by Pam Brink

Created on: February 15, 2011   Last Updated: May 01, 2012

Lent is a forty-day period (excluding Sundays), to prepare for the greatest feast in the Christian calendar – Easter. The Church calls the faithful to “metanoia” (a Greek word meaning a change in mind or heart) during Lent. It is a time for re-evaluation. Catholics are to look honestly at where they are and where God wants them to be. This is a time for re-evaluation of priorities, decision-making, prayer life, relationships with others, and discipleship. This is a traditional time for an examination of conscience in light of the Ten Commandments to see how well or how badly they have conducted themselves during the past year. Lent is a time of penance and reparation.  

After his baptism by John, Jesus went to the desert to fast and pray. (Mt 4:11) This was Jesus’ period of preparation for his public ministry and his temptation by the devil. By spending forty days in the desert, Jesus set the precedent for the Church. Before any major feast, there is a period of fasting and prayer. For the Easter feast, the Church set aside six weeks of fasting and prayer (Lent). For the feast of Christmas, the Church sets aside four weeks of fasting and prayer (Advent).

Setting the date for Lent

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday.

The First Council of Nicea set the date for Easter. The Council set the date for Easter as a movable date based upon the Paschal full moon, which occurs on or after the spring equinox. The Gregorian calendar specifies Easter as being the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon on, or after March 21.

Ash Wednesday, then, is determined from Easter Sunday. The six weeks preceding, Easter is the first Sunday of Lent. Four days prior to the First Sunday of Lent is Ash Wednesday.

Baptismal preparation

Lent is the time when Catechumenates (those desiring to be received into the Catholic Faith) make their final preparation for baptism at the Easter midnight Mass. All the faithful are expected to renew their baptismal vows at this time.                                                                    

Lenten devotions

In Catholic tradition, before any

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