Lent is a 40 day period that begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. For 40 days, catholics are invited to participate in almsgiving, prayer, and fasting
Almsgiving is donating time, goods, money or other acts of charity. During Lent, catholics are encouraged more than ever to participate in this whether it is with donating clothes or giving extra money at church. Anything is appreciated from those on the receiving end.
The second part is prayer, during Lent catholics are motivated to pray more than they already do. Maybe a Hail Mary at night, or an Our Father in the morning, any extra prayer is categorized as a part of Lent.
Fasting is connected to abstinence. Both refer to the idea of giving something up for the better of his/her relationship with God. From food to electronics to vices, any of these will better your relationship with the faith and God. Another form of sacrifice that is participated in during Lent is the fasting from meat on Fridays. On Fridays catholics stay away from meat to honor how Jesus sacrificed his flesh on Good Friday.
Good Friday is the day that Christ was crucified and died on the cross. These 40 days that we spend fasting, or in almsgiving, or in prayer are used to prepare ourselves for Easter. We are hoping to cleanse ourselves from sin and vices so that when Jesus rises from his death, we are ready.
Symbols for the time leading up to Easter include palms, purple, and ash crosses. Palms are used mainly on palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, to showcase triumph and honor. Purple is the color of the Lenten Season. And Ash crosses are put on Catholics’ foreheads on Ash Wednesday. In conclusion, the season of Lent is used to bring the catholic community together to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ rise from the dead.
