from public places of amusement, and from all things that tend to draw away the heart from God.
What is the object of keeping Lent? To deepen the religious life, to purify the heart horn sin, and to unite us more closely to the Savior.
Why does the Church require us to observe the Lenten Fast’?
(1) Because repentance and humiliation are essential to growth in grace; and ( 2) because these duties are apt to be neglected and forgotten unless some special time is set apart for their observance.
What objection do people sometimes urge against the observance of the Lenten Fast? They say that it is a useless and superstitious by extraordinary acts of penitence, charity, and religious devotion; by fasting, and abstinence from public places of amusement, and from all things that tend to draw away the heart from God.
What is the object of keeping Lent’? To deepen the religious life, to purify the heart horn sin, and to unite us more closely to the Saviour.
Why does the Church require us to observe the Lenten Fast? ( 1) Because repentance and humiliation are essential to growth in grace; and ( 2) because these duties are apt to be neglected and forgotten unless some special time is set apart for their observance.
What objection do people sometimes urge against the observance of the Lenten Fast? They say that it is a useless and superstitiouscustom, and that Christ nowhere commanded His disciples to fast.
What answer do we make to this objection? ( 1) Fasting was a common practice not only among God’s chosen people and His prophets under the Old Testament dispensation, but even heathen people practiced it ( e.g., Ex. 34: 28; I Kings 19: 8; II Sam. 12: 16; Joel 1: 14; Jonah 3: s; Ps. 35: 13). ( 2) Our Lord fasted and so did His disciples; (St. Matt. 4: 2. Acts 13: 2-3; 10: 30). And although Christ did not command His followers to fast He assumed that they would do so and gave them directions how to do ( St. Matt. 6: 17). No one can say therefore that the custom, is either useless or superstitious, for it has the highest of divine authority.
( 3) A few persons who accept the principle of Lent complain that the season is so long that people weary of its observance and relax its discipline. But it is intentionally made long, so that it must be kept by ordered rule and rational self-control, instead by impulsive actions and emotional devotions.
What is the effect of a Lenten season rightly kept? It purifies the heart from greed and lust, breaks the force of evil habit, brings us near to Christ, and creates a closer bond of union between our souls and heaven.
How long has the custom of keeping Lent been observed by the Church?
We know that it was observed in the first century after Christ, and probably from the very days of the Apostles, though the season was not always forty days in length.
( Above from The Prayer Book Reason Why)
THINGS TO DO IN LENT By RIP Fr. Frank Pannitti HCCAR
Lenten discipline is not so much a placing of chains upon the body, but an unfettering of the spirit, so that we might move more freely toward God focusing on the “Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us” (Galatians 2:20) That is why we engage in spiritual discipline during Lent, and practice the Lenten Rule of Prayer, Fasting/Abstinence, and Almsgiving given by our Lord and Savior in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-18). Lent is an opportunity to set aside time for Prayer, Study, Meditation, and Reflection.
The Sacrament of Penance (Confession):
The Sacrament is available through the season of Lent. All parishioners are urged to give serious prayer and commitment to utilizing this Sacrament. By carefully examining our consciences, we
will discover where we have offended God in our thoughts, words, and deeds. When we have confessed these sins and received assurance of forgiveness through absolution, we will better know in what area of our lives we are subject to spiritual peril and will achieve our Lenten goal of becoming Christ-like Christians.
Prayer
Throughout Lent read daily mediations such as; Lent and Easter, Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen where Fr. Nouwen helps us become more sensitive to our own weaknesses and Christ’s victory over sin. Through it all, Father Nouwen comforts and reassures us with reminders that God loves and accepts us even in our human state. or Lent and Easter Wisdom from Fulton J. Sheen: Daily Scripture and Prayers Together With Sheen’s Own Words – Timeless words from Bishop Fulton Sheen enabling their readers towards a better understanding of their spiritual selves. The book covers the traditional themes of Lent–sin and salvation, death and Resurrection, sorrow and hope, ashes and lilies–these 50 passages and accompanying mini-prayers offer readers a practical spiritual program as a retreat from the cares and concerns of a secular world view. Throughout Lent read the daily meditations, allowing time for prayer.
TO DO: Attend Mass each Sunday in Lent especially during the special days of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. Attend a weekday service during the week as an added addition to your spiritual discipline. Attend weekday studies made available at your church. Make an effort to make a special Lenten Devotion by taking part in the Stations of the Cross – meditate on the sufferings that Jesus endured to save you.
Fasting/Abstinence: The two fast days are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, when we do not eat between midnight and 3:00 PM of that day. Break the fast with a simple meal, no meat. Wednesdays and Fridays are days of abstinence when we partake of a simpler meal. Doing without meat, or reducing the amount consumed, is a traditional practice on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Almsgiving: From the money saved by eating simpler meals and from abstinence from your favorite food, drink, tobacco, movies, video rentals etc. Do the following: Give some of the money to fill your Lenten Offering Box to help those in need. Give some of the money saved towards your Easter Offering to help the spiritually hungry. For what is required is that we give, not much or little, but not less than is in our power to give. As we begin this Holy Season of Lent, may I invite you to ponder on God’s love that knew no bounds in loving us and giving Himself for us on the Cross. ><> ><> ><>